This is a rather strange and somewhat misleading three-star rating I'm giving to Hunter S. Thompson's book, Generation of Swine. It's misleading for several reasons. Firstly, when you have over 100 pieces that were likely originally written for various periodicals (the book doesn't specify their original publication sources) taken out of context and compiled in a book, and some are excellent, some average, and some terrible, it's a bit of a math puzzle to come up with an unassuming three-star experience. But this book was not that at all, despite how it may seem from my rating.

Here's what it really is: a collection of journalistic essays that begins excitingly, with a gonzo or new feel, but ends with essays that have devolved into political opinion pieces. Granted, even these are more enjoyable to read than your typical political journalism. After all, who else but Hunter Thompson could get away with a weekly column labeling politicians as "Swine of the Week" and still be taken seriously? However, Hunter Thompson is at his best when he and his friends take you on a tour that other guides wouldn't. You're not entirely sure about the facts presented on this tour. For example, when Hunter claims he met Bishop Desmond Tutu and Desmond told him to bet against the Bears in Super Bowl XX, you're left scratching your head. Or when Hunter's friend Skinner (who is Skinner anyway? The story doesn't tell us) calls him up and tells him to pack his bags because they're going to Port-au-Prince to cover the Haitian revolution from the voodoo angle, it's equally puzzling.

Full disclosure: I have developed a rather healthy obsession with Hunter S. Thompson. I've read many of his Rolling Stone pieces, as well as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and his piece on the Kentucky Derby. I've seen numerous documentaries about him and heard people from various backgrounds talk about him with a mix of deference, respect, and bewilderment. It all comes down to this for me: Am I insanely in love with the writing or the writer? And the million-dollar question that follows: With this style of storytelling, this genre-bending, this opaque journalism where so much dramatic license is taken and the journalist becomes part of the story, does that first question even matter? It's something I'm left to ponder. Generation of Swine has been a turning point for me in my opinion of Hunter S. Thompson. Without the gonzo aspect, without the storyteller at the center of the story, shaping it as he sees fit, I'm left thinking that the writer and the writing have to blend into one strange entity to pique my interest. Otherwise, it's just three-star writing.

Hunter S. Thompson's "Generation of Swine" takes readers on a wild ride through the chaotic and often absurd landscape of 1980s America.

This collection of essays is a no-holds-barred assault on everything from politics to pop culture. It is filled with the good doctor's signature gonzo flair.

Imagine being strapped to a rocket, fueled by a potent mix of sharp wit, relentless truth-seeking, and a sprinkle of paranoia. That's the experience of diving into Thompson's world. His words are like a jolt of caffeine, jolting you awake to the bizarre realities of the Reagan era.

Thompson's commentary is both brutally honest and darkly hilarious. He spares no one - not politicians, not celebrities, and certainly not the media. It's like being in the front row of a fireworks display: dazzling, explosive, and you might get singed if you're not careful.

What I love most about Thompson is his fearless voice. He rages against the hypocrisy and madness of his time, offering a raw, unfiltered look at the world. It's not always a pretty picture, but it's undeniably captivating.

In "Generation of Swine," Thompson once again proves that he's the master of controlled chaos. It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good laugh, a bit of scandal, and a hefty dose of truth.

This is not his best work. Nevertheless, it compiles several articles from the San Francisco Examiner in which the good Dr. takes on the task of dissecting the North American two-party system through a journey of stories from the 1988 presidential campaign. Who would have thought that George Bush was on the verge of losing? Or that the scandals of pedophilia, violence in the deep south, and corruption (including the Iran-Contra scandal) were not going to have an impact on the final result? In summary, the book also provides a lot of material to work with and a beautiful category that replicates over time, beyond the era for which it was intended: the generation of the pig. Does it stop at any time? At any territorial border? I believe that here and now it is more relevant than ever. The thing speaks for itself.

It is interesting to note how the author delves into the various aspects of the political landscape during that time. The analysis of the two-party system is both thought-provoking and eye-opening. The inclusion of the scandals adds an element of drama and reality to the narrative.

Overall, this book offers a unique perspective on a particular moment in history and its implications for the present. It serves as a reminder that the past can often provide valuable lessons for the future.

The Reagan administration, along with other so-called "porcine creatures," engaged in what can only be described as criminal buffoonery. It was a time filled with absurdities and actions that bordered on the comical, yet had serious consequences.

Their behavior was like a circus act gone wrong, with politicians stumbling around, making decisions that seemed to be based on nothing but their own self-interests and a complete lack of understanding.

It was as if they were playing a game, but the rules were constantly changing and the only winners were themselves.

The criminal aspects of their actions were blatant, yet they seemed to think they could get away with it.

It was a sorry state of affairs that left the American people shaking their heads in disbelief and wondering what on earth was going on.

In conclusion, the Reagan administration and its porcine counterparts will go down in history as a prime example of how not to run a government.

An interesting collection of writings by the good doctor.

This collection is truly a gem. It contains a diverse range of works that showcase the doctor's unique perspective and talent.

Each piece is filled with vivid descriptions and engaging stories that draw the reader in and keep them hooked until the very end.

The doctor's writing style is both accessible and profound, making it suitable for readers of all levels.

Whether you're looking for entertainment, inspiration, or simply a good read, this collection has something for everyone.

It's a must-have for any book lover or anyone interested in the work of this remarkable doctor.

So don't miss out on this wonderful collection - pick it up today and discover the magic within!

For all the attention given to his outrageous behavior, HST sure was perceptive about politics.

He had a unique perspective that often cut through the clutter and got to the heart of the matter. This book focuses on his mid-80's output, which was a time when the political landscape was changing rapidly.

And for my money, a lot of what he wrote during that period still holds true today. His insights into the nature of power, the role of the media, and the flaws in the political system are as relevant now as they were then.

Whether you agree with his views or not, there's no denying that HST was a force to be reckoned with in the world of politics and journalism. His writing was bold, brash, and unapologetic, and it continues to inspire and influence generations of readers.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the political climate of the 80's and how it has shaped the world we live in today.

As far as HST goes, this collection is rather lackluster. It doesn't possess the wild and untamed spirit that was so evident in works like The Great Shark Hunt or Kingdom of Fear. Instead, it feels more like a classic Thompson piece that has been encased in a murky block of lucite, losing some of its original vitality and impact.

Unless you are an absolute die-hard fan who simply must consume every single word that HST ever wrote, you would be better served by re-reading The Great Shark Hunt. As you do so, you can pause occasionally to quote Coleridge or make statements like someone "stomped the terra," adding a touch of literary flair and humor to your reading experience. This way, you can truly appreciate the genius of HST at his best, rather than settling for a collection that fails to capture his essence.

That is the problem with this rich and anguished generation.

Somewhere a long time ago, they fell in love with the idea that politicians, even the slickest and brightest presidential candidates, were real heroes and truly exciting people. However, this is wrong on the face. As the Book of Revelation states, "And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world." Politicians are mainly dull people with corrupt instincts and, in some cases, criminal children.

Take George Bush for example. His actions and decisions often left people wondering about his intelligence. In contrast, Reagan was like John Wayne, a symbol of strength and leadership. But this generation seems to have lost touch with such ideals.

The columns are filled with atavistic references, betting odds for sports games, and other things that the author has a bone to pick with that week. They are truly righteous screeds.

However, this is not HST's best work, especially when you're reading what are weekly columns back to back. HST once a week is fine, but reading them together makes you want to go out the way he did.

Hunter Thompson's GENERATION OF SWINE has been sitting on my bookshelves for a full twenty years. Just recently, I decided to re-read it, and I have to say, he didn't disappoint me in the slightest.

The early chapters of the book are as wild and wicked as they were when I first read them. They are filled with Thompson's unique brand of gonzo journalism, his unapologetic and often outrageous take on the world. However, as the book progresses, the second half becomes somewhat obsessed with Reagan, Oliver North, and Bush I. This part of the book does feel a bit dated, as so many of the causes and issues that Thompson was writing about have since been forgotten.

It's ironic that so many on the far-left have embraced Hunter Thompson from the start and continue to esteem his acid-laced damnations to this day. But in today's politically correct climate, with movements like BLM, the emphasis on safe spaces, and the "words-are-violence" myths that prevail on college campuses, it seems unlikely that any new admirer of Thompson could ever approach his prose. Surely, no one with a lefty readership could publish his essays today, as the raw and unfiltered nature of his writing would be too much for many to handle.

Despite this, the early chapters of GENERATION OF SWINE remain matchless. Here are three brief samples that showcase Thompson's talent:

"Sometime around midnight I stopped in Novato to pay my respects at a bachelor party for a male stripper who was marrying a lap dancer from the O'Farrell Theater. Some of the guests were shocked when the bride appeared in a set of 100-year-old cowboy chaps and went wild like a minx in heat, but I had worked long enough in The Business to appreciate the subtlety of it."

"The TV business is uglier than most things...some kind of cruel money trench through the heart of journalism, a long plastic highway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs... For the most part they are dirty little animals with huge brains and no pulse. Every once in a while they will toss up a real human like Ed Bradley or Edwin Newman. But these are the exceptions that prove the hideous rule. Mainly we are dealing with a profoundly degenerate world, a living web of foulness, greed and treachery."

"One of the things you have to deal with in this business is being whipped on by brainless freaks and special-interest pleaders. On some nights they gnaw on your doorknob and on others they plot rotten lawsuits and fondle themselves like chimpanzees in rooms lit by 25-watt bulbs."

These passages are just a taste of the madness and brilliance that awaits readers of Hunter Thompson's GENERATION OF SWINE.

I still firmly believe that the trademark HST is out there waiting to be discovered. It simply requires a bit more in-depth exploration at this stage of his career (and by the time you reach "Hey Rube", it demands some legitimate literary excavation).

Jann Wenner's claim that Thompson was unable to get his act together after the Rumble in the Jungle fiasco doesn't hold water. I think it's reasonable to attribute part of this to a rumored estrangement between the two.

Because he does manage to pull it together on occasion. There are numerous columns in this collection (particularly when Thompson directs his energy towards criticizing the Democratic Party) where his voice is as clear and poignant as it was in "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail".

However, overall, this is a repetitive jumble of columns that, to the uninitiated reader, might seem like the ravings of a degenerate gambler. Seriously, if you're not interested in the continuous analysis of past presidential races or you're not a huge HST fan in general, it's best to stay away.

An inconsistent look at Thompson and his work in the period following his most prolific and successful literary run in the late 1960s and early '70s.

It is unclear who exactly "lashed together" the essays, chapters, and paragraphs in this book. It could potentially be Hunter S. Thompson, the book's author, but then again, it might not be. Whoever was responsible for this editorial task had a rather difficult job on their hands.

The end result is a book that is mediocre yet still manages to be entertaining. It doesn't quite reach the heights of Thompson's earlier works during his most productive and successful period. However, it does offer some glimpses into his unique perspective and writing style.

Overall, while not a masterpiece, this book provides an interesting look at Thompson and his work during a particular time in his career. It may not satisfy die-hard fans of his earlier work, but it can still be an enjoyable read for those interested in Thompson's literary output.

Hunter S. Thompson was a truly remarkable figure.

He was a madman iconoclast with a unique sense of bizarre truth. This lanky, stooped-over, cigarette-smoking, often drugged romantic was constantly in search of a noble dream. He would find himself lost in brooding and despair, secluded on his Woody Creek compound, jabbing one finger on a typewriter at three in the morning.

He wore many hats - a doctor, a politics junkie, a renegade journalist. He was more of a persona than just a man. Haunted by his past in Kentucky, he wrote on the run, facing poverty and being chased after. Yet, he was also adored, feared, and respected. A loner who would splash whiskey in a cold glass and sigh after returning from a night run on a sleek black bike.

HST held up a warped mirror to America, revealing a beastly flesh and an unholy knot of muscles and undeserving righteousness. His book "Generation of Swine" consists of a hundred of his columns from the '80s. By then, his outlaw persona was well-known, and his literary successes had already occurred. Fans still expected him to be as cartoonish as the deranged Raoul Duke, not realizing the serious and introspective man he was in the letters of his youth.

The main topics in this book are politics and culture. His words could hit as hard as a kidney-punch, being brutal, unflinchingly honest, comically dark, and twisted. He was at his best when in the middle of a rant or when philosophizing about the condition of humanity. Some of his columns might seem irrelevant, while others are time capsules into important historical events and cultures, still relevant to the corrupt rules of our modern political game, albeit with different players.

As always, he mastered the line between fiction and reality. When the two overlap so much, reality feels even more bizarre. But as Philip K. Dick once said, "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Maybe the only reality learned from this collection is that it's a strange world, where some people get rich and others eat shit and die.