Panzram A Journal of Murder

I've seen some documentaries about Panzram and have always found him interesting. I really can't pinpoint why I do, he's nothing "special" compared to other serial killers, but fascinating nevertheless.I really like how the book reads...you have Panzram's writings, as well as the authors, and they blend well together. The time line is easy to understand (some can be to complex and I lose interest).I can tell good research went into this book. He is a murder and rapist and probably a narcissistic, so they tend to blend lies with the truth, blowing some things out of proportion. So I really appreciate the author (etc) finding supportive documents to go along with Panzram's autobiography.The writing is easy to keep up with. Some days I love to cuddle in bed and read something that won't give me a headache, and this is a great read for just that.There's not much gore filled details if your only looking for that. It shows, in Panzram's own writing the story from where he began to where he ended.He was obviously a "bad" human being, no one to be praised. But for anyone who enjoys the psychology of serial killers, this is really cool to see what his though process was, his motivations (to kill everyone including himself), how he viewed the world and ppl around him, etc.I am really interested in the relationship between Panzram and the prison guard who encouraged his writing and became his friend. What set this prison guard out as someone he basically trusted, as best as he can at least, compared to everyone else in his life.Panzram claim to have no conscious at all...which is clearly true overall, but there was something inside him not so sinister as well. I think he spent quite a bit of time, when it was just him alone with just himself - that can be a pretty scary place to be-, trying to understand the monster he had become.I think Panzram writing was somewhat cathartic to himself, but at the same time "showing off" and exaggerating some of the things he said to have done. There is a lot of good evidence to back up a lot of his stories, but some of it no one is completely sure about, including how many he did actually kill, and his claim of sodomizing over 1,000 males...that is a lot of boys/men, though yes he did absolutely do it.We will never know the true mind of a serial murderer, but this book gives you a good glimpse straight from Panzram himself. He's also a good writer.

The most hateful man to ever live gives his life story to a prison guard who he claimed was the only person he ever trusted. You can feel the hate in these pages. It’s a great read, keep it in my car in case of emergencies requiring a book to read

This book is not for the faint of heart: Carl Panzram did some horrible things to a whole lot of people, so if you're easily upset, disturbed, or offended, just pass altogether. However, if you're a fan of true crime and have even a passing interest in penology, this book will change your life. Panzram is very intelligent, which is immediately obvious once you delve into his prose.His learned exposition and indictment of the prison system in America at the time is shocking and shameful, and he doesn't pull any punches when describing the horrific and barbaric torture that he and others were subjected to in multiple prisons, most notably Leavenworth. He is right when he states that we are all culpable for allowing other human beings in our own country to be treated this way by those in authority.On the lighter side, the reader is treated to the extraordinary relationship between Panzram and the prison guard (Henry Lesser) who befriended this "savage animal" and was the impetus for Panzram recording his life story. Lesser encouraged and facilitated this at great risk to himself and his job, and was solely responsible for getting the work published long after Panzram's death.

It's a throughly honest autobiographical account of a career criminal based on his correspondence. Don't read it if you're an innocent on human nature or the ways of the world. Or if you're a psychologist who thinks you understand human nature. Because, as is made exceedingly clear, you just don't know.Read it, however, if you want to understand how serial killers think and why they kill. It's a tour-de-force.Mostly in Panzram's own words, it's a stunning and brutally honest account of his life and crimes, including rape, sodomy, sodomy and 21 murders. He was executed by hanging at Leavenworth for beating a prison guard to death with a lead pipe.It's not for academics who value theory rather than experience. Nor is it for the squeamish.

As an ex-LEO and Prison official of almost 16 years service I always find these kinds of reads interesting. This is no exception, and although only about 1/3 of the way through it the revelations of the seeming lack of conscience at that point in history is deeply disturbing. In all my years I had seen some seemingly inhuman actions, but this one seems to be at such a scale that I was surprised. But then evil is a powerful force and when it consumes a human the results should not surprise us I suppose. I am from Kansas, and I am glad we killed this "thing!" Need a REAL "reality" story, not the garbage that is called entertainment on TV these days? If so get a copy of this book, for it will convince you evil is not just a word used to advertise the next scary movie. This is the best story of evil personified, written by the evil itself before his execution and given to his only friend in the world, a guard in a prison! Be prepared to be afraid...very afraid, unless you know how to prevent these criminals from taking advantage of you.

Highly recommend reading this book. It shows you how criminals are made. How the system fails the people and create the criminals. How abuse begets abuse. And what America was built on. The “pious” real sadistic nature. The result of ignorance and poverty mixed with violence and abuse. Panzram is the absolute outcome. And as long as this cycle exists the results will still exist. System failures since system was enforced and until today.It’s an amazing insight into a criminal mind. A criminal with no reason to lie. How he was Made. And nothing much changed in the 100 years that’s passed since. And if he knew how he was made. And wrote how we was made. And similar criminals are still made the exact same way. Is it a failure or an intentional making? The system knows very well and lets similar criminals be made. Why?Also tells on the corruption of the system. It’s a must read for anyone interested in the human condition, abuse, murder, sexual abuse, history, Americana, and many more topics. If ur interested in any of these topics this book is definitely for u.Some reviews complained about how could such a criminal be that intelligent or that well read. Well. That’s prison life. U have nothing to do but read. That’s traveling the world. Yes he wrote every word. And his hand written confessions are online for any to see and compare.This story is 100% true. Each and every word. And as hard as it is to imagine. It happened. It happens and will keep happening til there’s a critical change in the system and mentality of today.

A chilling account of the life and experience of a murderer, child molester, arsonist and self-proclaimed wrong one. Panzram talks about how he became, and the persons and institutions that facilitated that becoming. He talks philosophy and how society had made him what he was: the worst that man could be.

A truly must read book. Not an easy book to read but i couldn't put it down. A powerful insight into how the brutality of the prison regime can turn a criminal into a monster. I like the way this has been written. I particularly liked to read the prisoners own account with the authors giving additional information to explain and expand on the story. This book takes you on a journey you will never forget.

Great book. This book plays almost like a supervillain origin story. Panzram’s motivation is terrifying in it’s simplicity as he avenges the damage humanity dealt him. More photos would be good though I understand how few were taken during that period in history. Must read!

If you want to design a mass murderer, this is how to do it - by the killer himself. A brilliant account of the incompetent and deadly ‘justice’ system.