Let Me Take You Down: Inside the Mind of Mark David Chapman,the Man Who Killed John Lennon

Take away the names of Lennon and Chapman and what you have are two individuals that crossed paths, one mentally ill, the other, an unfortunate victim. It happens every day. I worked more than 20 years in criminal justice and I saw it all the time. Mental institutions closed down. Those individuals are allowed to roam free with delusions running through their minds. Not ALL the time, mind you, just sometimes. But that is all it takes. Many however, are medicated and function just fine in society with jobs and families. But there is no cure for mental illness. Like cancer, there is only treatment- IF they think they need it. Once their body builds up a tolerance to the medications that have been working for them for years, they sometimes simply decide to self medicate with legal or illegal substances. If they choose to go back to their Doctor, then they must spend time trying to find a medication that works best for them-some of them making the person feel worse-that is- IF they can afford them. A constant, vicious circle. Family members either abandon them because of their behaviors or ignore them- such as Mr. Chapman's wife did when he told her he wanted to kill Lennon, then flew to New York from Hawaii- not once but TWICE (and she didn't tell anyone!? Just asked him to go get some help) Who would want to believe that someone you know would DO something like this? This book basically explains not really WHY Chapman killed Lennon but WHAT was running through his mind in the days/weeks/months prior to killing Lennon that caused him to act out as he did.When we are able to accurately diagnose (because it's SO easy to FAKE!) and discover a cure for mental illness, then we will be able to intercept tragedies like this. (I must admit, praying to Satan for guidance to assist in carrying out his plan probably didn't help make the situation any better either!) What he was thinking and feeling at the time was real to HIM and it was a fascinating read. Whether he knew it was right or wrong at the time is also for someone else to judge. There are those who will feel that because Mr. Chapman committed a crime, can walk upright and is breathing that he is right where he belongs. I'm positive the Lennon family feels that way- but now when you see Mr. Chapman, he is medicated and probably would not THINK of doing what he did in 1980- just so long as someone has their thumb on him at all times. I'm not so sure prison is the right place for a mentally ill person but that's all we have to offer him- besides the electric chair. Would I take him in? Uh, no. He is definitely a very ill person. Lennon's musical talent was a tremendous loss- but I also know that if Mark Chapman was my spouse, brother or son, I would be equally devastated. Finally, towards the end of the book (This one is for the die-hard, revenge-filled Lennon fans) are examples of some of the threatening letters Chapman receives by the dozens. I was shocked that they even let him read these letters- as many of them hold nothing back. Some of them made me laugh out loud. What else could he possibly expect? Read it. The detailed descriptions of Chapman's thought process prior to and after the murder will enlighten anyone interested in attempting to understand...why on earth???Oh- and if people really believe, as Chapman has said, that he did this to become world recognized? Hmm-let's see, shoot a famous person to become famous yourself because you think you are such a loser there is just no other way -and then lose your personal freedom in exchange for a prison life? It's NOT rational thinking and they need to find a cure.

By his own admission, Chapman was a self-professed nobody, upset with his lot in life, and was looking to lash out at somebody famous. By killing Lennon, Chapman attained status as somebody (namely, "the guy who killed John Lennon"). In an odd way, reading this book only feeds into the attention Chapman craves. I wouldn't say this book is necessarily "pro-Chapman". Using Chapmans own words via interviews and in print form, the material within the book portrays Chapman (to me) to be every inch of the nobody he felt himself to be. There's really no deeper explanation to be found behind the assassination of John Lennon and the reasons why it happened are made abundantly clear; Chapman was exactly what he thought of himself as. A loser. The in-depth probings of the voices inside his head that drove him to do it just illustrate that point in detail, and after reading the book I felt that I was (in an odd way) just giving Chapman a degree of satisfaction, as he was and is little more than a child in a man's body content with receiving negative attention rather than none at all.

When I saw the thickness of this book, I wondered how much information could there be? It reads like a novel- an interesting study of a disturbed mind. As an ER nurse, I've had my share of experience with the mentally ill; but Chapman is unique in his aberrancy. The book is also an intriguing insight into our culture- fan-worship- possible social deficiencies that make us look for heroes in all the wrong places. The author interviewed Chapman while doing a journalistic study of Attica. He is currently working with BBC on a documentary- since this is the 40th anniversary of John Lenon's assasination. Not only an interesting read, but a valuable insight.

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to get inside the mind of Lennon's murderer. It was interesting to read his story.

I will never forget the night John Lennon died. Shock and pain courses through me still, remembering the tv reports. Questions abounded about the person who did this evil deed. Who? How? Why? After reading this book, I have a better insight into just who Mark David Chapman is. He truly has a long list of mental issues. His "little people" definitely show a person with psychological problems. Had he stayed in clinics, perhaps things would have turned out different for all of us. At least I now have a better understanding of who Chapman is. I pray he is never released to civilian life, as I believe - even though he knows what he did and that it was wrong - the world is safer with him off the streets.RIP John Lennon.

This book is an insightful tour of the mind of a self-deranged, angry narcissist who methodically plotted to strike a blow against the world by gunning down a famous icon and symbol of all that was good about humanity at our best. In a cowardly act, the killer gunned down a legend from behind while posing as the "Catcher in the Rye" savior of childhood innocence. Important to note that both the killer and author received letters from others who had considered carrying out similar crimes but were persuaded after reading the Chapman narrative against doing so.

Chapman is a mess...personality disorder - yes! Truly mentally ill - yes! Or he's a hell of a good phony. Only him being truly mentally ill can mitigate the hatred one would have of him,and even at times, I still found myself hating his narcissistic self. Well written by the author and we'll conceived piece. I feel there's nothing more I need to know about Mr. Chapman

This is a well-written book that's highly fascinating - and yet utterly depressing, especially if you're a Lennon fan. The author, Jack Jones, embarks on a discursive study on the murder of John Lennon. He examines written testimony from various witnesses to the killing, as well as documented police evidence. Additionally, he engages in a series of interviews with both professionals (e.g. psychiatrists) who assessed the murderer, and associates of the murder (e.g. old friends). And, most importantly, he interviews the killer himself. All of this points to a sick individual, both delusional and borderline insane, who received messages from both God and the devil - and who, believing Lennon to be a "phoney", felt compelled to kill.By focussing on the thoughts of Chapman, and his mental state, the author individualises the crime. Moreover, Jones seems to accept what Chapman says at face value - as if, when he says he heard voices, so he did. While this results in an in-depth psychiatric analysis, it fails to take into account wider goings-on. The fact is, Chapman embodied the feelings of anger and hatred as felt by the right-wing Establishment - who treated Lennon as an 'Other' (and fabricated a moral panic around his character). Such wider socio-political circumstances ought not to be removed from an analysis of Chapman's motivations. While this irrational individual pulled the trigger, larger events construed him to do so.I do recommend this book, but - as I say - for fans of Lennon (who believe in his message of love and peace) this is a painful read.

This is one of the best books I've red in a while, I didn't want to put the book down, the murder of John Lennon in the words of mark Chapman, it goes into great detail and we get to look into the sick mind of mark Chapman, lets hope this sicko is never released, this book is a must read

The book arrived on time and well packages so I have no issues with the seller. But the work itself is not the best read Thoroughly researched but boring in places and the binding is of poor quality.

Great Book.

VERY INTERESTING BOOK.GREAT READ.