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pt_barnum's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
informative
slow-paced
4.5
If you are interested in political writing or political journalism of any kind, you have to read this book. After you have read it, if you still are interested in political writing or political journalism, as was I, you have a problem.
This book follows HST covering the 1972 presidential election, but that's not what you read the book for. If you want a good idea of what happened, this will actively confuse you. You would read the book to get a good idea of what it's like to be a political journalist covering a presidential election, and it is a dark sight. The book is so visceral and emotional at points it's suffocating, maddening, frustrating, and confusing. This makes F&L 72' very hard to read, which is why I had to deduct the half point, but it's just a half point for one reason; the feelings mentioned above and difficulty simply make the book a more honest expression of political journalism. The book isn't maddening and confusing because HST is a bad writer, no, quite the opposite. He is such a good writer that he does a superb job of displaying how awful politics is, and how fucking terrible it feels to be fully submerged in the drama of it all. At many points, he literally goes off on tangents about drugs or sports just to seemingly distract himself from the project he's tasked with. Of course, he adds in his classic Gonzo flair of exaggerating points or literally lying at points for the sake of humor, which is part of the reason it's a much better book about emotions than events. If you treat this like you're just reading HST's diary, it makes it far easier to get through.
This book follows HST covering the 1972 presidential election, but that's not what you read the book for. If you want a good idea of what happened, this will actively confuse you. You would read the book to get a good idea of what it's like to be a political journalist covering a presidential election, and it is a dark sight. The book is so visceral and emotional at points it's suffocating, maddening, frustrating, and confusing. This makes F&L 72' very hard to read, which is why I had to deduct the half point, but it's just a half point for one reason; the feelings mentioned above and difficulty simply make the book a more honest expression of political journalism. The book isn't maddening and confusing because HST is a bad writer, no, quite the opposite. He is such a good writer that he does a superb job of displaying how awful politics is, and how fucking terrible it feels to be fully submerged in the drama of it all. At many points, he literally goes off on tangents about drugs or sports just to seemingly distract himself from the project he's tasked with. Of course, he adds in his classic Gonzo flair of exaggerating points or literally lying at points for the sake of humor, which is part of the reason it's a much better book about emotions than events. If you treat this like you're just reading HST's diary, it makes it far easier to get through.
mujerdee's review against another edition
4.0
Re-read this book after many years, just to remind myself of what incisive if hyperbolic literary journalism can be, when a writer has access to a publisher who just doesn't give a shit what reaction it garners. Not for the faint of heart, or those who don't know the history from some other less metaphorically colorful source. History condemns those folks to repeat past mistakes, friends...take note.
mattleesharp's review against another edition
5.0
As comprehensive, engaging, and terrifying as a book on politics can be. No doubt whoever is currently working on the equivalent for Trump may surpass it, but Fear and Loathing was strangely reassuring in the current political climate in a kind of "things can always get worse" sort of way. Thompson pulls back the curtains in this book. It is necessary reading if you want to understand the origin of a lot of modern political hackery.
stapilus's review against another edition
5.0
An inspiration, just as I was entering journalism school. What kind of an inspiration may be up to debate, and for a while I thought of trying to match his tone . . . but that's unmatchable, and I fortunately and soon enough gave it up. But the energy, humor and crackling sensibility are always worth finding a way to shoot for. And this remains one of the better books about politics I've read.
henderslam's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.25
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I love Thompson's style of writing and storytelling evident in this book but couldn't help finding the in depth details of '70's American politicians a little grueling at times. Perhaps one more for people with an active interest in politics than casual Hunter S. fans.
thegreenbean's review against another edition
5.0
Political humor at its finest. Las Vegas ain't got nothing on politics.