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The Gonzo Papers #1

The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time

hunter s. thompson

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The first volume in Hunter S. Thompson’s bestselling Gonzo Papers offers brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in his signature style.

Originally published in 1979, the first volume of the bestselling “Gonzo Papers” is now back in print. The Great Shark Hunt is Dr. Hunter S. Thompson’s largest and, arguably, most important work, covering Nixon to napalm, Las Vegas to Watergate, Carter to cocaine. These essays offer brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in signature Thompson style.

Ranging in date from the National Observer days to the era of Rolling Stone, The Great Shark Hunt offers myriad, highly charged entries, including the first Hunter S. Thompson piece to be dubbed “gonzo”—“The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved,” which appeared in Scanlan's Monthly in 1970. From this essay a new journalistic movement sprang which would change the shape of American letters. Thompson's razor-sharp insight and crystal clarity capture the crazy, hypocritical, degenerate, and redeeming aspects of the explosive and colorful ‘60s and ‘70s.

624 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1979
Series
The Gonzo Papers

This edition

Format
624 pages, Paperback
Published
January 1, 2003 by Simon \u0026 Schuster
ISBN
9780743250450
ASIN
0743250451
Language
English

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hunter s. thompson

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Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 100 votes)
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
Angie-tan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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This is my favorite among the Gonzo Papers (his compilations of journalist columns for newspapers, magazines, and so on). The stories are truly the best and the most enjoyable to immerse oneself in.

For anyone new to HST, this is the ideal starting point. It is more easily digestible than "Las Vegas" or "the campaign trail" as each story is concise and gets right to the interesting part.

One interesting thing I do with the Gonzo Papers series is to locate an entry that is close to the current time of year (since all are dated) and read it. It is entertaining to observe what national "issues of great significance" he is writing about. Such as betting on the Super Bowl, elections, and the like.

It provides a unique perspective on the events and topics that were relevant during that particular period, and it's always fascinating to see how HST's writing style and viewpoints add a distinct flavor to these subjects.

Overall, the Gonzo Papers offer a captivating and engaging read that allows readers to step into the world of HST's journalism and experience his unique take on various events and issues.
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Blueno-CP9
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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This book is interesting on multiple levels.

It serves as an excellent record of how things were. We can now look back at these events and listen to HST's splenetic personal reviews of them in a gonzo style.

But what does that mean? Essentially, it is personal, and HST is the center of all the writing.

This then leads us to consider what and who HST was, simultaneously with what he was writing about.

He was someone the "stars" and glitterati who felt themselves on the edge could hang out with and get high together without any of the negative consequences affecting them.

He was a libertarian right-wing anarchist, as proud of his stance on gun law as he was of defending anti-racists and seeing through tokenism.

At times, the book is insightful, but of course, it all needs to be taken with a grain of salt, as what he was writing was to promote himself so he could get paid and fuel further wild adventures.

He was a man who could call out the hypocrisy in others while failing to see the hypocrisy and contradictions in his own drug- and booze-filled life.

What a waste.
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Voremio
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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A great collection of articles from one of, if not my favourite writer. The Great Shark Hunt is truly remarkable as it collates a swathe of work that details twenty years of his career. It offers some of the best Hunter S. Thompson articles to date. We are treated to pieces like "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved" and excerpts from his time covering the rise and fall of Richard Nixon.


As we read through, we get a vivid feel for his prose, his unique characteristics, and his captivating anecdotes. Every word he typed seems to be infused with the venom of a drug-addled creative. However, there are pockets of instability. The choice to copy/paste extracts from "Hell's Angels" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" for much of Act IV was rather odd, especially considering the rest of the offerings had, up until that point, created a loosely assembled narrative of Rolling Stone articles, unpublished ramblings, and reflective notions on a bygone generation.


For those who thought he had passed his prime long ago, The Great Shark Hunt serves as a near-600 page document of evidence to the contrary. His encounters with Jimmy Carter and Muhammad Ali in the latter days of the 1970s result in some of his most engaged and interesting writing. We don't approach these articles for mere information or news but to learn more about Thompson and the experiences he had. There is more than enough here for those wanting to delve deep into his creative process, making it a strong compendium to begin the Gonzo Diaries series with.

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5kyanma
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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HST's work sometimes gets bogged down with minutiae at certain points. However, this is precisely where we often discover some of his keener insights regarding sports, politics, and everything else. After all the bullshit has been laboriously shoveled, scraped, and swept away, there is still a great deal to wade through. But if you're like me, you'd probably prefer to hear it from a drug-addled maniac with no claim to objectivity rather than some shill for the New York Times.


HST was a truly remarkable thinker and writer. He was not only a pioneer in creating a whole new form of journalism but also a complex individual with a wide range of seemingly contradictory qualities that defined his life and work. Somehow, he managed to advocate for the better aspects of libertarianism while simultaneously resisting the childish urge to isolate himself completely. He was a civil rights activist, a defender of the poor and the environment, an unrepentant substance abuser, and a card-carrying member of the NRA. By calling out the bullshit of Americans and their elected representatives across the entire political spectrum, HST was able to bring a certain degree of impartiality back to journalism precisely when it was needed the most. Ironically, he achieved this through his personal investment and immersion in the very stories he covered.
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popfood
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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A little tedious. I think I've overdosed on Thompson. I thought some of his usual outrageousness was out of place and read like he was trying too hard to be crazy.


However, there were still a few good essays in the collection. I especially liked the one on Jean Claude Killy. It was well-written and provided an interesting perspective on the famous skier.


The author's writing style is unique, but it can be a bit overwhelming at times. I found myself skimming through some of the more convoluted passages.


Overall, I would say that the book is worth reading if you're a fan of Thompson's work or interested in sports writing. But be prepared for a wild ride.

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Abhijeet__
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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This book of essays has instantly established HST as one of my all-time favorite authors, and it effortlessly falls into my category of perfect books.

His unique blend of the absurd and the profane, combined with his creative, witty, and highly perceptive journalism, creates a winning combination that is truly captivating.

The topics covered in this collection are as diverse as they are fascinating, ranging from the infamous Nixon/Watergate scandal, to the presidency of Jimmy Carter, the world of the Hell’s Angels, the excitement of the Kentucky Derby, the legend that is Muhammad Ali, and the counterculture of Haight-Ashbury.

Each essay offers a fresh perspective and a wealth of engaging details, making this book a one-of-a-kind masterpiece in the very best sense. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great writing and a deep exploration of the human experience.

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Furyo_enjoyer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”



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



This collection of HST articles from the 1960s and 70s is truly a gem. It mainly focuses on politics and sports, but it also delves into almost every conceivable topic. Thank goodness it includes some of his hilarious (mis)adventures with outrageous amounts of highly illegal substances. While it contains many intelligent insights and arguments, the real delight of reading this lunatic, at least for me, is to embark on a journey along his incomparably weird and manic wavelength. One can experience all the bizarre, frantic, and frenzied energy that he was able to channel into much of his work. His crazed tone and wild antics never fail to amuse me. It makes me truly happy just to know that someone so eccentric, sleep-deprived, and strange actually existed on this planet. One of my favorite excerpts is:

  “I have never seen much point in getting heavy with stupid people or Jesus freaks, just as long as they don't bother me. In a world as weird and cruel as the one we have made for ourselves, I figure anybody who can find peace and personal happiness without ripping off somebody else deserves to be left alone. They will not inherit the earth, but then neither will I... And I have learned to live, as it were, with the idea that I will never find peace and happiness, either. But as long as I know there's a pretty good chance I can get my hands on either one of them every once in a while, I do the best I can between high spots.”



Mother of twelve bastards! He was absolutely right.




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Shadesblade
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
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Hunter S. Thompson is a remarkable figure who defines the essence of good journalism, despite his extreme subjectivity, rampant decadence, and pure mania. There is a strange and captivating power in his words. His works seem more trustworthy than any other longform pieces.

The last writer who had a similar impact on me was David Foster Wallace. His extreme maximalism and constant introspection gave the illusion that he was right there, talking directly to you. However, while David Foster Wallace appears as a philosophical and introverted friend ranting about the world's troubles over online chat, Hunter S Thompson is the friend who takes that rant and drives it into your eye sockets with the fierce intensity of a drunk preacher.

Journalism should possess two qualities: entertainment and informativeness. Hunter encapsulates both aspects in one powerful dose of pure literary LSD and forces it down your throat. He is the go-to man to experience the wildness and insanity of the 60s and 70s. You might even pick up a history lesson or two while following him on his joyride through time.

Nixon, Ali, Peru, Beatniks, Hippies, Aspen... All the strange and wonderful characters from a bygone era are summoned by the flowing prose of Hunter S Thompson. It was a thrilling ride that I would love to embark on again, perhaps next time when I pick up "F&L on the Campaign Trail" or "Las Vegas".

What a grand way to start this 2013 reading log.
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