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Hunter S. Thompson: An Insider's View of Deranged, Depraved, Drugged Out Brilliance
From military sportswriter to roving correspondent for the National Observer , from quasi Hell’s Angel to counterculture author and gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson led a life of legend. Hunter S. The Glory Years tells the remarkable insider’s story. Jay Cowan, who was caretaker on Thompson’s ranch and a trusted friend, paints a sensitive portrait of a man who redefined participatory journalism, who captured the decadence of the era, and generally consumed more drugs and alcohol than any other living creature on the planet. A self-professed “lazy hillbilly,” Hunter Thompson would immerse himself researching a story, then write it all in a multi-day frenzy of drugs and sleeplessness. In his role as America’s “rock star author,” he was invited to the White House (where he claimed to have snorted coke with presidential aides) and rubbed elbows with celebrities. Featuring previously unpublished color photos, this book provides the most compelling and readable portrait to date of one of America’s most extraordinary personalities.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 6, 2022
An interesting and insightful look into the life of a genius, from someone who was there. I like the way Cowan kept each topic to a particular chapter even though it meant it could be chronologically challenging if you lost concentration at any point. The author escaped aping a gonzo style of writing (something that he was frequent to dismiss in others) by the skin of his teeth. Very enjoyable overall.
September 1, 2014
Jay Cowan was a neighbor of Hunter S. Thompson in Aspen, Colorado. Hunter is a frustrating individual--so much to admire and so much not to admire that it is difficult to know if I like the guy or not. Ultimately, the good points stand out.
Hunter's writing technique was described as "binging on words and drugs until it was done."
He was at the riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention. In 1970 at the America's Cup races, he was banned for trying to write "Fuck the Pope" on a boat. He was consumed by the campaign of 1972. In 1973 he went to write about the Super Bowl but never made it to the game yet still wrote a good story. A shark hunt in the Yucatan in 1974 anchored another book. He never made it to the Ali-Foreman fight of 1975 in Zaire. People forget his intention was to watch the fight with the President of Zaire. When that fell through, he felt no originality could come from being ringside. He was in Saigon during its fall in 1975. In 1976, he followed the campaign of Jimmy Carter.
Hunter felt that Hemingway wrote "Big-Two Hearted River" as his own epitaph. He also felt Fitzgerald did the same with The Great Gatsby. Hunter's extended suicide note began with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and ended with The Kingdom of Fear. But it was probably best summarized in "The Banshee Screams for Buffalo Meat." Maybe that's why he felt no need to write a suicide note when he finally shot himself.
Lawyers were fascinated by Hunter. He was the perfect legal crash test dummy. Always being exposed to potential prosecution.
Hunter loved guns and explosions. He was friends with Ronald Reagan Jr., but did not care for his father. He loved and respected Jim Brady, like everyone else who knew him. After Brady's shooting, Hunter finally showed some understanding of the need to do something about this madness.
He liked Abby Hoffman because Abby paid a $100 football bet to him. "That says a lot," said Hunter.
Hunter's speeches became less coherent. They were always difficult to understand. In 1988, he had what the New York Post described as a "full-fledged fiasco."
Cowan never heard Hunter threaten to kill himself, but others claim to have heard that. He managed to put a bullet through his head and into a cabinet behind him which left a dramatic hole that almost seemed planned. He was seated in front of his typewriter with one sheet of paper in it and typed in the center was the word "counselor."
Hunter's writing technique was described as "binging on words and drugs until it was done."
He was at the riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention. In 1970 at the America's Cup races, he was banned for trying to write "Fuck the Pope" on a boat. He was consumed by the campaign of 1972. In 1973 he went to write about the Super Bowl but never made it to the game yet still wrote a good story. A shark hunt in the Yucatan in 1974 anchored another book. He never made it to the Ali-Foreman fight of 1975 in Zaire. People forget his intention was to watch the fight with the President of Zaire. When that fell through, he felt no originality could come from being ringside. He was in Saigon during its fall in 1975. In 1976, he followed the campaign of Jimmy Carter.
Hunter felt that Hemingway wrote "Big-Two Hearted River" as his own epitaph. He also felt Fitzgerald did the same with The Great Gatsby. Hunter's extended suicide note began with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and ended with The Kingdom of Fear. But it was probably best summarized in "The Banshee Screams for Buffalo Meat." Maybe that's why he felt no need to write a suicide note when he finally shot himself.
Lawyers were fascinated by Hunter. He was the perfect legal crash test dummy. Always being exposed to potential prosecution.
Hunter loved guns and explosions. He was friends with Ronald Reagan Jr., but did not care for his father. He loved and respected Jim Brady, like everyone else who knew him. After Brady's shooting, Hunter finally showed some understanding of the need to do something about this madness.
He liked Abby Hoffman because Abby paid a $100 football bet to him. "That says a lot," said Hunter.
Hunter's speeches became less coherent. They were always difficult to understand. In 1988, he had what the New York Post described as a "full-fledged fiasco."
Cowan never heard Hunter threaten to kill himself, but others claim to have heard that. He managed to put a bullet through his head and into a cabinet behind him which left a dramatic hole that almost seemed planned. He was seated in front of his typewriter with one sheet of paper in it and typed in the center was the word "counselor."
June 21, 2014
Meh. This is a biography/memoir of sorts by Hunter Thompson neighbor, friend & property caretaker. The book is meant to give an insider's look at Thompson's life: a portrait of his home life, his life in town, his rise to fame and his decline into drugs, as well as health & emotional issues at the end. Cowan also writes about Thompson's public life, esp. when the author accompanied Thompson on his various escapades and speaking engagements. Thompson was a fascinating man, and the author does all of the above, but somehow the book never quite captured my attention. I kept counting the pages I had left to read - not a good sign.
I think one issue I had with the book was its organization. Cowan divided it into topics - one on the farm where he lived, three devoted to the various stages of his writing process, one on friends & lovers (towards the end). I was constantly flipping around trying - "who is that person?" "what is he talking about?" I know Cowan had a logic for doing it this way, or maybe he was just trying to be creative. But I think a straightforward chronological biography would have made a better book.
I think one issue I had with the book was its organization. Cowan divided it into topics - one on the farm where he lived, three devoted to the various stages of his writing process, one on friends & lovers (towards the end). I was constantly flipping around trying - "who is that person?" "what is he talking about?" I know Cowan had a logic for doing it this way, or maybe he was just trying to be creative. But I think a straightforward chronological biography would have made a better book.
November 9, 2014
While not always the best read in terms of it's actual writing, this is one of the few glimpses of the life of one of the best writers to have walked the face of the Earth that isn't afraid to be brutal in it's honesty. Thompson certainly deserves the accolades he earned in his life, but most biographical material is either entirely celebratory, or only skims the surface of the person behind all of the drugs, drinking, and shooting. Cowan shows us that Thompson wasn't always the best, or even a good person, but that he was also, at times, painfully aware of it. This is the way I would hope my friends would write about me, were I in the same position.
November 2, 2014
If you are a fan of Hunter S. Thompson, this is a must read. Jay Cowan was a mate of Thompson, but he's honest about the gonzo journalist and praises his writing. He writes: "The Hunter Style, even before it was fully gonzo, was rigorously first person ..." Cowan says Thompson felt the "only way to write honestly about the scene is to be part of it." So there are the usual stories about Thompson's extravagant lifestyle, but Cowan also points out how hard Hunter worked on his writing. Recommended.
July 6, 2013
Great content and real life experience from the author. At times the writing seemed tired and laborious. By the end I was as anxious as the author for the book to end. Overall it is worth reading, but nothing to write home about. In all fairness, the book deserves 3.5 stars --but Goidreads only grades in full stars -- and I haven't read any other biographies on Hunter. It very well could be that this is the best biography in the market.
November 28, 2013
For me, this was the most realistic feeling biography of the man. Downsides of drug and alcohol taking included, but the bright side also there. More of the latter than the former. Of course its subjective, one persons view of Thompson. But this person also new his subject pretty well. I find this book to be great. And anyway worth reading for any Thompson fan, or even for someone who don't know him at all.
July 4, 2015
I picked up this book for a buck at a Goodwill, I really knew very little about Hunter S. Thompson, so thought I would learn a little more about the man and the myth. Odd, after reading this, don't feel like I learned that much more, seem a bit too sterile and removed for me. I have less interest in Hunter S. Thompson than I did before.
September 11, 2012
I randomly stumbled across this book at a local bookstore. Having no idea who Mr. Thompson was, I thought the description on the book jacket rather interesting so I bought the book and completed it the same day. Needless to say, I'm a fan of Hunter S Thompson.
October 7, 2012
Just what the world needs? Another 'The Hunter I knew book'? The author is an accomplished journalist who lived on HST's property, a close friend in more than one sense. And this is entertaining and illuminating throughout.
June 30, 2010
Half-way through. Not a rip off, but a cogent analysis of Hunter--the good & the bad--by a friend who knew him for many years.
July 20, 2016
Candid.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews