Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 72'.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

I've finished reading this recently - It was quite a, well, Interesting read. For those who don't the book was written by famous 'gonzo' Journalist Hunter S. Thompson - In reality a series of Articles he wrote for the Rolling Stone - about the election campaign of that year. HST was a proud McGovern supporter from the Start (December 1971 is when it begins and covers the entire year till Dec 1972) and most of his book is written from within the McGovern campaign staff (one of the leading Characters in the book, one of McGovern's personal advicers, was none other than Gary Hart.)

I not bothered to give a full review right no. Suffice to say given that it's Hunter Thompson the book is totally and utterly biased (he really really really HATES Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon) as well as the necessary references to drugs.

Anyone else read it? Opinions?

[merseysider]

I've read it too. Still got it on my heaving bookshelves. A good entertaining read.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Dr Bumpicus.

This subforum ain't getting enough lovin'.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

I liked fear and loathing in las vegas better

[The Man From G.O.P.]

My english teacher was a personal aide to McGovern in '72, she's a conservative now though... she still has great stories about it all though, interesting times.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I saw it in an eccentric bookstore once. I picked it up and read a couple of pages. It seemed quite fascinating. I would have brought it but I didn't have enough money (poor me!). I remember on one page, Thompson called Pat Nixon a barbie doll traped in her barbie world, or something like that. I know he did call Pat Nixon a barbie doll though.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

I saw it in an eccentric bookstore once. I picked it up and read a couple of pages. It seemed quite fascinating. I would have brought it but I didn't have enough money (poor me!). I remember on one page, Thompson called Pat Nixon a barbie doll traped in her barbie world, or something like that. I know he did call Pat Nixon a barbie doll though.

Sounds like something he would say.. Though if you're a fan of Nixon.. I highly recommend it, the hate HST shows for both Nixon and Humpert Humphrey is quite incredible really.

[Joe Republic]

I've literally just started this; I finished the intro last night.

[Joe Republic]

Just finished.  (I'm quite a slow reader, as I tend to have several books on the go at the same time.)

Well, what can I say?  Given that my only experience of Thompson's work was the semi-fictional 'F&L in Las Vegas' - which was essentially a story of two hippies on a really crazy weekend - I wasn't really expecting this book to be any good from the perspective of somebody really interested in politics and the 1972 election.  How wrong I was.  As Thompson described, he was just as hooked on politics as he was on his... 'alternative lifestyle', and his addiction to both increased as the year progressed.  And I learned a great deal about the entire election from a guy who wasn't just observing it as a journalist; he was truly part of it.

For anybody unfamiliar with Thompson's 'gonzo' style of journalism, it isn't really a great deal different from modern day internet blogs.  Instead of just reporting the facts from an objective standpoint, he puts himself right in the thick of the action, and proudly makes no effort to suppress his own biases.  The actual result is a fairly fractured stream of consciousness, which I'll admit can be somewhat difficult to follow at times.  One minute he'll be discussing the recent party conventions in July and August, and then he'll suddenly start talking about an anecdote from the New Hampshire primary, and then he'll start talking about football, and so on.  He often acknowledges that he's gone off on a tangent and attempts to rectify it, but the book isn't all like that.  The man was working on various typewriters exceptionally close to deadlines and under all kinds of influences, but that was simply his style.

I may do a more full write-up later.

[Ebowed]

I'm about a third through, it's a great read so far.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I saw it in an eccentric bookstore once. I picked it up and read a couple of pages. It seemed quite fascinating. I would have brought it but I didn't have enough money (poor me!). I remember on one page, Thompson called Pat Nixon a barbie doll traped in her barbie world, or something like that. I know he did call Pat Nixon a barbie doll though.

Almost a Year on and I have finally brought it. It's a really good read. If HST really gets into Renhquist, I cannot wait until he gets in HHH.

[Four49]

I know this is an old thread but, hey, I'm new here. 

The Good Doctor was an amazing writer.  I always felt like I "bought the ticket, took the ride", when reading his books.  It helps that I've done, excuse me - experimented with, a lot of the same drugs and agree with him on politics most of the time. 

This is actually my favorite of his books.  I was born a few months before Carter was elected, and this read really made me feel like I had a better understanding of the energy and culture clash of the times.  Most people I know that both read this book and remember those times say they can see why I felt that way.  I have one friend, a bit older than me, that says he reads Gonzo because it 'takes him back'.

Great writer.  I highly recommend any of his books.  If you liked this, check out Better Than Sex - it's about the '92 campaign.  And if you like comics/graphic novels, check out Transmetropolitan.  It's about a Hunteresque political writer in a debauched, hypertechnical future. 

[jokerman]

I saw this for a good price at a book store the other day and bought it.  It's on my list.

[Eraserhead]

Ah yes... one of those books I just never got around to finishing.

One day.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

One of the best political books I have ever read, even better one of the best books I have ever read to date. Doctor Thompsonhas such a unique prose, which engaged me from the moment I began the first chapter. I think his combination of drugs, alcohol, the occasional sex and politics also helped...

[Scam of God]

The best first-person account of a political campaign I've ever read, and I've read plenty of them. Thompson's insistence that Southerns are the way they are due to genetic defects was absolutely hilarious, and probably a viable argument from a scientific stand-point, to boot. George Wallace was an absolute scumbag, as is every Republican since who has emulated him.

Furthermore, it's refreshing to read an account of that election that does not immediately dismiss McGovern as some sort of left-wing socialistic hack. The guy was genuinely honest, probably the most humanly decent politician in decades, and I think he'd have made a damn fine President.

[minionofmidas]

Furthermore, it's refreshing to read an account of that election that does not immediately dismiss McGovern as some sort of left-wing socialistic hack. The guy was genuinely honest, probably the most humanly decent politician in decades, and I think he'd have made a damn fine President.

Same thing.

[LastMcGovernite]

The best first-person account of a political campaign I've ever read, and I've read plenty of them. Thompson's insistence that Southerns are the way they are due to genetic defects was absolutely hilarious, and probably a viable argument from a scientific stand-point, to boot. George Wallace was an absolute scumbag, as is every Republican since who has emulated him.

Furthermore, it's refreshing to read an account of that election that does not immediately dismiss McGovern as some sort of left-wing socialistic hack. The guy was genuinely honest, probably the most humanly decent politician in decades, and I think he'd have made a damn fine President.

Agreed.  George once called 'Fear and Loathing' the "least accurate but most true" book ever written about the '72 campaign.

[Eraserhead]

I'm reading this right now. I actually started it a while ago but got wrapped up in too many other things to finish it. It's extremely enjoyable.