Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Hell's Angels
Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga | Hunter S. Thompson
"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. From the Hardcover edition.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
JoeMo
post image
Pickpick

Thompson delivered a balanced take on the Hell‘s Angels. He portrayed a quirky bunch of outsiders who came together to form a brotherhood. He educated on how they often fell victim to lies and exaggerations from police and the media to build them as greater risks to the public than they were. He warned how this same group of characters can perform violent acts with little or no provocation to the point of being rightfully hated and vilified.

TheAromaofBooks Thompson's writing is always so engaging. 6mo
JoeMo @TheAromaofBooks you‘re 100% correct…I‘m just not used to him being so seemingly….sober, I guess would be the appropriate word. I know he was a serious journalist for quite some time, but I‘m used to his more drug fueled works fulled with crazy but captivating tangents and such! 😂 6mo
TheAromaofBooks Right? I haven't read this one, but I know it was one of his big deep-dives. My husband is the real fan, so I've only read a scatter-shot selection, and some of his writing is really dated in the sense of I don't really know the details of 1972 politicians haha Although when the husband and I were commuting together, we did listen to Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas as an audiobook and it was great fun. 6mo
29 likes4 comments
review
NatalieR
post image
Mehso-so

This book intrigued me as I‘m interested in the psychology of gangs and how they function. Around 1965, Hunter S. Thompson spent about two years hanging out with the Hell‘s Angels motorcycle gang. This was a time period in which the Hell‘s Angels were in their relative height of mayhem, violence, and destruction. This book didn‘t provide what I was hoping to learn. #MountTBR

Full review https://abookandadog.com

Catsandbooks Your pup is so cute!! ❤️ 2y
NatalieR @Catsandbooks Awww Thank you! 😊 2y
82 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
SkeletonKey
post image

Currently listening to this one. Did not age well.

blurb
JenDR
post image

They finally opened the dining room of coffee shops in my town !!! I didn‘t realize how much I have missed reading outside my house until I did it again. First day in a long while I haven‘t missed my life abroad.

blurb
Cinfhen
post image

#MayMovieMagic #HighwayToHell This first person account sounds fascinating and I‘m thinking of using an Audible credit🧐Has anyone listened to the audio??? Is it worth it??? My Hoopla & OverDrive don‘t have the book or audio on offer 😖

Also works for #LongAndWindingRoad @Eggs and #AMatterOfPerspective @Megabooks

GlassAsDiamonds Book itself sounds fabulous! 6y
Cinfhen I just listened to a sample @GlassAsDiamonds #HardPass UGH 😑 I think I‘m gonna do print when I find a cheap copy 🤓👍🏻 6y
Megabooks Sounds fascinating! I used to watch Gangland on A&E all the time. I‘m sorry to say I haven‘t listened to it. Have you looked to see if you‘ve read with that narrator before? Ah I just saw you checked! Too bad. Definitely fits the prompt. Thanks for joining in! 🖖🏻 Good luck finding a copy. Goals always make shopping at used bookstores more fun! 6y
See All 12 Comments
Cinfhen So true @Megabooks although my shopping list is the size of an Encyclopedia 😛 6y
RohitSawant I've been meaning to read Hunter S. Thompson for years now and was hoping to start with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. This one sounds intriguing, too! 6y
TrishB Have read one by the author....😱😱 way too young!! 6y
Eggs Great choice❣️ 6y
britt_brooke @rohit-sawant They‘re both good. I liked Rum Diary a lot, too. 6y
britt_brooke I listened to this on audio and it was decent. I felt like it could‘ve been shorter, honestly, but it was interesting. 6y
Cinfhen Thanks @britt_brooke for your thoughts xx I‘m in no rush to read this but I‘ll keep my eyes open for a cheap copy 6y
69 likes12 comments
blurb
Leftcoastzen
post image

#MarchIntoThe70s #HighwayToHell Who else but Hell‘s Angels?Hunters Book was published before the notorious stabbing incident at the Altamont Free Concert where the Angels were hired to be in charge of security for $500 worth of beer.Who knew Sonny Barger would retire to Az. and write a book on safe motorcycle riding?The 1 Percenter book is full of club history with historical photos of colors and gear.

Cinfhen So cool!!! Love this ❣️ 6y
gradcat I cried when Hunter S. Thompson committed suicide. 6y
53 likes2 comments
review
britt_brooke
post image
Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was pretty ballsy (i.e. insane) for Hunter S. Thompson to immerse himself with the Hell‘s Angels. For almost two years in the tumultuous 60s, he lived among the outlaws, researching and experiencing some of their criminal behavior firsthand. For whatever reason they trusted, or at least tolerated, Thompson and the result is what feels like an in-depth article that expanded into a slightly too-long book. But still a worthwhile read. 👇🏻

britt_brooke Side note: I‘m completely fascinated by 60s California counterculture; such a weird and horrifying time in US history, so this was a good addition to the several books I‘ve already read. 6y
emilyhaldi Interesting side note! Have you read all of Joan Didion and this tagged book? ☀️ 6y
britt_brooke @emilyhaldi I‘ve read most of Didion‘s nonfiction. I haven‘t read the tagged, but just stacked it - thanks! 6y
See All 13 Comments
Victoriahoperose I love Hunter S. Thompson. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is one of my favorites. He was one of a kind and invented a new way for nonfiction writing to exist. ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
Leftcoastzen ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Hunter! 6y
britt_brooke @Victoriahoperose I really appreciate his work. His journalistic contributions are remarkable. Plus he‘s a native Kentuckian like me. 💚 I need to reread Fear and Loathing. It‘s been several years. I really enjoyed Rum Diary, too. That‘s all I‘ve read thus far. 6y
britt_brooke @Leftcoastzen What‘s your favorite? Besides this, I‘ve read Fear and Loathing and Rum Diary. And The Great Shark Hunt has been in my TBR for ages. (edited) 6y
Leftcoastzen I like them all ! I am re-reading Hell‘s Angels right now.I adore Fear and Loathing. 6y
britt_brooke @Leftcoastzen This was my first time reading Hell‘s Angels, but that‘s too funny we were reading it at the same time. #random 6y
britt_brooke @Leftcoastzen Nope - thank you! #stacked 6y
Leftcoastzen Also love looking for books published by communes and those fun handmade house books ,70‘s self sufficiency and health food books .woohoo! 6y
119 likes1 stack add13 comments
blurb
britt_brooke
post image

▶️🎧

Soubhiville Oh, that sounds fun! 6y
britt_brooke @Soubhiville It‘s pretty crazy so far. 6y
Megabooks Definitely stacking this. Is the audio good? 6y
britt_brooke @Megabooks I kind of feel like he‘s screaming at me, but I‘m getting used to it. 😣 6y
85 likes3 stack adds4 comments
blurb
PagesOfKate
post image

Definitely an appropriate choice for #coolrider
Aside from giving you a glimpse at the life and quasi kinship bonds formed by members of biker gangs Thompson unpacks how the media sensationalises and demonizes groups who choose to live outside the bounds of conventional society.
#Juneitselectrifying
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @vkois88

vkois88 Sounds interesting! 7y
67 likes3 stack adds1 comment
blurb
britt_brooke
post image

Thanks for the heads up, #Goodreads! 👏🏻 This has been on my #TBR for a while. #HunterSThompson #gonzo #ebookdeal

TricksyTails YESSSSSSS! Thank you! *running to buy* 7y
huntersmom1977 Bat 🦇 Country!! 7y
83 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
britt_brooke
post image
Robothugs 👍🏻👍🏻😎 7y
Cinfhen Fabulous 😎 7y
Cinfhen And that book cover is 🙌🏻 7y
britt_brooke @Cinfhen I know, I want to buy it just for the cover! 7y
110 likes1 stack add4 comments
quote
Cosspad
post image

"A man who has blown all his options can't afford the luxury of changing his ways."

#booklover #quote #hellsangels #huntersthompson #motocycleclub #60s #american #anarchy #history #bookworm

MrBook Welcome to @Litsy ! We hope you enjoy your stay with us 😊👍🏻. We're the most positive, tight-knit, passionate bibliophile community you'll meet. Careful: this'll take over your life. 😂👏🏻🙌🏻 8y
Cosspad Thank youu☺️ 8y
19 likes1 stack add2 comments
quote
Jesilyn
post image

"They spoke of editors and reporters as so much human garbage, hopelessly corrupt and not worth talking to under any circumstances."

blurb
Jesilyn
post image

Susan McWilliams of The Nation wrote a great article recommending this book to understand the rise of Trump. Her grandfather commissioned the original piece this grew from when he was the editor.

blurb
DeborahSmall
post image

#bookhaul part 3 The English Patient is another that disappeared from my shelves...happy to have replaced it 😍📚

blurb
Casi
post image

Made a contribution to my local #littlestlibrary

7 likes2 stack adds
quote
GoneFishing

The Edge... There is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.

wellreadredhead Awesome book! 8y
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment
blurb
TheLondonBookworm
post image

I sadly have a very small selection of green and pink books on my right now, but I am pleased to show off this copy of Hell's Angels because I love the cover art and I found his immersive journalistic journey with the gang absolutely fascinating :) #pinkandgreenbooks #augustofpages #bookphotochallenge @TheSpinecrackersBookClub

TheSpinecrackersBookClub This is still definitely a photo worth sharing. Absolutely love the cover art. 8y
TheLondonBookworm @TheSpinecrackersBookClub I confess it's what drew me to the book in the first place! 🙈 8y
TheSpinecrackersBookClub How was the story? 8y
TheLondonBookworm @TheSpinecrackersBookClub Fascinating! Thompson immersed himself completely in with the gang risking everything. Interestingly the cover art was done by a British tattoo artist Dominique Holmes which is very fitting I think! 8y
30 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
Oblomov26
Pickpick

Let's get this out of the way, I am enormous fan of Hunter S Thompson, and this book is a perfect example as to why. In the mid 60's there was a scare in America about the rise of rebel bike gangs, especially the Hells Angels. Rather than accepting what the press said on face value, Hunter went out

Oblomov26 And actively met and caroused with the California Chapter of the Angels, and Angels they were not. Rather Hunter found a small, but due to press coverage, rapidly expanding group of one percenters, guys who lived outside society and the law, but who also try to live by their own code. 8y
12 likes1 comment
blurb
StephTKO
post image

Can't read in this household without being covered in pets.

Mayread This might be the best incongruous pic of a Thompson book being read. 8y
See All 7 Comments
Alisnazzy I meant that you guys just hanging out together reading is what relationship goals should be. But yes. Also squad goals. Maybe #FamilyGoals ? 8y
StephTKO @Ambrosnazzy Oh no, I meant that in addition to #RelationshipGoals, the dogs, cat and Michael also make up my squad, so #SquadGoals also. Sorry, my comment was ambiguous. 😖 8y
Alisnazzy @StephTKO we'll just go with #GoalsInGeneral lol. 8y
31 likes2 stack adds7 comments
blurb
BlueNoodleFritz
post image

"...like Genghis Khan on an iron horse, a monster steed with a fiery anus, flat out through the eye of a beer can and up your daughter's leg..."
I had my boyfriend read this one....that first paragraph always sucks me in...

4 likes1 stack add