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364.1/06/609794 |
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Hell's Angels" was Hunter Thompson's first book, an account of the year that the reporter spent riding with the biker gang, then the very symbol of dangerous counterculture. After writing a piece on the Heirs Angels and other cycle gangs for The Nation, Thompson signed a contract with Ballantine and spent time with "as many vicious thugs as possible." His involvement ended on Labor Day 1966 when a group of Angels "stomped" Thompson, nearly kicking him to death. "Far from being freaks, the Hell's Angels are a logical product of the culture that now claims to be shocked by their existence. The generation represented by the editors of Time has lived so long in a world full of celluloid outlaws hustling toothpaste and hair oil that it is no longer capable of confronting the real thing. For twenty years they have sat with their children and watched yesterday's outlaws raise hell with yesterday's world...and now they are bringing up children who think Jesse James is a television character." "California, Labor Day weekend . . . early, with ocean fog still in the streets, outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades and greasy Levis roll out from damp garages, all-night diners and cast-off one-night pads in Frisco, Hollywood, Berdoo and East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north of Big Sur. . . The Menace is loose again." Thus begins Hunter S. Thompson's vivid account of his experiences with California's most no-torious motorcycle gang, the Hell's Angels. In the mid-1960s, Thompson spent almost two years living with the controversial An-gels, cycling up and down the coast, reveling in the anarchic spirit of their clan, and, as befits their name, raising hell. His book successfully captures a singular moment in American history, when the biker lifestyle was first defined, and when such countercultural movements were electrifying and horrifying America. Thompson, the creator of Gonzo journalism, writes with his usual bravado, energy, and brutal honesty, and with a nuanced and incisive eye; as The New Yorker pointed out, "For all its uninhibited and sardonic humor, Thompson's book is a thoughtful piece of work." As illuminating now as when originally published in 1967, Hell's Angels is a gripping portrait, and the best account we have of the truth behind an American legend.… (more)
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"There is an important difference between the words 'loser' and 'outlaw'. One is passive and the other is active, and the main reasons the Angels are such good copy is that they are acting out the day-dreams of millions of losers who don't wear any defiant insignia and who don't know how to be outlaws. The streets of every city are thronged with men who would pay all the money they could get their hands on to be transformed - even for a day - into hairy, hard-fisted brutes who walk over cops, extort free drinks from terrified bartenders and thunder out of town on big motorcycles after raping the banker's daughter. Even people who think the Angels should all be put to sleep find it easy to identify with them. They command a fascination, however reluctant, that borders on psychic masturbation."
Anyone got a motorcycle I can borrow? His description of riding is still giving me cravings.
While lacking the frenetic, trademark Gonzo style of his later works, this is still an amazing look
My Review:
This book is a great study of a sometimes mystifying and often intriguing group of people Hunter S. Thompson does not romanticize the Hell's Angels, nor does he portray them as anything other than what they are. He does however, write in a way that keeps you begging for more.
The only issue I had with this book was really my issue more than the authors. The titles of the three sections seemed a bit misleading, but other than that this was a wonderful book. I highly recommend it to those even a little bit interested in the Hell's Angels or even Mr. Thompson himself.
It dragged on at parts, but overall was
The first is in regards to Hunter Thompson, and his other books that I've read. I think, somehow, I am reading his books in reverse order than I should. The first Thompson book I read was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (which I
The second thing that stood out to me was in regards to Pledged, a book that was set to 'uncover' the secrets of sororities. Over and over again, I couldn't help but notice how much more flattering Thompson's depiction of Hell's Angels--who by all means are dirty, drink a lot, fight a lot, and have no problems taking down whoever gets in their way--as much more favorable that binge-drinking sorority girls. Reading this book, I feel that the author of Pledged was attempting to do what Thompson succeeded in doing: investigating and reporting truthfully upon a fraternal organization. Not all of Thompson's comments were favorable to the Angels, but neither did he make them out to be the plague on humanity than the Pledged author did. (Can't remember her name, and she is so not worth my time to look it up...)
Overall, the topic was interesting, and Thompson's writing was entertaining, but I feel as if he stretched it farther than it should have been. By pae 180, I felt as if I knew everything I needed...but the book kept going another 80 pages where I didn't feel like I learned much new information. I can only read about fights and mamas and drinking so long before I'm over it. But in general a worthwhile read.
In 1966, the year Hell's Angels was published, the genre of the non-fiction novel was brand new. The genre came into existence during the preceding decade, while Truman Capote's novel In Cold Blood, published in 1965, is its most well-known example. With Hell's Angels Hunter S. Thompson is identified as having initiated the genre of Gonzo journalism, i.e. the style of news reporting that allows for fictional elements, without the attempt of objectivity.
1965/66 was not the time the Hells Angels emerged, but it was a moment the club achieved notoriety. In fact, at that time, the Hells Angels were not the only organized band, that was characterized by a sub-culture and cult of violence. However, the Hells Angels, through their high degree of organization, and the luck of having been led by a number of smart people, and their ability to tie in with contemporary Beat-culture, outlasted most of the other gangs and clubs.
In Hell's Angels Thompson sketches a very accurate portrait of the Hells Angels, their lifestyle and their cult. It is probably the most readable sociological introduction to the phenomenon. To obtain first-hand experience and knowledge of the Hell's Angels, Hunter S. Thompson joined their ranks. Thus, he was able to experience their culture very close-up. In Hell's Angels he describes many of the Club's typical elements, but also provides detailed explanations about their membership, and less savory details, such as the Angels habit to wear the same outfit without ever changing it, as it stiffens into a harness from dirt, piss and vomit, not even necessarily all their own.
A weakness of the book is seemingly that despite the fact that Thompson joined the angels, the book is heavily reliant on newspaper reports, and, since the book describes a very short period, it is thereby also very repetitive. The author is barely able to hold the reader's attention, as the full-length book becomes a bit tiresome, and a shorter version would possible be much more powerful.
Nonetheless, Hell's Angels makes for excellent reading, and forms a remarkable piece of sociological writing on the side-lines of Beat culture in the mid-1960s.
It's an early and tamer Hunter Thompson. There are glimpses of gonzo journalism, but it is just budding.
It's a nice document of the birth of the Hell's Angels as a national phenomenon. Wasn't it at Altamont where the Rolling Stones hired the Hell's Angels for
Thompson covers quite a few facets of the Hell's Angels phenomenon: sex, drugs, motorcycles, etc.
He characterizes the difference between.. the word hippy does not appear here - it must not have been current in 1966. But sex, drugs, and shaggy hair were certainly common features of hippies and Hell's Angels. Thompson explains: hippies were fighting the past, Angels were fighting the future. They were both fighting the present.
Someplace I read about this book as a foreshadowing of the Trump phenomenon. After reading the book, that still seems on target. I watched a video interview with Andrew Yang, a Democratic candidate for President in the 2020 election. Yang spent a lot of time talking about how robots have displaced many jobs and will displace a lot more in the coming decade. Thompson says that Angels have jobs that will soon be performed by machines.
This book is a nice historical document, a colorful snapshot of a moment in history.
Frankly this book didn't do much for me and I found the way in which Thompson said being gang raped was the girls fault at Monterey for having gone to the beach was pretty appalling, even if they were consenting to one or even two blokes, that's not a green light for twenty by any means.
It was interesting in so much as it was a glimpse into 1960 motorcycle culture, yet every observation is tainted through Thompson's fanboyish rose coloured glasses.
4.75 stars!
Great book, unsurprisingly, from the great Hunter S. Thompson. HTS's Gonzo style of journalism is superb, and beautifully mixes journalistic exposition with evocative and thrilling narrative. It really allows you to get absorbed into
The Hell's Angels have an extremely complex culture and morals. HTS's portrayal of them is extremely interesting, and feels very honest. Very curious to read other sides of it, to see how accurate Thompson was.
The first is in regards to Hunter Thompson, and his other books that I've read. I think, somehow, I am reading his books in reverse order than I should. The first Thompson book I read was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (which I
The second thing that stood out to me was in regards to Pledged, a book that was set to 'uncover' the secrets of sororities. Over and over again, I couldn't help but notice how much more flattering Thompson's depiction of Hell's Angels--who by all means are dirty, drink a lot, fight a lot, and have no problems taking down whoever gets in their way--as much more favorable that binge-drinking sorority girls. Reading this book, I feel that the author of Pledged was attempting to do what Thompson succeeded in doing: investigating and reporting truthfully upon a fraternal organization. Not all of Thompson's comments were favorable to the Angels, but neither did he make them out to be the plague on humanity than the Pledged author did. (Can't remember her name, and she is so not worth my time to look it up...)
Overall, the topic was interesting, and Thompson's writing was entertaining, but I feel as if he stretched it farther than it should have been. By pae 180, I felt as if I knew everything I needed...but the book kept going another 80 pages where I didn't feel like I learned much new information. I can only read about fights and mamas and drinking so long before I'm over it. But in general a worthwhile read.
In contrast to scientific work, he never clarifies his position. He switches between being an insider and an outsider without coming to a clear verdict. He feels both attracted to and repulsed by their strange mix of fascistic brotherhood on wheels.