Feb. 2024 - True Crime Book Club - Past Titles - LibGuides at Westwood Public Library

"American Heiress" by Jeffrey Toobin

American Heiress by Jeffrey Toobin
Call Number: BIOGRAPHY Hearst
On February 4, 1974, Patty Hearst, a sophomore in college and heiress to the Hearst family fortune, was kidnapped by a ragtag group of self-styled revolutionaries calling itself the Symbionese Liberation Army. The already sensational story took the first of many incredible twists on April 3, when the group released a tape of Patty saying she had joined the SLA and had adopted the nom de guerre "Tania." The weird turns of the tale are truly astonishing--the Hearst family trying to secure Patty's release by feeding all the people of Oakland and San Francisco for free; the bank security cameras capturing "Tania" wielding a machine gun during a robbery; a cast of characters including everyone from Bill Walton to the Black Panthers to Ronald Reagan to F. Lee Bailey; the largest police shoot-out in American history; the first breaking news event to be broadcast live on television stations across the country; Patty's year on the lam, running from authorities; and her circuslike trial, filled with theatrical courtroom confrontations and a dramatic last-minute reversal, after which the term "Stockholm syndrome" entered the lexicon. The saga of Patty Hearst highlighted a decade in which America seemed to be suffering a collective nervous breakdown. Based on more than a hundred interviews and thousands of previously secret documents, American Heiress thrillingly recounts the craziness of the times (there were an average of 1,500 terrorist bombings a year in the early 1970s). Toobin portrays the lunacy of the half-baked radicals of the SLA and the toxic mix of sex, politics, and violence that swept up Patty Hearst and re-creates her melodramatic trial. American Heiress examines the life of a young woman who suffered an unimaginable trauma and then made the stunning decision to join her captors' crusade. Or did she?

Manipulation and Stockholm Syndrome:
- How did Patricia Hearst's experiences with the SLA (Symbionese Liberation Army) reflect the dynamics of manipulation and Stockholm Syndrome?
- In what ways did the SLA exploit Hearst's vulnerability, and how did this influence public perception of her actions?
Media Influence:
- Discuss the role of the media in shaping the narrative surrounding Patty Hearst's kidnapping and trial.
- How did media coverage impact the public's perception of Hearst and the SLA?
Legal and Ethical Questions:
- Explore the legal and ethical dilemmas raised during the trial of Patty Hearst. Were there moments where you questioned the fairness of the legal proceedings?
- How did the defense and prosecution handle the complexities of the case, and what impact did it have on the outcome?
Social and Political Climate:
- How did the social and political climate of the 1970s contribute to the story of Patty Hearst and the SLA?
- In what ways did the political context influence public opinion about the radical groups of that time?
Identity and Transformation:
- Analyze Patty Hearst's transformation during her time with the SLA. How did her identity change, and to what extent was this a survival mechanism?
- What challenges did Hearst face in reclaiming her identity after her release?
Impact on the Hearst Family:
- Explore the impact of Patty Hearst's kidnapping on her family, particularly the Hearst media empire. How did they respond to the crisis, and how did it affect their public image?
Legal Defense Strategies:
- Evaluate the defense strategies employed during Patty Hearst's trial. Were they effective in presenting her as a victim of circumstances?
- How did the legal team navigate the complexities of Patty Hearst's involvement with the SLA?
Public Perception and Sympathy:
- Discuss the public's perception of Patty Hearst during and after her trial. Did public sympathy shift over time, and if so, why?
- How did the case contribute to discussions about crime, punishment, and the concept of coercion in legal contexts?
Legacy and Reflection:
- Consider the long-term impact of the Patty Hearst case on the criminal justice system, media coverage of high-profile trials, and discussions about radicalization.
Author's Perspective:
- Reflect on Jeffrey Toobin's approach to telling this true crime story. How did his background as a journalist and legal analyst shape the narrative, and did it influence your understanding of the events?

Early Life: Patty Hearst was born into one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the United States. Her grandfather, William Randolph Hearst, was a media magnate who owned the Hearst Corporation, a vast media empire. Patty grew up in a privileged environment, attending private schools and living a life of luxury.

Kidnapping by the SLA: On February 4, 1974, Patty Hearst was kidnapped from her apartment in Berkeley, California, by the SLA, a left-wing revolutionary group. The group demanded that the Hearst family distribute millions of dollars' worth of food to the poor in exchange for Patty's release. During her time in captivity, Patty underwent a radical transformation, adopting the name "Tania" and appearing in propaganda videos supporting the SLA's cause.

Criminal Involvement: In April 1974, Patty Hearst was caught on surveillance video participating in an armed bank robbery with members of the SLA. This event marked a significant turn in the case, as it raised questions about whether Hearst had willingly joined her captors or if she was acting under duress.

Capture and Trial: In September 1975, Patty Hearst was captured by the FBI. During her trial, she claimed that she had been brainwashed and coerced into participating in criminal activities by the SLA. Despite her defense's argument, she was convicted of bank robbery and using a firearm during a felony. She was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Imprisonment and Commutation: Patty Hearst served approximately 22 months of her sentence before President Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence in 1979. She was released from prison on February 1, 1979. Later, President Bill Clinton granted her a full pardon on January 20, 2001.

Post-Imprisonment Life: After her release, Patty Hearst returned to private life. She has been involved in various philanthropic activities and has worked as an actress. She married Bernard Shaw, a former police officer and her former bodyguard, in 1979. They have two children together.

Patty Hearst's case remains a complex and controversial chapter in American legal history, raising questions about coercion, identity, and the impact of trauma on an individual's actions. The circumstances surrounding her involvement with the SLA continue to be a subject of debate and analysis.

Why Did Patty Hearst Side With her Kidnappers? - Historic Mysteries

Early Life: Jeffrey Toobin was born on May 21, 1960, in New York City, USA. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History and Literature. Toobin then attended Harvard Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1986.

Legal Career: After completing law school, Toobin embarked on a legal career. He worked as an associate counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh during the Iran-Contra affair investigation. This experience provided him with insights into high-profile legal cases.

Journalism and Writing: Jeffrey Toobin transitioned to journalism and became a prominent legal analyst and commentator. He joined The New Yorker as a staff writer and has contributed numerous articles on legal issues and profiles of figures in the legal and political arenas.

Toobin's writing also extends to books, where he has authored several critically acclaimed works. One of his notable books is "The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson," which delves into the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Another well-known work is "American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping, Crimes, and Trial of Patty Hearst," which explores the Patty Hearst kidnapping case.

Television Appearances: Toobin has been a familiar face on television, providing legal analysis on various news programs. He became a senior legal analyst for CNN and was a regular contributor to the network. His insights and commentary covered a wide range of legal and political topics.

Controversy: It's important to note that Jeffrey Toobin faced controversy in 2020 when he was suspended from The New Yorker and took a leave of absence from CNN after an incident during a Zoom call. He later apologized for the incident.

True Crimes and Misdemeanors

Jeffrey Toobin

American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson (writer)

O.J. Made in America (self)

Get Me Roger Stone (writer)

Patty Hearst

Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst

Patty Hearst

The Ordeal of Patty Hearst

Cecil B. Demented

American Woman

Captive

Tanya

Koresh by Stephan Talty
Call Number: 299.2 Talty
No other event in the last fifty years is shrouded in myth like the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. Today, we remember this moment for the 76 people, including 20 children, who died in the fire; for its inspiration of the Oklahoma City bombing; and for the wave of anti-government militarism that followed. What we understand far less is what motivated the Davidians' enigmatic leader, David Koresh. Drawing on first-time, exclusive interviews with Koresh's family and survivors of the siege, bestselling author Stephan Talty paints a psychological portrait of this infamous icon of the 1990s. Born Vernon Howell into the hyper-masculine world of central Texas in the 1960s, Koresh experienced a childhood riven with abuse and isolation. He found a new version of himself in the halls of his local church, and love in the fundamentalist sect of the Branch Davidians. Later, with a new name and professed prophetic powers, Koresh ushered in a new era for the Davidians that prized his own sexual conquest as much as his followers' faith. As one survivor has said, "What better way for a worthless child to feel worth than to become God?"
Revolution's End by Brad Schreiber
Call Number: 332.42092 Hearst
Forty years after the Patty Hearst "trial of the century," people still don't know the true story of the events. Revolution's End fully explains the most famous kidnapping in US history, detailing Patty Hearst's relationship with Donald DeFreeze, known as Cinque, head of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Not only did the heiress have a sexual relationship with DeFreeze while he was imprisoned; she didn't know he was an informant and a victim of prison behavior modification. Neither Hearst nor the white radicals who followed DeFreeze realized that he was molded by a CIA officer and allowed to escape, thanks to collusion with the California Department of Corrections. DeFreeze's secret mission: infiltrate and discredit Bay Area anti-war radicals and the Black Panther Party, the nexus of seventies activism. When the murder of the first black Oakland schools superintendent failed to create an insurrection, DeFreeze was alienated from his controllers and decided to become a revolutionary, since his life was in jeopardy. Revolution's End finally elucidates the complex relationship of Hearst and DeFreeze and proves that one of the largest shootouts in US history, which killed six members of the SLA in South Central Los Angeles, ended when the LAPD set fire to the house and incinerated those six radicals on live television, nationwide, as a warning to American leftists.
Uncommon Youth by Charles Fox
Call Number: 364.15 Fox
J. Paul ("Little Paul") Getty III, the grandson of Getty Oil founder J. Paul Getty, may have been cursed by money and privilege from the moment he was born. Falling in with the wrong people and practically abandoned by his famous family, Getty was a child of his international jet set era, moving from Marrakesh to Rome, nightclubs to well-appointed drug dens. His high-profile kidnapping defined the decade--and was permanently memorable for the ear that was mailed to his mother as evidenceof the kidnappers' intentions. Uncommon Youth is richly reported, and includes many interviews with Getty himself conducted from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, that raise new angles about the case. How much did Getty acquiesce to the kidnappers? Why wouldn't his rich-as-Croesus grandfather pay the ransom, which began at the equivalent of $550,000 in lire and bulged to 3.6 million as the months dragged on? Charles Fox began following and researching this story since the days shortly after Getty's disappearance. Fox's writing captures the voices of models and maids, mistresses and mothers, carabinieri and club-owners, drug dealers and drivers, alongside the Getty family members themselves to paint an evocative portrait of an era and one of its most misunderstood participants.
Cemetery John by Robert Zorn
Call Number: 364.154 ZORN
Evidence, opinion, and logic have discredited the notion that Bruno Richard Hauptmann --electrocuted in 1936 --acted alone. In this meticulous and authoritative account of the crime, the trial, and the times of the Lindbergh kidnapping, Robert Zorn clears away decades of ungrounded speculation surrounding the case. Inspired by his father's relationship with the actual accomplices --including the mastermind --he presents the clearest ever picture of a criminal partnership, which would shake every class and culture of American society. Using personal possessions and documents, never-before seen photographs, new forensic evidence, and extensive research, Robert Zorn has written a shocking and captivating account of the crime and the original "Trial of the Century." From the ecstatic riots that followed the Spirit of St. Louis on either side of the Atlantic, to the tragic night that would shake America's sense of security, to the horror of the New Jersey morgue where Lindbergh insisted on verifying the identity of his son, Zorn's skillful treatment meets this larger-than-life story and gives it definitive shape --revealing the true story behind the crime, for the first time.
Days of Rage by Bryan Burrough
Call Number: 973.92 Burrough
Days of Rage provides an account of the volatile period of 1968-1975, in which home-grown terrorist groups wreaked havoc in major US cities. The FBIs response to the leftist revolutionary counterculture seems almost criminal in itself to many, but as this ground-breaking book shows, this was a period of menace where radicals were smuggling bombs into public spaces and assassinating policemen. This book takes us into the hearts and minds of home-grown terrorists and federal agents alike and weaves their stories into a spellbinding secret history of the 1970s.
Every Secret Thing by Patricia C. Hearst; Alvin Moscow
Call Number: BIOGRAPHY Hearst
Patricia Campbell Hearst provides her personal account of her activities and relationships beginning with her kidnapping by the Symbionese Liberation Army on February 4, 1974.

True Crime Book Club - Past Titles: Feb. 2024

"American Heiress" by Jeffrey Toobin

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