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Liked It “Drug-addled, cynical, bitter, depressing, confusing and at times almost bulimically self-indulgent. Truelly the stuff that dreams are made of!” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Drug-addled, cynical, bitter, depressing, confusing and at times almost bulimically self-indulgent. Truelly the stuff that dreams are made of!”
Daniel Rennie wrote this review Thursday, October 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“HST takes what could well have been a dry and prosaic postmortem of the '72 Nixon-McGovern presidential campaign and turns it into a fast paced thriller. The main reason to go for this book is to get an almost uninterrupted string of HST's wicked and exaggerated rantings. Funny and well written - recommended.”
Maurya P wrote this review Monday, October 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Synopsis: Hunter S Thompson brings his gonzo eye and poison pen to the 1972 Presidential Election. The future of America is feared and Nixon is loathed.
Tim W wrote this review Thursday, September 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
My Take: Whatever the reliability of his reportage (and like any good gonzo piece, the boundaries between fact and fiction are very hard to discern in this book) Hunter S Thompson’s rhetoric bubbles like acid on society’s decorous facade. Originally serialised for Rolling Stone as the ‘72 campaign unfolded, the book is a collection of both zinging and rambling first person accounts of the campaign trail.
Reading with the benefit of hindsight, Thompson’s perverse perspective and his estrangement from political recieved wisdom seem perfectly appropriate for a campaign in which George McGovern beat out Ed Muskie and Hubert Humphrey for the Democratic nomination, lost Thomas Eagleton to an Electro-shock therapy ’scandal’ almost immediately after selection and was then obliterated by a Nixon campaign that won all but one state (including McGovern’s home state of South Dakota).
While there is an element of perverse fascination in watching a nadir of progressive political campaigning unfold, the highlight of this book is Thompson’s real and imagined encounters with Richard Nixon. Nixon acts as a muse for Thompson to express hatred in its purest form and as a result, the bile comes thick and fast. Thompson’s writing is far from that of the cliche outraged lefty however, and in the vein of PJ O’Rourke the wit and extremism of his missive makes for fantastic reading.”
“Great book.”
William K wrote this review Friday, September 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“this book helps me realize that some things never change. it's calming.”
Clay J wrote this review Thursday, July 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Awsome. He can turn a phrase like no one, puts you right in the atmosphere, then digs in the truth till your eyes water.”
deesquiggle wrote this review Thursday, June 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“After having read Hells Angels and loving the style of writing I feel like I need to read this book!”
Luke wrote this review Sunday, June 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Love HST. This was a great book that gives a lot of insight on the 72 elections in the immensley entertaining Gonzo-style journalism. Also includes a great interview with Mohammed Ali. Check it out.”
Thomas G wrote this review Wednesday, May 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It makes you think you're in 1972, and you want so bad for that SOB Nixon to loose but it doesn't happen.”
HONK wrote this review Tuesday, May 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book is also written by Hunter S. Thompson -- who is famous for writing Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. Since i loved the other fear and loathing, I figured i should give this one a try. This book isn't written in the same insomniac, maniacal way as FLLV, but it's still very well written. Thompson has the ability to stay unbiased -- by being biased against everyone. He spares no insult to anyone and isn't afraid of being "taboo" or inappropriate or unpopular. He is viciously honest -- which I love -- it's great not to hear cheap, over-used, expressions describing the presidential candidates. Thompson makes sure the reader knows that the candidates are nowhere near perfect or even mediocre. I loved this book, but unless you are interested in philosophy and aren't easily offended, I'm not sure you'll love it too.”
CASSANDRA H wrote this review Wednesday, April 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
