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A review by glorious_talk
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 by Hunter S. Thompson
4.0
Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 - Hunter S. Thompson
4/5
Hunter S. Thompson strikes again with absolute absurdity as he covers the 1972 presidential election in this collection of articles he wrote for the Rolling Stone magazine. Thompson dives deep into the chaos and confusion of the Democratic party primaries as they attempt to round up a candidate strong enough to defeat the incumbent Nixon (an effort in which they were ultimately unsuccessful). As with his other writings, Thompson's drug-fueled exploits and no-holds-barred character assessments blur the lines between reality and gonzo-journalism alternate universe of his own invention. Thompson's account of the election is probably among the most colorful (and most detached from reality), which made it interesting, but it was ultimately also a 481-page book about an election. Ultimately, it's a slog that I would recommend only for those interested in political science. If that doesn't apply, I would instead recommend "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" or, better yet, his article "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved."
4/5
Hunter S. Thompson strikes again with absolute absurdity as he covers the 1972 presidential election in this collection of articles he wrote for the Rolling Stone magazine. Thompson dives deep into the chaos and confusion of the Democratic party primaries as they attempt to round up a candidate strong enough to defeat the incumbent Nixon (an effort in which they were ultimately unsuccessful). As with his other writings, Thompson's drug-fueled exploits and no-holds-barred character assessments blur the lines between reality and gonzo-journalism alternate universe of his own invention. Thompson's account of the election is probably among the most colorful (and most detached from reality), which made it interesting, but it was ultimately also a 481-page book about an election. Ultimately, it's a slog that I would recommend only for those interested in political science. If that doesn't apply, I would instead recommend "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" or, better yet, his article "The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved."