Ed Gein - Psycho! (1995)

Writer: Paul Anthony Woods

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Sub-Title: This is his story. This is his legend.

Category: Book, Killer

Synopsis: This book chronicles the life of Edward Theodore Gein; from pre-conception to fame after death. Beginning with the trial and tribulations of his mother Augusta and his father George, the book depicts a family scraping to get by. Little Eddie was a quiet boy who inadvertently clung to his mother with a death-grip. Not to infer that Ed didn’t know what he was doing when he clung to his mother, but the domineering, religious-fanatic that she was had brainwashed him to the point of utter dependence, even in adulthood. After the deaths of his brother and father, little Eddie was all alone with dear old Ma. Until her death in December 1945, Ed seemed to be just an awkward, helpful hand with a lazy eyelid. But this final “nail in the coffin” (no pun intended) had sent him into a kind of warped, hallucinogenic oblivion. Although Ed Gein did not suffer, according to psychiatrists, from any form of hallucination, his distorted view of himself coupled with the musings of an extremist, led him to a psychotic break. Now in a world lived in pubs and shadows, in which he himself is God, Edward Gein, born on August 27th, 1906, set forth on a rampage which has come to be referred to as “the most heinous atrocities in the history of mankind.”

Review: From only a few pages into this text I was immediately enthralled. I could not put the book down to save my life. From page one to page one hundred and sixty four, my interest stood at right-angle. Never in my life, even throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy (plus The Hobbit), have I ever read words so intelligent. Apart from the text meant to simulate Gein’s own thoughts, I found myself immersed in a sea of Yahoo!® Words of the Day. This is probably one of the first books I’ve ever read where a Dictionary was a constant ally.

In a totally contextual sense, I would have to say that this book captures Gein’s psychosis better than others I’ve come across. With each chapter continuing to build the prolonged suspense of a pathological mental-case, you are sure to become a victim of curiosity. After purchasing a book called The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, I immediately tuned to the passage about our boy Ed. Unfortunately; a three column piece about America’s most famous killer did not do him justice. After reading Woods’ book, my mind had been enlightened with all of the information I’d ever need about Mr. Edward Gein.

This story of Ed Gein has been portrayed many a time on the silver screen, comic books, and even in popular music. The three most popular movies said to based on the case of Ed Gein are all detailed by Woods in the text; Psycho (1960), Three on a Meathook (1972), and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Each loosely connected in its own particular way; they all claim the depiction of true events. Although this is not correct to say, each had done everything cinematically possible to make a film, based on Gein that still had the element surprise; or else they would all be the same.

Rating: 24. I was hoping to get a little more info as to Gein’s mental state later in life. Even though Woods did describe him as trying to get set free, I wish he would have mentioned whether or not he had done anything else besides just be a model patient. Overall, the book was phenomenal…for anyone looking for a smart text on Ed Gein…here you go. (24of25).