Final Truth : The Autobiography of a Serial Killer
by Donald H. Gaskins, Wilton Earle
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Book Summary Information
Author: Donald H. Gaskins, Wilton EarleEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1992-05
ISBN: 0963242202
Number of pages: 230
Publisher: Adept
Book Reviews of Final Truth : The Autobiography of a Serial Killer
Book Review: Lead poisoning? Possibly.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book takes the reader on an unflinching and unapologetic journey narrated by a confessed serial killer, Donald "Pee Wee" Gaskins. The author, Wilton Earle, spent a lot of time visiting Gaskins in prison in order to record (both on tape and in this book) Gaskins' life story from his own account.
The story that unravels as this book progresses invoked both disgust and an uncomfortable sympathy for Gaskins. He claimed to have a lifelong "bothersome" feeling in the pit of his stomach, which was only relieved when he killed someone.
Many readers will be disgusted and shocked by this book, and most will say they cannot understand how a person could do such horrible things. Yet, most people were not repeatedly tortured, raped and beaten from early childhood until early adulthood, either. That can make for a big difference in a person's perspective. You know the saying- "There but for the Grace of God, go I." If you cannot imagine how a person could commit these crimes, thank your lucky stars, for you are fortunate that your childhood was not filled with unspeakable atrocities committed to you, unlike Gaskins. This in no way excuses his actions, but it does help to explain them.
Gaskins childhood was beyond atrocious, like so many of his peers in prison and on Death Row. He was horribly abused, repeatedly and brutally raped and emotionally & physically neglected by members of his family and people in his community. This was a child who was perpetually in "survival mode," who never had a chance to build a strong sense of morality. From his early childhood he did not experience a nurturing home environment, only one of fear and violence. He was done further mental and physical damage by a highly neglectful criminal justice system, which he jokingly mentions actually contributed to his life of crime and killing. Some of his crimes are stomach-turning, while some are disturbingly ingenious. Much can be learned about how a killer's mind evolves from this book.
As his life progressed, he did what came naturally to him- and that is what astounded me most about Gaskins' story. His life seemed to be lived according to his "animal instinct" and whim, rather than according to the more structured development most of us are accustomed to. He had to fend for himself, and his lifestyle and choices were a result of that. At times, Gaskins seemed to behave more like an wild animal than a human being, which further contributed to the sense that he was never quite "socialized" into society. His solution for interpersonal conflicts was to simply kill the other person.
One thing that struck me several times as I read this book was that there was no mention of Gaskins having lead poisoning. I did a little bit of research into lead poisoning, and it seems to me that both Gaskin's physical symptoms as well as his childhood environment could have easily and logically been linked to lead poisoning. (Older homes, like the one Gaskins grew up in, commonly had peeling lead-based paint & old lead water pipes in addition to lead-based enamel, solder, etc. Lead poisoning symptoms include abdominal pain, nervous disorders, hallucinations, headaches & much more.) In the book Gaskins also mentions torturing people with "plumbum"- that, folks, is molten lead. It could explain a lot of things about his physical pains and his mental state (or as Gaskins called it, his "special kind of mind").
In any case, this is an invaluable book for people sincerely interested in understanding the psychological etiology of a killer. Very interesting, disturbing and sad indeed.
Summary of Final Truth : The Autobiography of a Serial Killer
The autobiogarphy of Serial Killer Gaskins, written as collaboration bwteen Gaskins and Wilton Earle. Gaskins graphic story of his life and crimes.Criminals Books
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