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    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
    Audiobook6 hours

    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream

    Written by Hunter S. Thompson

    Narrated by Ron McLarty

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Maverick author Hunter S. Thompson introduced the world to "gonzo journalism" with this cult classic that shot back up the best-seller lists after Thompson's suicide in 2005. No book ever written has more perfectly captured the spirit of the 1960s counterculture. In Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, Raoul Duke (Thompson) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (inspired by a friend of Thompson) are quickly diverted to search for the American dream. Their quest is fueled by nearly every drug imaginable and quickly becomes a surreal experience that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. But there is more to this hilarious tale than reckless behavior-for underneath the hallucinogenic facade is a stinging criticism of American greed and consumerism.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateSep 26, 2005
    ISBN9781440780530
    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream
    Author

    Hunter S. Thompson

    Hunter S. Thompson is one of the great cultural figures of his generation. His writing spawned a whole genre (gonzo journalism) and myriad imitators, but he remained the first and the finest – a cult figure whose legacy and influence live on.

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    Reviews for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

    4/5

    4,234 ratings92 reviews

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    • 3/5
      The voice actor was not very good. Terrific writing from Dr. gonzo

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Most Famous Books Set In Each Of The 50 States - NevadaThis is a bizarre tale of addiction and madcap hijinks. The protagonist is a barely conscious drug fiend/reporter who gets an assignment to cover a sporting event in Las Vegas. At least he thinks that was the assignment, he can't really remember. In any event, he drives into the desert with his fellow junkie and attorney and a trunk full of every sort of drug they can lay hands on.They spend an uncertain number of days tearing around the Strip making scenes and having paranoid episodes. It's definitely entertaining, and through the stream of consciousness hallucinations, the careful reader can discern cutting commentary about the nature of life in America.
    • 3/5
      Good exposition need, some humorous, and satire but it has a tough time coming together. Feels like a bunch of really great ideas that just had a little trouble meshing.
    • 5/5
      Gonzo writing at its best. A unique man and author that seldom few understand. Narration was ok but the over story is great. Might seem hard to follow for some readers not accustomed to this style of writing but a surreal experience that make one feel apart of the craziness of this drug infused mania.
    • 4/5
      I remember reading about Thompson way back during my O-levels. His 'gonzo' style of writing - mixing reality and fiction together in a journalistic style - was fascinating. I was also intrigued by the movie starring Johnny Depp. It was all over Reddit, and people would constantly gush over it.

      So, here I am, more than a decade later, finally checking out the book the movie's based on, and damn, what a ride it was! Initially, it felt more like a fever dream than reality, especially the events leading up to the race. The antics he and his 'attorney' get up to were hilarious and sad at the same time, mostly in the way they con their way through Las Vegas (and an assortment of characters).

      The writing hit that sweet spot between being self-aware and absurd. He knows what he's talking about; he also knows what he's talking about is utterly ridiculous and nihilistic to the point Nietzsche would blush. Finding the elusive 'American Dream' is exactly that - a fading reality and a dream that was crushed much earlier. But more than that, I enjoyed his depiction of the police conference - the irony there was simply too much.

      Of course, as I read more about the book (and how it came to be), I understood why and where its gonzo style comes from. Thompson himself noted that much of the drug-fuelled rampages he and his attorney go on in the book is fiction and that they were sober at the time. There are also sequences that were complete fiction (understandable) though much of the story is true or exaggerated from what actually happened.

      Thompson has written a lot more since then and given fascinating interviews. Sadly, he took his own life at the age of 67, leaving behind this note: "No More Games. No More Bombs. No More Walking. No More Fun. No More Swimming. 67. That is 17 years past 50. 17 more than I needed or wanted. Boring. I am always bitchy. No Fun -- for anybody. 67. You are getting Greedy. Act your old age. Relax -- This won't hurt."

      Long live Thompson. No one will replace or can even emulate you. Now, go read the damn book you filthy degenerate.
    • 3/5
      It was 50 years ago that this book was published. I thought that was as good an excuse as any to read it in 2021. I remember 1971 pretty well--it was the year I graduated from high school and started university. But Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba were a far cry from Las Vegas and so I can't really compare my experiences with Hunter S. Thompson's or his alter ego Raoul Duke.Duke and his lawyer, Dr. Gonzo, travelled from LA to Las Vegas to cover a race in the desert called the Mint 400. Thompson and his lawyer, Oscar Acosta, did travel to Las Vegas in 1971 to cover the Mint 400. In the book what follows is a drug and drink blow out and Duke and Dr. Gonzo never learned who won the race. They blow all the advance money from the magazine to buy more intoxicants and explore all the corners of Las Vegas. The subtitle of the book is "A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream". In a suburb of Las Vegas they are directed to the site of a nightclub that is supposed to be the American Dream; the nightclub burned down in 1968 and the rubble is all that is to be found on the lot. The novel continues until both Dr. Gonzo and Duke take airplanes away from Las Vegas having imbibed all the intoxicants they had brought with them and bought while there. They had numerous odd encounters with other hotel guests and hotel workers and casino workers and an ape almost makes it into the action as well. The whole book is sprinkled with illustrations by Ralph Steadman that embody the surreal aspects of the novel.According to an article by David S. Wills in Quillette the drug and booze fuelled escapades never really happened. This is a novel but who knows--what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas after all.
    • 2/5
      I’ve been waiting for ten plus years to read this book and maybe the anticipation killed my enjoy, because I was definitely underwhelmed by the whole thing. I should have read this back when I was still in high school and jazzed from watching the movie. A lot of this was just ... meh? And not a lot of meaningful commentary on anything. But a lot of drugs and very poor life decisions, so if you like that, definitely read FEAR AND LOATHING.
    • 5/5
      I read this on a long aeroplane flight and embarrassed myself by being one of those annoying people who laughs uncontrollably at an unshared joke amongst a crowd of sombre considerate people. Trying to keep the laughter inside just caused me to curl up and giggle insanely until the tears ran down my face. Drug culture - I don't approve. Non-payment of hotel bills - I also don't approve. Wrecking of rental cars - similarly bad. I imagine that if Thompson was genuinely anything like the character portrayed in his small book, I wouldn't have liked him. But I defy anyone to read this book without laughing their head off their shoulders.
    • 4/5
      There isn't much of a plot to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Raol Duke, aka Hunter Thompson, and his Samoan lawyer, Dr. Gonzo, travel to Las Vegas to cover a strange motorcycle race, but the real fun starts when they are asked to infiltrate a National District Attorney's Conference on Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Oh, the irony as these two men are out of their minds in a drug-induced haze most all of the time. Crashing cars, trashing hotels rooms, scamming their way out of restaurant checks, and all out hallucinations...this is just the beginning for the pair. The title of the book comes from a description of Las Vegas, "bad waves of paranoia, madness, fear and loathing - intolerable vibrations in this place" (p 72).
    • 2/5
      Coudn't finish. Perhaps due to the cultural barrier?
    • 4/5
      Absurd, drug-addled, and hilarious story of finding the American Dream in Las Vegas. Through the absurdity of hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, terrible decisions, there are some fascinating insights into American Politics, the Vietnam War, racism, capitalism, drug policy and so much more. While some parts were a bit outdated and cringy, this is so much more than just "drugs lol" story that it's portrayed to be. Anyone with Anti-establishment feelings should read this.
    • 3/5
      I think that reading this book got me high. I know I was not in my right mind after finishing it.
    • 5/5
      This is a fine book that can be interpreted on many different levels and allows for quite the reading experience once you get into it. I was impressed with the work and it is no wonder why this book is a classic.4.5 stars!
    • 5/5
      Vivacious, dark, chaotic, and ridiculous. Incredibly quotable (I loved, loved that part about projecting yourself on a twelve-foot screen on LSD -- and of course that quote about the wave and the watermark of sixties culture in San Francisco). Another one of those books that it's easy to understand why they're such a popular classic. If you like The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (and I do), you'll love this.

      I watched a documentary on Dr. Thompson ("Gonzo: the life of Hunter S. Thompson") mid-way through reading this, which only enhanced my experience.
    • 5/5
      Fear and Loathing (the movie) was my introduction to Hunter Thompson, and I became obsessed with the man. As soon as I could, I picked up this copy of the book and read it. I found it interesting what bits Terry Gilliam kept and changed for the movie adaptation, especially the change in ending. The first time I read this the changes bothered me, but now upon my second (or third?) reading I understand. The novel ending, while fitting for what Thompson was writing, doesn't befit a movie ending. Having Duke ride off into the sunset instead of meandering through an airport is much more in tone with what Gilliam was doing with his vision of Fear and Loathing.That said, this is a fascinating experiment, a spiritual successor to Kerouac's On the Road in many respects. Pure Gonzo Journalism at its finest.And Steadman's illustrations peppered throughout really pull you along on the nightmare trip Thompson is experiencing.
    • 1/5
      Ok. I'm glad I read it, but only to be able to say I read it. However, not a fan. I wanted to like this, but I was just sitting here shaking my head for most of the book.
    • 4/5
      This book has precursors, the highly personal reporting of the American presidential campaigns by Norman Mailer, and Thomas Wolfe's study of Ken Kesey's societal experiments.. For a short period this trio contributed highly coloured but intelligent analysis of the actions of American society especially about its political processes. This is more social than political, but like thomas wolfe on the drug culture, it opens a window on the manner in which the USA tried to deal with the rapid creation of a new viewpoint on the USA. Liberal adventurism. Great fun and very penetrating.
    • 5/5
      Oh boy. This book.

      I loved it, when I read it. It was one of my first audiobooks, and I used to listen to it on my Ipod when I was about 14 or 15. It's probably Thompson's most well-known book and, I would argue, one of his best.

      Now, make no mistake. Hunter S. Thompson was a problematic person. He used many and various substances (many of which are depicted in this book), he is also misogynistic and some might say, misanthropic. I really didn't pay attention to that when I read it at the time, I was purely reading it for the experience of reading it and hadn't quite learned to read critically, so if I read it again, I might have a slightly different opinion on it.

      To say this book is fast-paced is an understatement. This is a fantastic piece of social commentary on American society and all its peculiarities. It is dark, bitter, hilarious and Thompson is almost melancholic in his love for American culture. He deftly tears into social norms and after a little while, you just accustomed to the absurdity of it all.

      The writing itself, though, is spectacular. There are some passages of this book that made me stop dead when I heard them or read them aloud, that I still think about, that still stick with me today. I don't want quote those passages because I think it's important for you to experience them in their context, as Hunter intended them to be.

      When you read this book, keep an open mind, and just let it take you where it will.

      This novel is an absolute trip.
    • 1/5
      The blurb calls it "A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream"I didn't know the "American Dream" was to get wasted and stay that way.Their search for the American Dream is based off a new assignment Duke is given, but he and his attorney are too wasted to understand what exactly they are suppose to be looking for.
    • 3/5
      I read this so long ago. He set a standard with his gonzo writing style. I loved the Steadman illustrations as well. I remember liking it but I'm sure I'd have a hard time putting up with it now.
    • 5/5
      Thompson had a unique, manic and chaotic writing style and I love the insanity of every scene. The situations keep coming at a rapid-fire pace and are all hilariously written.
    • 4/5
      I, too, blame Spiro Agnew for everything
    • 5/5
      Love Thompson's writing and the scenarios he describes. It helps if you've taken hallucinogens, but probably not mandatory. I'd recommend reading the book first because otherwise you'll just be picturing Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro the whole time you're reading.
    • 1/5
      Angus and Robertson Top 100 (2006 - 2008) Book #81.I was surprised when I read this book. I have heard rave reviews about this book everywhere. But I was not a fan at all. This is potentially due to my very negative attitude towards any form of drug culture. Far too out there and immersed in drugs for my liking.
    • 2/5
      I'm sorry. I honestly tried to read it and though I loved the surreality mixed in what I would call a gonzo novel (not bad, mind you), I couldn't even finish the novel.I might one day go back to it, but my shelf is quite full as it is.
    • 4/5
      An interesting thing happened on the re-read of this book (30+ years after I read it first and loved it completely.) I couldn't stop laughing for the first 100 pages, and then it just got old. I guess my threshold for drug fueled quests has lowered over the years. There is still brilliance in this, and it is a historical document not to be missed, but I am glad I first read it when I was young enough to fully enjoy it.
    • 4/5
      I didn't know what to expect when reading this. I was aware of it's popularity and the fame of the author. I haven't seen the movie yet either so I considered myself pretty much unbiased. Overall I enjoyed the novel and thought the story was very entertaining. It was a quick read and I didn't learn much except for the Mint 400 race which I had never heard of before. Overall very entertaining and reminded me of similarities with The Wolf of Wall Street for some reason.
    • 3/5
      It was somewhat funny but not really my style.
    • 3/5
      Wow. The book is insane. It makes it more insane to know (I think?) that Thompson...well, actually LIVED through this. He made himself so many cocktails of dangerous drugs--I'd have to agree with him that Vegas might be the only place in the US he could get away with it.

      Entertaining read. For me, also firm confirmation of "Say NO to Drugs!"....
    • 5/5
      An absolutely crazy, terrifying, hilarious saga that will go down as an all time great by an all time great author. Thompson's style is completely unique and the first time I read Fear and Loathing I was dumbfounded because I never knew books could be written like that. For anyone that has yet to read this book or any of Thompson's work, I highly urge you to do so. Just make sure you keep an open mind and allow yourself to become immersed in the tale; For if you do, you will be on one crazy rollercoaster ride of fun and laughter that will change your views on writing forever.