The Great Shark Hunt

By: Hunter S. Thompson

Narrated by: Scott Sowers

Length: 29 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's Summary

Originally published in 1979, the first volume of the best-selling "Gonzo Papers" is now back in print. The Great Shark Hunt is Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's largest and, arguably, most important work, covering Nixon to napalm, Las Vegas to Watergate, Carter to cocaine. These essays offer brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in signature Thompson style. Ranging in date from the National Observer days to the era of Rolling Stone, The Great Shark Hunt offers myriad, highly charged entries, including the first Hunter S. Thompson piece to be dubbed "gonzo" - "The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved," which appeared in Scanlan's Monthly in 1970. From this essay a new journalistic movement sprang which would change the shape of American letters. Thompson's razor-sharp insight and crystal clarity capture the crazy, hypocritical, degenerate, and redeeming aspects of the explosive and colorful '60s and '70s.

©1979 Hunter S. Thompson (P)2013 Recorded Books

Like HST but...

Would you try another book from Hunter S. Thompson and/or Scott Sowers?

I like some of HST's work, but I found the narration grating and it put me off. The guy just sounds like an agitated jerk, which HST was, but I wouldn't listen to either one for any longer than I had to. Sounds a bit like Sam Kinneson hollering at you for 24 hours.

Would you recommend The Great Shark Hunt to your friends? Why or why not?

No, bad narration and if you're under 60 years old, it is hard to relate to the Nixon era articles.

How could the performance have been better?

Do it a little bit straighter with only some agitation when necessary, not constant.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

bought the ticket, took the ride

16 people found this helpful

Great author, great content, ruined by narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I love Hunter S. Thompson, and I would recommend this and many of is books to my friends, but this particular audio book was ruined by the terrible narration. With that said, no I couldn't recommend this audio book to anyone as it is almost unbearable to listen to this narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator took the works of an author who uses a strong and intense writing style to convey a strong and fascinating message and turned it into a Glenn Beck esque sounding rant. The narration of this book took what is an amazing and eye opening commentary on an era and filled it with a hatred that is really and truly sad to hear, and it is gravely disappointing.

6 people found this helpful

good hunter compilation

If you could sum up The Great Shark Hunt in three words, what would they be?

a great compilation

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Great Shark Hunt?

hunter and ralph steadman at the kentucky derby

What does Scott Sowers bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

an excitable and angry attitude just like hunter in real life

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

the obituary he wrote for "tricky dick"

Any additional comments?

very entertaining, only thing that takes away from it was the many redundancies from his other works

2 people found this helpful

A Strange and Terrible Glory

David Letterman once described Hunter S. Thompson as, "the least factual, but most accurate journalists alive." That description works well for this collection of Thompson's various articles, published in numerous magazines throughout his legendary career. Thompson was a man of extreme contractions. He comfortable using racial slurs, bragging about his criminal past/present, and completely blitzing away mind away though various drugs. However, Hunter S. Thompson was also deeply committed to promoting racial equality, fair and respectable democratic government, and a compassionate criminal justice system. He was a brilliant man and to listen to this collection is to briefly touch that very brilliance. The world is a lesser place without him.

I listened to The Great Shark Hunt over the course of about a year in small bursts, and man, I am glad I did. Scott Sower's performance captures Thompson's passion well, although it can be a bit overwhelming if you try to listen to too much at once. Overall, this is one of the best collections of journalism I think you are ever going to find. Beyond highly recommended!

1 person found this helpful

Some great articles but it’s a collection not a book

This collection of Hunter Thompson’s articles offers a mix of gonzo, satirical and some more traditional magazine pieces. I struggled at times looking for a core narrative that strung the stories together but gave up and just tried to enjoy them for what they were. I was surprised at the quality of his sports commentary as I knew him more from the political writing previously. Worth reading a book by him just not sure I need to read another. Excellent performance though

Essential Hunter

I highly recommend this. Essentially a collection of his works similar to but not as good as Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72, which is a non-fiction masterpiece. His breakdown and outrage at contemporary politics and subculture studies with little or no judgement mixed with a fascinating literary style makes for very humorous and exciting reading.

Very different book than I expected but good.

First Hunter S. Thompson book I have read and was definitely interesting but more political than I thought it would be.

Long but worth it

There is a good amount of exposition surrounding Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in here.

Also, a whole bunch about Nixon.

Not a great reader, still better than Hunter

Hiunter was a *writer*.
Think audio book has gotten a bad rap BC Scott Sowers not being very gooid, in fact that is true. Still- unless Johnny Depp records iit, it's good enough.
*Hunter* himself talks too fast, often in a franetic mumble. For that:, there's gonzo papers + have tne text!
Writing this good isn't ruined. In fact the enuciuation is great, there's just too much unnecessary screaming.

Great Performance

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Scott Sowers gives a performance that makes every minute entertaining as hell, even the boring parts about Jimmy Carter. This is the voice you would hear in your mind if you were reading the text.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes