Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

By: Hunter S. Thompson

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 6 hrs

Publisher's summary

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.

©1971 Hunter S. Thompson (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"The best book on the dope decade." (The New York Times Book Review)

wonderful

The book is great. A legitimate and accurate insight in to the heart of American values at that age.

I enjoyed the narrator

This guy sounds gritty and I like it. I was let down that it wasn't hunter or Depp voice that I've come to imagine for hunter. But this guy did a good job. Great book

a lot of fun.

A Lot of things that didn't make it into the movie are in the book and helps make sense of some things. a lot of fun , I've listened to this a couple of times.

Medical pronunciation needs work

Read up on how to pronounce medical terms. otherwise nice narration. Cringing at your pronunciation

Classic American Literature

Hunter Thompson’s book is a classic of American literature. This tail which never lets the facts get in the way of a great story was originally published in Rolling Stone magazine and serial parts like so many great books of times past (reference Charles dickens). Dr. Thompson, pulls no punches on the The grim actuality of American culture which echoes today his observations on attitudes and the gross denial of even the most outrageous behavior echoes into our modern system like a zephyr in the desert of time. His observation that downers came in with Nixon is by no means irrelevant to the heroin epidemic it came in with Trump. Weird times are never far from us in this country just take a look at our history from its inception. That is not to say that we are particularly mad or evil but we do oscillate quite a bit in and out of the weird zone. Hunter Thompson is always worth a read or listen and he will always make you think, smile or laugh out loud. He is and will remain one of our brightest most original authors, but like caviar in certain wines in acquired taste.

Loved it

I don’t know why people dislike the reading but I thought the book was great!

Hilarious!

I do not understand why people expect every single audiobook to be a Hunter S Thompson impersonator reading it. The narrator offers his own personality to the reading, and I find it absolutely hilarious. The accents and his cadence at certain parts actually had me laughing out loud. I think one of my favorite scenes in the book is them at the bar, telling the DA from down south about the "cults" they have in LA.

Movies better

The rare instance that the movie is actually more entertaining than the book. Was not expecting that based on watching the movie first.

Sharp and Still Relevant

This is a highly entertaining download. It is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, but also is filled with searingly sharp observations of American culture. Thompson is writer of rare skill, his mastery of the craft sometimes takes your breath away, he's that good.

The book is occasionally a little disjointed (not surprising given the drug use it chronicles in great detail) and will certainly offend those who tend to very straight-laced, conservative Republican views, but it richly deserves its status as an American classic. It translates well into an audiobook format and the quality of the narration is very high. Recommended.

HS Thompson, back at it again

Great book!
I really enjoyed the story and references to popular culture. Would recommend to anyone!