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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

This is the true Hunter S Thompson.

He built his legend by writing about whatever was thrown at him and making it his own.

It's easy to forget that despite his public persona, Thompson was a tremendous writer.

He had the ability to draw many emotions out of his readers.

His works are like a powerful force that can touch the hearts and souls of those who read them.

A personal favorite of mine and a book I never tire of.

Thompson's writing style is unique and captivating.

His words are filled with passion, energy, and a sense of rebellion.

He doesn't hold back, but rather tells the truth as he sees it.

Reading his works is like taking a wild ride through a world that is both exciting and dangerous.

It's a journey that I am always willing to take again and again.

I came across this extremely long Thompson collection somewhat by chance. However, it reveals that he is an extraordinary journalist with a compelling desire to seek greater truths. This impression truly outshines the quirky, drug-obsessed image that the general culture has reduced him to.

Most of this book focuses on his experiences covering Richard Nixon. Given that we are currently in the midst of another overly arrogant conservative regime on the verge of self-destruction due to an obvious ethic of corruption and single-mindedness, his observations seem eerily accurate.

Interestingly, while Nixon and his associates were the greatest enemy of Thompson's life, he stated before his death that he would choose Nixon over Bush in an instant. Anyway, he isn't really interested in being on the other side (Democrat, liberal, and so on), and his critiques of Nixon don't feel contrived, just honest. Oh, and he attempts to spraypaint "Fuck the Pope" on an America's Cup boat in Newport while under the influence of mushrooms...

It's a wild and fascinating ride through Thompson's world, filled with his unique perspective and unfiltered thoughts.

Readers who are only acquainted with Hunter S. Thompson through his wild and acid-infused pursuit of the American Dream in one of this country's most chaotic metropolitan areas will encounter a different side of Hunter here.

Given the man's penchant for creating spectacles, his pomposity, and his grand acts of destruction, it's understandable that people might overlook the fact that before he became a legend, Thompson was a highly talented and capable journalist. He was one of those rare individuals who could flawlessly capture the essence of the 60s zeitgeist, encompassing both its ecstatic highs and its naïve belief that a better world could be simply imagined into existence.

Before his image devolved into a caricature parodied by everyone from Doonesbury's Gary Trudeau to Johnny Depp's less-than-stellar portrayals (while I have no issue with Fear & Loathing, which was a masterpiece under Gilliam's direction, the adaptations of The Rum Diaries and the animated spoof of Rango were abysmal), Thompson produced some truly outstanding pieces of journalism.

The Great Shark Hunt compiles many of these lesser-known writings of Thompson's. There are indeed some sections that are familiar from elsewhere, such as the entirety of Part II, which was largely drawn from his Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. This offers an interesting snapshot of life on the campaign trail with the underdog George McGovern campaign, which managed to secure the Democratic nomination despite the fierce opposition of the Dem establishment, only to implode spectacularly, handing Nixon a landslide re-election.

However, for the most part, much of this material was new to me and contained many hidden gems. The book is well worth reading, if only for Thompson's magnificent reporting from his hometown in "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent & Depraved." This piece recounts the author's first meeting with his long-time illustrator Ralph Steadman and their alcohol-fueled adventures during the most important event of the white Southern gentry's year.

Most interesting for me, Part III features political reports sent from the South during 1963 while Thompson was covering events in the ever-turbulent South America. With his characteristic disdain for those who abuse power for personal gain rather than to help others, Thompson provides dispatches from Puerto Estrella, a lawless city of Colombian smugglers, reports on the Peruvian military's overthrow of the popularly elected APRA party to maintain the grip of the same 40 families on the nation, and describes a showdown between the Brazilian military and a Rio nightclub that ends with bullets flying and grenades being thrown onto the busy dance floor, all to teach the owner a lesson in respect.

Throughout, Thompson never fails to cast a critical eye on the American expats and businessmen who embrace the inherent racism of former colonial masters, lamenting the Peruvians' inability to see that the gringos are only there to help and refusing to recognize that riding in on a white horse to save them is just a repackaged form of the same paternalism that South Americans have endured since the Conquistadors.

This is by no means a must-read, and I did find myself slogging through some of the articles. However, for anyone who enjoys Thompson's unique brand of biting rhetoric, it offers an entertaining and informative look at the works of a man who was never afraid to speak his mind and who was always shocked and appalled by the corruption of the American Dream by moneyed interests preying on the fears of the populace. In an era that seems so disturbingly similar to the times when Thompson was at his prime, reading the words of a man who was always willing to express his outrage serves as a useful reminder.

I distanced myself from Thompson for a period. This was in part due to an impression I had formed from a comic book I read as a child called Transmetropolitan, which had an ostensibly Thompson-like protagonist, and in part from the movie Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I thought his writing was cartoonish, overly focused on being funny, and not serious at all.

There are indeed a few pieces that seem to fit this description, such as \\"The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved\\" and the title essay. These are disproportionately well-known and praised, while his better works, like those about George McGovern, Jimmy Carter, and the killing of Ruben Salazar, are perhaps not as well-known.

I initially thought his two great topics were sports and politics, but this needs clarification. Although he started as a sportswriter, it doesn't seem he chose to write about sports more often or with more insight than others. So, perhaps his one great topic is politics, or more narrowly, Richard Nixon. About 200 pages in the middle of this collection are dedicated to Nixon, from various essays. It's clear that Nixon brought out the best in him.

One interesting thing about Thompson's book on the 1972 US election is that it begins and ends with descriptions of two successive Super Bowls. Sportswriting is often limited by its subject matter, and the better it's written, the more it seems like a waste of talent. Thompson's take on what makes good sportswriting is both hilarious and revealing.

Football brings us back to Nixon. When they met in 1968, they talked about football. This was a prerequisite set by Nixon's handlers. Thompson was amazed at how well Nixon knew the game.

Thompson never explicitly makes the point, but the mindsets in sports, politics, and a certain kind of drug use are all similar. It's his mindset: the spirit of gambling and competition, the addictive buzz, the ephemera of numbers and odds, the black-and-white morality of winning or losing, the comfort of tradition, and the pageantry.

Football is not the only American sport, but it's the most popular today. It's strongly associated with patriotism in the popular consciousness, and its unspoken essence is violence. Thompson understood that sports are not just harmless entertainment, and this is likely part of what he liked about them.

Another overlooked aspect of Thompson's writing is that he writes about both the spiritual and the material world. As a journalist, he starts with the material, but also includes things like the buzz from gambling, the pleasure of swimming, and the subjective experiences of drug use and listening to music.

This makes him a relatable writer. In contrast to someone like Henry Miller, Thompson rarely allowed himself transcendence in his writing. Writing for him always begins with engagement. When JFK was shot, he wrote a letter to a friend expressing his thoughts.

Ten years ago, I would have disagreed with him. Now I agree. It reminds me of what Orwell wrote about Miller. Thompson, at his best, didn't allow himself to be \\"inside the whale.\\"