Hunter S. Thompson (1937–2005)

Creeping Jesus! This book is fantastic! I can't even remember the last time a book made me laugh so much. I'd seen Terry Gilliam's adaptation, of course, but even that pales by comparison. I'd never read Thompson before; however, his "Gonzo" style of journalistic writing resonated with me immediately. It grabbed me by the lapels and threw me up onto a literary equivalent of a mechanical bull. I held on and rode it out. It was like reading something that's written in the same way my mind show more works; same logic; same intensity; same madness. We seem to speak the same language -- Bourbonese, I believe it's called.

I decided to conduct a literary experiment while reading this book. Knowing that Thompson always wrote while drinking lots of Wild Turkey, I decided to tap the same mental current he was in when he wrote it. So I got real lit on Bourbon and dove in. It worked perfectly, just as I'd expected! I practically felt like I was channeling the shade of the late Gonzo master. His stuff is just brilliant!

Of course Thomson and his attorney's hilarious drug-fueled and debauched escapades across Nevada are only surface events in the story. The real story, indeed the very theme of the book, is the search for the "American Dream" -- whatever that is. The social commentary is priceless. It's sort of a snapshot of America circa 1971; still reeling from the various counterculture movements of the late 60s, and starting to come to terms with the fact that America wasn't going to have the bright, utopian, space-age future it was promised in the 50s and early 60s. It seems the nation was going through the equivalent of a societal hangover.

Included with the book are fantastic and outrageous illustrations by Ralph Steadman. Great stuff; they enhance the book tremendously. Their collective talents make a great duo.

This edition of FEAR AND LOATHING (Modern Library) also contains the works, "Strange Rumblings in Aztlan" and "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved". The former is about the police-killing of Hispanic news reporter Ruben Salazer; the latter is a hysterically funny commentary on Southern lifestyle. show less

This may be my favorite Hunter Thompson book. It's a collection of letters (he saved carbons of everything he ever wrote) from a young writer, not yet proven, but cocksure and brash as they come. He reaches out to publishers, politicians, and friends as he begins to carve a niche as a journalist and novelist.

It's his most honest writing, and as all these letters were written before his legend had surpassed his talent, you don't get the 'Gonzo' treatment, or the lazy indignation that fueled show more his later work, but a hungry, ambitious craftsman, pummeling his readers with words in an effort to impress, inspire, and intimidate.

Before the drugs and the madness, the fear and the loathing, there was a simple Southern Gentleman, trying like hell to become the next Hemingway. show less

I've never been big on sports, just not my scene, so what am I doing reading a collection of sports-related blog posts from ESPN? Because they were written by Dr. Hunter S. Thompson.

Thompson has been a huge influence on me for a long time, so when I stumbled upon this book in a little local bookstore one summer after dinner with my family, I had to snatch it up. I didn't realize at the time that this particular collection was from his sportswriting, but with Thompson you just know it's going show more to be about more than that.

And this book is. In fact, it's more about his addiction to sports and gambling, as well as the current events that influence everything including sports. These particular missives come from the time of 9/11, just before and the first years after, and seeing Thompson's reactions to the world at that time, knowing where he stands on issues from previous pieces, is an absolute must. He saw things coming that are only now starting to become apparent.

One thing I love about the Gonzo style is the flow the writing has, switching between personal anecdote, brutal confession, and honest criticism. Even sports can take on a wholly unique visage through the eyes of Hunter Thompson. There is also a beautiful tribute to his friend George Plimpton, who passed away in 2003. show less

“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro”

The title of this book refers to the author’s addiction to politics, and this time around he’s deep into the 1992 presidential election. George H.W, Ross Perot, and of course, Bill Clinton. He skewers all of them, and continues his strong hatred of Nixon, which is ironic of sorts, because Nixon is dead by the end of this book, and Hunter has this, amongst other things, to say about the former president, "Nixon will be remembered as a show more classic case of a smart man shitting in his own nest. But he also shit in our nests, and that was the crime that history will burn on his memory like a brand.
By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart of the American Dream."

Thompson also says this about “... the “Regan Revolution,” which ushered in eight years of berserk looting of the federal treasury and the economic crippling of the middle class.” “That was the feeding frenzy of the New Rich,...” Man, I wish Hunter was around now in the disastourous era of Trump. He'd be amazing, and a much needed voice on insanity in this horrible time of U.S. history. A president worse that Nixon? Boy, would HST have a field day!

Interestingly, I read the first 200 pages of this book while the “Race for the White House” documentary on CNN was on the large screen television in the lobby of the DoubleTree Hotel in Rohnert Park. Many of the faces mentioned on these pages flashed on the big screen as I read. It was weird. And right.

Dang Hunter, I wish you were here right now. We still needed you.

“Buy the ticket, take the ride.”

Ye gods. show less