Will You Die For Me? The Man Who Killed For Charles Manson Tells His Own Story [Hardcover]

Charles "Tex" Watson (Author), Chaplain Ray (Collaborator)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 223 pages
• Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company; 1st edition (1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800709128
• ISBN-13: 978-0800709129
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,759 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Professor Charles Watson is a neurobiologist and public health physician. He has had over 25 years of experience teaching brain anatomy to medical and science students. He has held many senior public health and academic positions, including that of Chief Health Officer for WA. He is the author of 14 books, one of which (a laboratory brain atlas) has been cited over 45,000 times. His current research is focused on gene expression in hindbrain development, mapping MR brain images of the mouse, and the construction of atlases of monkey and human brain and spinal cord. He has a strong interest in chronic neurological illness, and is Chairman of the Neurological Council of WA. In 2004 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his work in public health and neuroscience

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tex Watson answers the question "What was I thinking?", December 29, 2004

By 

D.L. (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Will You Die For Me? The Man Who Killed For Charles Manson Tells His Own Story (Hardcover)

I wasn't expecting much when I picked up Charles "Tex" Watson's book Will You Die for Me, but I have to say that it turned out to be a fascinating read. In the book, Watson traces his life from an average college student to a murderous cult member - but what makes the book unique is his unflinching candor.

Watson explains what was going through his mind while he was living in the cult and having these murderous psychotic episodes. The book is written in such a down-to-earth tone that is hard to believe that the author actually did these things - but he did, and there are no scapegoats, not even Mason, Watson takes responsibility for his actions. It is chilling to think that a man capable of being this introspective and articulate, can also be capable of killing strangers on a whim.

It is a very good and quick read... and for those interested in the Manson Family crimes, it is a must have.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read told by a murderer, July 21, 2008

By 

E. Teague "lteague" (North Grafton, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Will You Die For Me? The Man Who Killed For Charles Manson Tells His Own Story (Hardcover)

Put together in a comprehensive manner with a little more insight than an outsider could have. Though I'm left with the feeling that some parts are still missing. As in his feelings about the murders at the time. He does say at the time he did not feel anything actually. Maybe it's more of what he felt later as he recalled the event. He describes flashes of color & movement to describe the killings. Is that it? I felt like that was glossed over. Not that I wanted gory detail, NO, but I guess there has to be more going on in the person's head (if only later upon reflection) than the short description of how they remember it. But other parts of HIS ordeal are described in detail and how he felt when things happened to him. You have to hear how after he was arrested & extradited to LA he was given a light blanket & was cold in his cell & he was roughed up & punched & forced to eat meat. I'm then picturing Sharon trying to tell us how it felt for her to be butchered & dying. What did she feel? What did they all feel? Who gives a damn if he was cold in his cell. There seemed to be a disconnect there. It's a common trait with murderers to only relate to their own pain. I took away from the book that he was prior to murdering, a person who needed to satisfy his own needs & became bored quickly if he wasn't being satisfied. Yes he admits his guilt but again he has to -to find his what he needs in religion. It is better than Charlie Manson's state of mind in prison, still evil incarnate. In all honesty Tex Watson really cannot win. We all know what he did & it is what it is. Even though Watson says the right words I still feel wrong. Something is not right with him. The zealousness with which he has embraced religion is off putting. It does sound the same as his prior total embrace of Charlie. I do though agree with his (and others) theory of LSD & other drugs being Charlie's tool to brainwash them all. Maybe he's damaged from all the drugs as well. FYI I printed the book off of his website for free. I will not give him money.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars for Setting The Historical Record Straight, January 12, 2010

By 

James J. Varela (Sarasota, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Will You Die For Me? The Man Who Killed For Charles Manson Tells His Own Story (Hardcover)

I honestly cannot be sure if Watson is remorseful or not. Given what he has done if he were truly remorseful he would be suicidal. This book gets at least three stars for setting the historical record straight on what happened to Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Steven Parent, Abigail Folger & Wojciech Frykowski as well as Rosemary & Leno LaBianca and Gary Hinman. Charles Manson, Steve Grogan and Bruce Davis were convicted of ranchhand Shorty Shea's murder but over a dozen witnesses have gone on record to implicate Watson as one of Shea's killers.
The main reason the crime is still remembered after 40 years was it was so senseless. If Manson wanted a record deal Sharon Tate would have picked up a phone and gotten him one. If the killers wanted money she would have given them her last dime. The hero of the night was hair stylist Jay Sebring who lost his life trying to shield Sharon from Watson. It is a crime he was able to marry and father children while in prison until lobbying by Sharon Tate's parents conjugal visits for imprisoned individuals convicted of murder were banned. Watson deserves some credit for his work inside prison BUT In the past decade Watson and his X wife Kristin have twice been investigated by the California attorney general, for committing Medi-Cal fraud to finance their children's births and for using funds from their nonprofit organization, Abounding Love Ministries, for personal use. This book can be read free of charge on his web site called aboundinglove dot org.