I'm in process of slogging through this one, the sections relevant to Thompson's run for Sherriff and the journalistic trips that resulted in "Fear and Loathing" are enteratining and exciting to read, even if the former get a little redundant as he explains himself to his wide range of correspondents (friends, agents, editors, various swine in the political arena). I have laughed out loud several times at his viscious tongue in cheek letters to friends, as well as his diatribes to manufacturers on products he felt compelled to comment on (and/or ask for refunds). It is especially intriguing to read the correspondence between Oscar Acosta (the inspiration for the Samoan attorney in "Vegas") and Thompson as they wrestle with issues of friendship, politics and libel related to the eventual publication of their heavily exaggerated journey. More later, I've hit the political campaign section and it is a little harder to follow as I was just a young'un when most of this stuff was happenign so I have to struggle harder to sort out some of the names.

I did not know that H.S.T. was such a political junkie before I read these letters. He was a full time insider during the Nixon vs. McGovern campaign in '72. He even ran for office of Sheriff himself in Aspen Colorado.

A fascinating person and a singular writer, H.S.T. makes me want to go the whole hog, so to speak.

A great look into a more personal side of this fantastic journalist.

Another one for HST geeks - Thompson was a prolific letter writer, and as his best work was off the fly, you can imagine how fascinating and funny some of his letters were. Best read in little sittings to digest each letter. A great coffee table book.

"Not many months left in this era; not even a year, as I see it, and maybe less. Maybe it's already gone."

Maaan, I just can't get into non-fiction. I enjoyed reading this when I was actually reading it, but when I put it down, I forgot about it. Balls on me for never getting very far into this.

In "Fear and Loathing in America," Hunter S. Thompson, the unyielding sultan of Gonzo journalism, unveils a kaleidoscopic trove of personal correspondences that pierce the veil of the 1960s and '70s with a visceral intensity only Thompson could muster. This vivacious sequel to "The Proud Highway" catapults the reader into the maelstrom of Thompson's life during an era of tumultuous change and rampant cultural upheaval.

With each page, we're hitchhikers on a wild ride through the mind of a literary maverick; from his quixotic bid for sheriff in Aspen to the birth of the iconic "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," and onto the raucous political battleground of the '72 campaign trail. Thompson's letters—fiery missiles launched at friends, foes, and bewildered bystanders alike—are laced with the same electrifying prose and incendiary wit that propelled his published works into the stratosphere of American literature.

But this is not merely a collection of letters; it's an intimate mosaic of a man wrestling with the beasts of poverty, creativity, and familial duty. Far from the carefree hedonist some imagine, here we find Thompson burning the midnight oil, a relentless wordsmith hammering at his typewriter, fighting to keep the wolves of insolvency from his door. Each letter is a thread in the rich tapestry of Thompson's existence, revealing a man as complex and enigmatic as the era he so brilliantly illuminated.

"Fear and Loathing in America" is more than a book; it's a literary time capsule, an unflinching gaze into the soul of an American icon. It's a must-read for those daring enough to dive headlong into the chaos and genius of Hunter S. Thompson's world—a world where every word is a revolution, every sentence a battle cry in the fight for the freedom to write, live, and be unapologetically, irrepressibly alive.

Hunter Thompson was my hero during my brief journalism career. I doubt it plays as well now, outside the context of the times. Certainly Thompson exemplified ... perhaps event invented ... a hyperbolic turn of phrase that now infuses even the most poorly written blogs. And thinking further, we may even have him to blame for the pandemic of "awesome-ness" in our language. I doubt he intended that outcome, but it seems all of the same tree.

This is a very thorough collection of letters/memos that were written to/from Hunter S. Thompson b/w 1968 and 1976. Although it is extremely long (and a bit repetitive, but each letter has something new to offer) it is one of my favorite HST works. This time period encompasses the release of Hell's Angels, the creation and publication of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 and many infamous articles that were eventually compiled in the Gonzo Papers books.

This gave me more insight into HST than any of his other books. It's almost like a diary, because each of his letters is so personal and detailed. There is no way you could possibly understand what he is saying all of the time, but it sure is fun to try! In the past I had been so interested in the collection of articles and books that I had read by HST, but this book was a very open peak into his personal life. I am amazed out how direct and honest he is in each letter, especially those addressed to debt collectors and his editors/publishers. Doktor Thompson was definitely a man who had faith in his beliefs and wasn't afraid to tell others what he thought.

I wish I had known ahead of time to read the first "letters" volume first - this is the second. And so I will be reading them out of order. But, I figure I am reading all of HST out of order, and my collection is almost complete - at which point I will be able to re-read them in order!

Raw, wild and wonderful!

Buy the ticket, take the ride - avec outlaw journalist and political junkie Hunter Thompson, through the tumultuous late 60s/early 70s.

When the news is too depressing and I need a good bracing up, I pull this volume or The Proud Highway off the shelf.

The only reason Doug Brinkley may get into heaven is because he brought the volumes of HST's correspondence to press.

Absolutely love Hunter S. Thompson. Great read.