Quicklet on Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Quicklets: Learn more. Read less. Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1937, Hunter S. Thompson was a consummate journeyman wandering the globe in search of God knows what. He spent the early part of his career writing about sports. In fact, his personality can be closely linked to another Louisville product of the same era: Muhammad Ali. Both men, fueled by a certain sense of self-love, spat in the face of authority, decorum and everything else that mid-century America held dear. True to the ethos of Gonzo Journalism, Fear and Loathing is loosely based on two trips (pun intended) Thompson took with an attorney, Oscar Zeta Acosta, to Las Vegas in 1971. Thompson, a professional writer closely associated with some of the countrys biggest magazines, was sent by Sports Illustrated to write an elongated picture caption for the Mint 400 one of the worlds most lucrative off-road races. A few months later, Thompson was sent to Las Vegas again to cover a drug conference held by the National District Attorneys. What was supposed to be a couple hundred words about an off-road race turned into a manuscript nearly ten times the size. The work was rejected outright by Sports Illustrated, but accepted by Rolling Stone. Thompson notoriously reluctant to review and revise his own works completed five drafts of the book before its publishing. Fear and Loathing was met by much critical acclaim. It was thought by Thompsons contemporaries to be one of the best books ever written about the 1960s drug culture. BOOK EXCERPT From the introduction by Eric Boudreaux: Over the years, I have come to categorize potential reads into two overarching categories: 1. Entertainment These are the page-turners; the books that cause you to stay up all night because you need to read just one more chapter. You take these books with you everywhere you go on vacation, the train ride to work, the terrible movie that your girlfriend is making you see, and even to the bathroom, if thats your thing. 2. Intellectual Intellectual books are those that dont necessarily pull you through, but teach you a lot. They are the books that you spend hours dissecting, trying to squeeze every single drop of meaning out of the text. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas falls into both these categories. I first read this novel when I was in high school. As a bored teenager who occasionally experimented with drugs, I loved Thompsons honesty, wit, and seamless use of irony. At the time, I was not much of a reader my favorite authors were Michael Wilbon, Bill Simmons, and the rest of Americas major sports writers. Yet Thompson spoke to me. ...to be continued! Quicklets: Learn more. Read less.

CHAPTER OUTLINE

Introduction
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”: The Perfect Combination of Brilliance and Insanity
+ Hunter S. Thompson: Leader of the Gonzo Revolution
+ About “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”
+ Overall Summary for “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson
+ ...and much more

Chapter Summaries, Part One
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 1: On The Way to Las Vegas
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 2: Seizing $300 from a Pig Woman in Beverly Hills
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 3: Strange Medicine in the Desert . . . a Crisis of Confidence
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 4: Hideous Music and the Sound of Many Shotguns . . . Rude Vibes on a Saturday Evening in Vegas
+ ...and much more

Chapter Summaries, Part Two
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 1: Drug Supply
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 2: Another Day, Another Convertible, and Another Hotel Full of Cops
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 3: Savage Lucy . . . ‘Teeth Like Baseballs, Eyes Like Jellied Fire’
+ “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” Summary, Chapter 4: No Refuge for Degenerates, Reflections on a Murderous Junkie
+ ...and much more

Additional Reading
+ Related Online Content for “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson
+ Trivia for “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S. Thompson

Quicklet - Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas