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mrginger42's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.0
kurtsquall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
4.25
jdcorley's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
4.5
A combination of excellent reporting, scathing moralism and the sharp adventuresome wit - this, not Vegas, is Thompson's masterwork. The only bad thing about this is that it led other journalists to write campaign memoirs instead of more purely journalistic nonfiction; a combination few have a strong enough voice to sustain. A classic of American journalism, one of the best books about 20th century American politics, and one of the clearest explanations for why the 70s and 80s were the way they were here. Unmissable.
jannyslibrary's review against another edition
5.0
I was born in the ninties and grew up in Canada so I went into this book as someone who knows next to nothing about American history and basically zilch about American politics. All I know I've learned from the past couple years living in the States (under President Trump) and watching this past democratic nomination process (Bernie Sanders vs Joe Biden).
It's funny (not ha ha) to see other reviews that draw parallels between other election years and the 1972 election between Nixon and McGovern. I definitely saw parallels even with my limited knowledge.
I really enjoyed Thompson's writing style (gonzo journalism!), I didn't know any of the "characters" or a lot of the cultural events from the time and I spent a lot of the book asking my American boyfriend if he knew so and so and asking for context of the time. I feel like I learned a lot about what was going on during that election and how American people felt.
There are so many good passages, stories and speculations. I'm inspired to learn more about American history and read more of Hunter Thompson's work.
Some of the things I made notes to Google later;
Shirley Chisholm
Bussing
Captain Queeg
Altamont
Kent State
Bobby Kennedy's speech at Vanderbilt 1968
Chief Sitting Bull - Powder River Conference
Screeds - a long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious.
Atavistic - relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.
Ersatz - (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.
Pyrrhic - (of a victory) won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.
Klatches - a social gathering, especially for coffee and conversation.
Glassine - a smooth and glossy paper that is air, water, and grease resistant.
Sybarites - a person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury.
It's funny (not ha ha) to see other reviews that draw parallels between other election years and the 1972 election between Nixon and McGovern. I definitely saw parallels even with my limited knowledge.
I really enjoyed Thompson's writing style (gonzo journalism!), I didn't know any of the "characters" or a lot of the cultural events from the time and I spent a lot of the book asking my American boyfriend if he knew so and so and asking for context of the time. I feel like I learned a lot about what was going on during that election and how American people felt.
There are so many good passages, stories and speculations. I'm inspired to learn more about American history and read more of Hunter Thompson's work.
Some of the things I made notes to Google later;
Shirley Chisholm
Bussing
Captain Queeg
Altamont
Kent State
Bobby Kennedy's speech at Vanderbilt 1968
Chief Sitting Bull - Powder River Conference
Screeds - a long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious.
Atavistic - relating to or characterized by reversion to something ancient or ancestral.
Ersatz - (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else.
Pyrrhic - (of a victory) won at too great a cost to have been worthwhile for the victor.
Klatches - a social gathering, especially for coffee and conversation.
Glassine - a smooth and glossy paper that is air, water, and grease resistant.
Sybarites - a person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous luxury.
ben_whackley's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.0
It’s a slow read, but Thompson did it again! 50+ years on, this is still an interesting read, even for those who weren’t there.
rebus's review against another edition
5.0
It was ultimately as interesting to watch a man have a nervous breakdown as it was to watch him watching a society and its political candidates doing the same.
katehow11's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I knew this book would be hilarious, but was surprised to discover that it’s also inspiring. On the surface HST is out of his mind, but he quickly and consistently shows himself to be insightful and knowledgeable about politics, as well as deeply invested on a human level (see chapter “November”).
This is more fascinating for its account of what it looks like to cover a political campaign rather than the campaign itself. It’s perhaps why chapter “July” is a real slog.
This is more fascinating for its account of what it looks like to cover a political campaign rather than the campaign itself. It’s perhaps why chapter “July” is a real slog.
cervella's review against another edition
5.0
What an important book for political junkies alike. It really shows you what the mcgovern campaign was like. His prose is engrossing as is the content. Strapping in for the 1972 presidential campaign was everything i hoped it would be.
Definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in modern American politics
Definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in modern American politics