A list of books recommended by american writer hunter s. Hunter thompson was a drug addict, but dont get me wrong, he was a man with an amazing heart, a very sweet person. He first rose to prominence with the publication of hells angels 1967, a book for which he spent a year living and riding with the hells angels motorcycle gang in order to write a firsthand account of the lives and experiences of its members. Hunter s thompson, high times and how to survive the hangover from hell anyone who spent a little bit of time with the author of fear and loathing in las vegas was lucky especially if he. One of my favorite books in my early teens was the giver by lois lowry. He is best known for the contemporary classic fear. While best known for his 1971 novel fear and loathing in las vegas, thompson s pioneering take on writing and reporting is what many consider his lasting legacy.
You may know hunter s thompson better as the outlaw journalist with a penchant for drugs and alcohol, and for penning the cult classic fear and loathing in las vegas. A strange and terrible saga andor fear and loathing in las. The best audiobooks of august 2019 by alexis gunderson august 8, 2019 2. Once youve read those two books, youve read the best two books he ever wrote and you can meander through his later writings as whim dictates.
And he fulfills both criteria in a rejection letter for rolling stone to some author named anthony burgess. I recently reread it for the first time since i was a teenager, and i cant help but feel a little uncomfortable. Wenner and corey seymour, sandy declares, the only way to say it is that i was just gone. First published as a twopart series in rolling stone, the book fear and loathing in las vegas. You may know hunter s thompson better as the outlaw journalist with a. The book introduced thompsons drugaddled, hallucinatory yet generally cogent writing. A pioneer of gonzo journalism, thompson s work takes readers on wild rides through americas underbelly with the feverish punch of a writer actively participating in their story. Thompson referred to gatsby frequently in books and letters. He showed a knack for writing at a young age, and after high school began his career in journalism while serving in the united states. Hunter s thompson s letter on finding your purpose and living a meaningful life. Maybe youve seen fear and loathing in las vegas movie, or youve read bits of hunter s.
Thompson is often misremembered as a wisecracking, drugaddled cartoon character. Hunter s lifestyle, combined with his distinctive passion for writing and his unique, personal and realistic approach to prose is whats made him one of the most influential authors of his generation. While best known for his 1971 novel fear and loathing in las vegas, thompsons pioneering take on writing and reporting is what many consider his lasting legacy. The best books of july 2019 by frannie jackson july 24, 2019 3. The book was published in multiple languages including french, consists of 295 pages and is available in format. Id definitely read hells angels before you finish your adventure in gonzoland, though. Menand points out that thompson first called the book the death of the american dream, likely inspired by fitzgeralds first gatsby title, the death of the red white and blue. Penguin books, 2005, ltd isbn 0141022434 trade cloth fear and loathing at rolling stone. Thompson s most popular book is strah i pozuda u new yorku. A savage journey to the heart of the american dream, and hells angels, and more on. Many songs are direct reference to his books such as fear and loathing in las vegas 1971 or the movie itself, fear and loathing in las vegas 1998. Before the vegas book, hunter was on a short list of new journalisms leading lightsalong with tom wolfe, truman capote, norman mailer.
He is, arguably, best known as the founder and pioneer of gonzo journalism. When he was 14, his father died of a rare immune disorder. We do not intend to condone nor glorify substance abuse. Thompson was a longtime advocate for getting to the truth in journalismeven if that meant twisting the facts to evoke the central reality. Besides fear and loathing in las vegas, which of thompsons books best epitomizes. Thompson calls anthony burgess cheapjack scum in a rejection letter for rolling stone. Supplied his resulting memoir nonetheless gives the impression that the good man in hunter s thompson was sometimes hard to. I remember that a couple of years after my story in rolling stone.
Feb 25, 2009 thompson rambles about the 88 election. Thompson, the journalist, author and founder of the gonzo journalism movement, enjoyed a feverish love for literature. Thompson was born on july 18, 1937 in louisville, kentucky, usa as hunter stockton thompson. Fear and loathing las vegas whole book part 1 karin mathews. The first edition of the novel was published in 1966, and was written by hunter s.
Thompson on his career in journalism and his love of letter writing in this new book the proud highway. Thompson has some lessrecommended but, nevertheless, stellar recommendations. A savage journey to the heart of the american dream, and hells. Hunter s thompson died of a self inflicted gun wound on feb. The best audiobooks of july 2019 by alexis gunderson july 26, 2019 3. Hunter stockton thompson was an american author and journalist. Thompsons books include fear and loathing in america, screwjack, hells angels, fear and loathing in las vegas, the proud highway, better than sex, the rum diary, and kingdom of fear.
What were hunter s thompson health problems answers. When he was discharged from the military as an afc his co wrote in his dd214 honorable discharge file that afc thomson, albeit disciplined and skilled, can not be led. Juan thompson attempts to humanize the crazy gonzo journalist without giving in to sentiment in his new book recounting his fathers. Thompson, including work by henry miller, george orwell and f. Thompson s books include fear and loathing in america, screwjack, hells angels, fear and loathing in las vegas, the proud highway, better than sex, the rum diary, and kingdom of fear.
Thompson the best writing from the one and only dr. Fear and loathing las vegas whole book part 1 youtube. Essays about life essays about death essays about love. Thompson on life and death, animated the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have. Thompson was notorious for drinking, among other vices. Thompson, including fear and loathing in las vegas. Thompson for his 1971 book fear and loathing in las vegas. Thompson can teach you about powerful writing written by paul jun hunter s. Thompson transferred high schools, and was accepted into the prestigious athenaeum literary association.
Click on the images for more information via amazon. Hunter stockton thompson july 18, 1937 february 20, 2005 was an american journalist and author, and the founder of the gonzo journalism movement. Thompson became a legend he had a briefcase of drugs and a supreme command of language and as he defined his legacy at rolling stone. Thompson was an american journalist and author, credited with inspiring the gonzo journalism movement whereby journalists write without objectivity and often serve as part of the story in which heshe is writing if you havent yet, check out thompson s hells angels. Its easy to see why he loved the meal so much, especially due to his chaotic lifestyle where he was basically wasted 247 he used breakfast as an anchor point, his connection to reality. Also, on a somewhat related note, cormac mccarthy thinks you should read hunter s. Fear and loathing in las vegas is a classic of our time cormac mccarthy, quote taken from this rolling stone story about ol cormac and how he spends his time chillin with the brightest scientists in the world at the santa fe institute.
Okay, lets assume that youre late to the party on this one. Thompson documentary gonzo hits limited theaters on july 4. The walls are still plastered with photos of him and thompson for sheriff posters from the. Molly antopol and jason sheehan reflect on the results by turning to their favorite political books. Thompson, the journalist, author and founder of the gonzo journalism. Thompsons tale of druginduced adventures on a road trip in las vegas have. Most of his stuff is good, and worth reading, but fear and loathing in lasvegas is great, and easily the definitive hunter s thompson book. The outline is an intensely vivid look into what a day in the life of gonzo writer hunter thompson looked like. Compilation of the favorite songs and artists of hunter s. Nov 29, 2014 you may know hunter s thompson better as the outlaw journalist with a penchant for drugs and alcohol, and for penning the cult classic fear and loathing in las vegas.
Thompson, american journalist and author who created the genre known as gonzo journalism, a highly personal style of reporting that made thompson a counterculture icon. Thompson was an anonymous freelancer looking to make a name for himself. At 24, some five years before publishing his breakout book, hells angels, and nearly a decade before branding himself a gonzo journalist, the young hunter s. Thompson 19372005 was an american author and journalist.
More attractions await his fans in town, most notably hunters favorite haunt, the woody creek tavern. He died on february 20, 2005 in aspen, colorado, usa. Here are a couple of quotes and bits of wisdom from the gonzo master of. Confessions of a political junkie gonzo papers, vol. The two met through mutual friends in new york city in 1958. Thompson was an american journalist and author, credited with inspiring the gonzo journalism movement whereby journalists write without objectivity and often serve as part of the story in which heshe is writing if you havent yet, check out thompsons hells angels. Thompson became a legend he had a briefcase of drugs and a supreme command of language and as he defined his legacy at rolling stone, he changed journalism in the process.
Thompson was born and raised in louisville, kentucky. Thompson was the creator of gonzo journalism or as he called himself, the doctor of journalism and the writer of the infamous books fear and loathing in las vegas, hells angels. His books include hells angels, fear and loathing at rolling stone, fear and loathing on the campaign trail 72, the rum diary, and better than sex. Jean carroll starts the first chapter with a detailed account of. Thompson from fear and loathing in las vegas thinks you should read including the great gatsby. Thompson was an american journalist and author, credited with inspiring the gonzo journalism movement whereby journalists write without objectivity and often serve as part of the story in which heshe is writing. A hallucinatory account of a journalistic enterprise that went horribly wrong, this book changed journalism, made hunter a star, and has the.
Thompson has 76 books on goodreads with 785551 ratings. I didnt like rum diary, thats probably personal preference, it reads like a personal power fantasy, but its really well written. Its now late december 2016, and his only writing that i still have to put my hands on is, guess what, the mutineer. But in over 45 years of writing, this prolific observer of the american scene wrote voluminously, often hilariously, and usually with deceptively cleareyed vitriol on sports, politics, media, and other viciously addictive pursuits. Thompson book in june 2016 shame on me, i know, i know, but i tried to make up for the time lost by reading, in the following months, every single line he wrote. A savage journey to the heart of the american dream. Even going as far as typing various of his favorite books by them as a. Thompson was quite the eclectic dude, but did you know that his favorite part of the day is breakfast. The main characters of this non fiction, writing story are hunter s.
The book introduced thompsons drug addled, hallucinatory yet generally cogent writing. That being said, read on and learn how to drink like your favorite author. Thompson has the appropriate verbosity and temperament to pen such letters. The complete saga of harmony korine on letterman and why he got banned for life duration. A selection of some of thompsons favorite books are listed below courtesy of electric lit. The best young adult novels of august 2019 by eric smith august, 2019 3. He was best known for his style of gonzo journalism, which he created, that blurs the lines between fiction and nonfiction. Ernest hemingway was known for a lot of things but right now, were going to focus on his drinking habits rather than his blatant misogyny. General quotes some of thompson s best boozy quotes came in the form of life lessons, encouraging his.