Don't expect verbose treatment and lots of stories. The work is just what the title says: an academic attempt to predict military expenditure and resultant power base as of 1995. Probably a useful research tool for Asian studies for a few more years.

This book is pure garbage, not only in content but in form and style. And clearly, the author is extremely biased towards Van Houten. I know this IS a BOOK REVIEW, but I feel compelled to express my opinion about the subject matter. Leslie Van Houten made conscious and sane decisions back in 1969. One of those decisions was to join the Manson family. Another was to participate in the murders of the LaBiancas. Whether she stabbed Mrs LaBianca after she was already dead or not is moot. As for her reform in prison, SO WHAT. She should feel lucky she avoided the Death Penalty. I hope that she never, ever gets out. And as for the author of this "book", and her clear affiliation and sympathy for this cold blooded murderer, shame on you.

Writing a biography of a personal friend must be a very tricky business. Karlene Faith met famous Manson murderess Leslie Van Houten almost thirty years ago, and has proven an effective advocate for her eventual release. The relationship between the teacher and the reformed cult member is touching and very real, but it undermines this book as a chronicle of a criminal's transformation from delusional disciple to remorseful, decent soul.

Rather than focus on Van Houten's thoughts and feelings during her three decades behind bars, Faith uses the book as an apologia and rationalization for the prisoner's choices and behavior when a very young woman. The author seems to have only a vague realization of the monstrousness of the crimes committed, and lays the blame squarely on the mastermind, exonerating her subject and casting her as a victim in the same mold as those who lost their lives. Van Houten herself seems to have a clearer view of her own culpability, and it would have been interesting to hear more about this from her own mouth.

The book does cast a disturbing light on the inequity and gross politicization of the justice system. Van Houten's crimes, and her admitted participation in them, should allow for the imposition of a true life term, and so far the system seems intent on doing so. It's shocking to read, then, that all of the other prisoners on death row with Van Houten when the death penalty was suspended were released from prison within a few years. It seems that when no one is watching, the justice system plays by some very inept and unfair rules. Certainly Van Houten poses no further threat to society, while the prison system routinely ejects predators with murderous histories and no sign of reformation.

Though thick with pages full of psychobabble and research into cult psychology, there are enough anecdotes in the book to humanize the subject and make it an interesting read. Van Houten does come across as an obvious candidate for legitimate parole. But Karelene Faith's blind approach to this polarizing subject may be the last thing Van Houten needs.

This is criminologist Karlene Faith's argument for granting parole to "Manson Girl" Leslie Van Houten. If that possibility is repugnant to you under all circumstances, then there's no point in reading either the book or this review. One thing's for certain, though. This work does not, on its merits, warrant the kind of invective being spewed at it on this web page.

Faith, a friend of Van Houten's for many years, unapologetically advocates for her release. She uses this vehicle to make her case. There's nothing sinister or particularly unusual about doing so, by the way. So, the relevant questions become, first,whether her position has merit; and second, whether it's well written.

On the first point, an objective observer could reasonably be persuaded. Van Houten has spent over 30 years in prison and
appears to be, by all accounts, contrite about her crime,
emotionally sound (to the extent possible), and wholly
rehabilitated. There seems to be no rational argument for her being a continuing threat to society.

And she is eligible, under the law, for parole. So the issue is, in a society that purports to consider rehabilitation, and not just retribution, as one of the legitimate objectives of its criminal justice system, why wouldn't Van Houten be given the
rare opportunity to try and re-assimilate into free society?
It's certainly a thought provoking idea that stays with the reader for a while. Even among those of us familiar with the horrendous details of the crimes who might not have, before, seriously considered the propriety of freeing one of the people convicted of participating in them.

On the second question, the book moves quickly and keeps the reader's interest. It is obviously well researched. It would be easy to criticize the author for trying to do too much, skipping around a bit and giving short shrift to a number of relevant or (perhaps) irrelevant subjects. Her fervent efforts to emphasize the "cult" influence of Manson on Van Houten and consequently place blame primarily with him will put off some readers as minimizing the horror of the crimes or Van Houten's role in them. Also, her attempts to analyze legal issues and the motives of participants in purely social science terms strike me, as a lawyer, as indicative of a failure to really understand the adversary system or even as naive.

Parenthetically, it is impressive that Van Houten is able to inspire this level of friendship, over this period of time, in Faith.

This book offers a unique slant on a subject that still fascinates a nation. On balance, it is a good read, and wholly worthwhile.