This is an extremely important book.

For one thing, it offers an insider's perspective on a counterculture and a soon-to-be criminal group precisely during the era of this transition.

Another aspect worthy of praise is Thompson's writing. It is not the exaggerated style found in his Fear and Loathing works. Instead, it is rather straightforward, humorous, and blended with facts, statistics, and headlines to present an overall image of the outlaw motorcycle culture represented by the Hell's Angels.

Last but most significantly, Hell's Angels is like a candle that shines a light on America as a whole. Although crucial for understanding the mid-1960s, Thompson's book still burns brightly and reveals much of America's contemporary problems hidden behind the grand myth of our way of life.

In our vast republic, people are forgotten and regarded as outsiders. Most of the dispossessed accept their fate and pass the time as "losers" until death approaches. However, there are a few who have internalized the messages in our entertainment and media and will take up chains and blades against an oppressive future from which there is no way out. This is the outlaw culture. While it may be a minority among the "have-nots," it is American in origin. Pure and simple; and dangerous.

LOVED
Even though it must be taken with a pinch of salt, love is an emotion that has the power to transform our lives. It can bring us joy, happiness, and a sense of fulfillment.

Love can take many forms, whether it's the love between a parent and child, the love between friends, or the love between a romantic partner. Each type of love is unique and special in its own way.

However, love is not always easy. It requires effort, patience, and understanding. There will be times when we face challenges and difficulties in our relationships, but it is through these experiences that we learn and grow.

Despite the challenges, love is still worth fighting for. It is a beautiful and precious gift that enriches our lives and makes us better people. So, let us cherish the love in our lives and always remember to take it with a pinch of salt.

Hunter S Thompson is truly a genius.

On one hand, he appears to be an irresponsible drug-crazed lunatic, constantly pushing the boundaries of perception and control to the verge of absolute insanity.

On the other hand, he is a visionary journalist who not only reports the story but actively participates in it, blurring the line between "story" and "reporter".

Combining these two aspects gives us Hunter S Thompson's unique brand of social commentary and profound insight. He is astonishingly articulate, and his writings are filled with powerful gems.

"Hell's Angels" is Hunter's account of over a year spent carousing with the infamous motorcycle gang. It includes his commentary on the national media's portrayal compared to his own observations, as well as his musings on the psychological influences behind their mentality and the meaning of it all in the broader social context.

If you've only read "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", don't overlook his other works! They are equally worthy of your attention and offer a deeper understanding of Thompson's brilliant mind and his unique perspective on the world.

The Hells Angels, those so-called "outlaw motorcycle clubs," are truly corny as hell.

They strut around with their leather jackets and patches, thinking they're some kind of tough and rebellious bunch. But in reality, their whole image is just a tired and overdone cliché.

Their supposed "badass" behavior often comes across as juvenile and attention-seeking. They ride their motorcycles loudly, as if that makes them something special. But in the grand scheme of things, they're just a group of guys (and sometimes girls) who are trying too hard to be something they're not.

The Hells Angels may have once had a certain allure or mystique, but that has long since worn off. Now, they just seem like a relic of a bygone era, a group that is more interested in maintaining their outdated image than in actually doing anything meaningful.

In conclusion, the Hells Angels are corny as hell, and it's time for them to either change or fade away into obscurity.

This is the very first Hunter S. Thompson book that I managed to finish. The others simply made me desire to tune in, turn on, and drop out. Well, this one kind of had a similar effect, but not in exactly the same way.

I truly appreciate the Angels' total lack of giving a F&$%. However, I don't have a need for the tough guy, outlaw, pirate persona and identity that comes along with their group. I can understand how it would be appealing to certain individuals in their 20's who are seeking an identity and a sense of belonging in a world that has gone astray. But I guess in my 20's, I chose to twirl in a different direction.

I still sometimes fantasize about living a nomadic lifestyle, out on the open road. But I don't require any colors, patches, or tribes to make it feel real or safe. Instead, I envision more of an airstream with my wife and Betty by my side. Although I have always been curious about gangs and their culture, and this book has only increased my interest further. I think I'll read a few more insider accounts during this reading spree. It seems like I'm changing genres once again.

Before he achieved fame, before he became the iconoclastic gonzo journalist, and before he was revered as an avatar by worshipful young men, this was Thompson simply striving to do an outstanding job.

To be sure, he had never been an ordinary individual. However, in this instance, given the nature of the subject matter, he was approaching it with a certain degree of straightforwardness.

The outcome is a work of earnest craftsmanship and profound insight that unfolds almost seamlessly from beginning to end. It showcases Thompson's ability to present a story with both integrity and a unique perspective, even in the early stages of his career.

One can sense his dedication and passion for the craft, as he delves deep into the subject and presents his findings in a way that is engaging and thought-provoking.

This early work serves as a testament to his talent and potential, hinting at the great things that were yet to come.

The circulation of this particular cult diamond of the renowned Hunter S. Thompson in Greek is surely one of the greatest surprises of this year's publishing event. You can't imagine how excited I was when I learned a few months ago that the said book would be circulated in our language and how impatient I was from then on to get my hands on it. Finally, it took more than two weeks from the moment I received the book until I spread out my pool chair and read it at last.

It is the third book of the author that I had the luck and the honor to read, after the excellent "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" that I read in July 2015 and the outstanding "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72" that I read in March 2010, and this one in turn takes with characteristic ease five stars, rightfully earning a place in the pantheon of the best non-fiction books that I have read to date. Of course, it was something that I expected. The whole style and tone of Thompson's writing I like very, very much, and a story about the famous Hell's Angels of the 1960s in California couldn't but excite me.

We are talking now about a crazy journey back in time, to a tough and at the same time interesting era, with Hunter S. Thompson infiltrating the group of the crazy bikers who were for years the fear and the terror for citizens and police authorities. The author lived closely with the illegal bikers, participated in rides and events of madness and paranoia, ate and drank with them, shared their secrets, bought a bike himself (not a Harley-Davidson though), even ate wood, with the aim of writing a journalistic chronicle of the Hell's Angels and bringing to the readers the most realistic image possible of these crazy bikers, without false rumors and exaggerations.

What makes the book stand out is the truly stormy narrative, the vivid descriptions of scenes and situations, the cynical humor, the whole realistic portrayal of the era and the place. The author brings with characteristic ease the readers to California in the 1960s, among the members of the Hell's Angels and the whole subculture around them. Let's not forget that the Hell's Angels were just one piece of the puzzle of the questioning of the American Dream, with the Vietnam War still in its infancy and the youth being more reactive than ever.

In short, it is an amazing book, especially vivid and raw, written with nerve and intensity, that gives the readers the opportunity to "live" an adventure without moving from their place. I assume that it is not to everyone's taste (something that, of course, applies to all books), but personally it excited me. There are some authors who excite you, who drive you crazy, even if you read the list of their groceries: One of those authors who drive me crazy is also Hunter S. Thompson. I hope to see more of his works in Greek in the future.

Hunter S. Thompson spent a year riding with the outlaws, and as a result, he truly understands the Hell’s Angels and knows how to vividly tell their story. However, I didn't take pleasure in the subject matter. In particular, there were episodes where the author questioned the nature of a woman's sexual consent while under the influence and in the company of a group of brutes. This was not only unpleasant but also deeply disturbing to me.

Finally, it's clear that the author doesn't respect the Angels, yet still seems to want to fit in and be respected by them, which muddles the narrative.

Quoting Frank Moore Colby, Imaginary Obligations: “Were it not for the presence of the unwashed and the half-educated, the formless, queer and incomplete, the unreasonable and absurd, the infinite shapes of the delightful human tadpole, the horizon would not wear so wide a grin.”

“A Hell’s Angel on foot can look rather foolish. Their sloppy histrionics and inane conversations can be interesting for a few hours, but beyond the initial strangeness, their everyday scene is as tedious and depressing as a costume ball for demented children. There's something pathetic about a group of men gathering every night in the same bar, taking themselves very seriously in their shabby uniforms, with nothing to look forward to but the chance of a fight or a round of head jobs from some drunken charwoman. But there's nothing pathetic about the sight of an Angel on his bike. The whole, man and machine together, is far more than the sum of its parts.”

“Big bikes, Ferraris, and.44 Magnum revolvers are something beyond fun. They are man-made machines so powerful and efficient in their own realms that they challenge a man's ability to control them, to push them to the limits of their design and possibilities. This is one of the pillars of the big bike mystique that looms so large in the life of every Hell’s Angel.”

On the outrage of the American Motorcycle Association at the Angels’ publicity boom: “It was like a bunch of owls reacting to the news that a crow warlord had won the Nobel peace prize.”

“Given an unlimited supply of the acid, probably half the Angels then extant would have charred their brains to cinders in less than a month.”

“The Angels, like all other motorcycle outlaws, are rigidly anti-communist. Their political views are limited to the same kind of retrograde patriotism that motivates the John Birch Society, the KKK, and the American Nazi party. They are blind to the irony of their role, knight-errants of a faith from which they have already been excommunicated.”

“The Angels are prototypes. Their lack of education has not only made them completely useless in a highly technical economy but has also given them the leisure to cultivate a powerful resentment and translate it into a destructive cult, which the mass media insists on portraying as a sort of isolated oddity, a temporary phenomenon that will shortly become extinct now that it’s been brought to the attention of the police.”

“In the cheap loneliness that is the overriding fact of every outlaw’s life, a funeral is a bleak reminder that the tribe is smaller by one, the circle is one link shorter, the enemy jacks up the odds just a little bit more, and defenders of the faith need something to take off the chill.”

“A man who has blown all his options can’t afford the luxury of changing his ways.”

The year 1965 was a significant one for Hunter S. Thompson as he delved deep into the world of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. By the middle of that summer, he found himself so immersed in the outlaw scene that he questioned whether he was merely researching or was gradually being drawn in by them.

Thompson's account of the Hell's Angels is a strange and terrible saga. In 1965, he was able to ride with them, hang out, party, and observe them in their natural environment in Northern California, where Oakland Chapter President Sonny Barger held sway. The book is a unique blend of journalism, magazine article, and a detailed report of lawlessness. Thompson expertly tells the history, social organization, the origin of their name, and other intimate details of these outlaws, comparing them to "Genghis Khan on an iron horse".

He also provides a brief history of the motorcycle in America, the post-WWII scene, and how young men were attracted to the motorcycle outlaw culture. Thompson explains various aspects unique to this way of life, including the partying, riding, details about their motorcycles, social and club hierarchy, and even the roles of women. I found this book thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Hunter S. Thompson was indeed a gifted writer with the ability to give voice to his words. Although the book can be graphic and violent at times, it is far from boring. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed other works by Thompson. Thanks!

Both Hunter S. Thompson and the Hell's Angels bring certain preconceived notions to mind.

Thompson was often regarded as a crazy sonofabitch, a nutbag druggie with a penchant for blowing things up.

The Hell's Angels, on the other hand, were seen as crazy motherfuckers. Remember Altamont? They were providing concert security for the Rolling Stones when things went horribly wrong and one person was killed by an Angel (allegedly in self-defense).

To some extent, these notions have a basis in reality. Thompson did have a taste for drugs and explosives, and the Hell's Angels were indeed involved in the Altamont incident.

It was very fitting that Thompson got close to the Angels to write his book, "Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga" (1969). This book is a prime example of Gonzo journalism. Thompson spent nearly a year with the Angels, drinking, going on runs, and having close encounters with the law.

Don't expect to read about some elaborate initiation ritual. Thompson simply hung around with them enough that they started to trust him (even though he didn't ride a Harley, but a British bike!). He witnessed firsthand what runs and parties were like, and what the members did when they weren't together. Turns out, the Angels were much more tame than their reputation suggested.

Many of them were married with mortgages, while some were unemployed couch-surfers. Neither of these lifestyles is unique to the Angels. I'm sure you could find both types in a Scrapbooking club.

But no one has quite the reputation of the Angels. So, where did this reputation come from?

You guessed it - the press. The media is responsible for making the Angels simultaneously feared and revered. Thompson uses excerpts from articles and reports to show how this happened. You may have heard about how Thompson got "stomped" out of the club, but that's such a small part of the story that it's in the postscript.

The point is, don't read this book expecting to see how brutally Thompson was beaten by the Angels. That's not what it's about. It's about a group of men finding common ground and forming a club. The club, its members, and their actions were blown out of proportion by the media to become a symbol of all that is wrong with sex, drugs, and motorcycles.

Really, they aren't that bad. That's not to say they are good - they just aren't as bad as their reputation makes them out to be.

I highly recommend reading this book, especially if you haven't read anything by Thompson before. It's also a good read if you're looking to start a much-feared gang... because everything comes down to reputation.

I have to admit, I am truly amazed.

I purchased this book on sale, not really knowing what to anticipate. I initially thought it might be an interesting little detour into a facet of the human experience that I knew very little about.

However, I never imagined that a fifty-year-old book about the world's most renowned biker gang could be this captivating and enjoyable. It has endured beautifully over all this time.

This is the first book I've read by Mr. Gonzo Journalism, and I'm definitely open to it not being the last. He was indeed an outstanding writer.

This is not so much a comprehensive history of the Hells Angels as it is a vivid snapshot of an era, depicting what they were like in the mid-60s with a bit of the backstory filled in.

To me, it came across as a very fair and impartial assessment of outlaw bikers during that time.

I highly recommend this one.

I'd just like to add something. If I'd read this book twenty or thirty years ago, I would've been horrified for numerous reasons.

The scenes described of what transpired at those Hells Angel parties were quite dreadful, and when viewed through the lens of today, it takes on a new level of horror.

I'm not proud of the fact that thirty years ago I might not have noticed as keenly how horrifying it was that those bikers felt free to gang rape a woman while she was under the influence of drugs.

Of course, to be clear, I'm not saying I would've approved back then. I would've been horrified, but I probably wouldn't have had a clear idea of how to process it.

Thompson describes it all as if he were simply watching a baseball game. It was a different time, but I don't think that was to his credit.

So, yes, this is a terrific book, but in some places, you're going to need a strong stomach.

The article seems rather lackluster. It mainly comes across as dull and gives the impression of an interminable news piece that lacks a clear focus.

The book devotes half of its length to building up to a certain moment, yet it takes countless detours along the way and ultimately leads to nothing.

The only aspect that was somewhat "terrifying," as the cover implies, is Thompson's speculation about whether a severely intoxicated woman who was gang-raped was actually raped or not. This part is rather disturbing and makes one question the nature of justice and the reliability of our perceptions.

Overall, the article and the book it describes leave much to be desired in terms of engaging content and a meaningful conclusion.