Better Than Sex (Gonzo Papers, Vol 4)

by Hunter S. Thompson
Better Than Sex (Gonzo Papers, Vol 4)  
published 1995 by Ballantine Books
first published 1994
binding Paperback
isbn 0345396359   (isbn13: 9780345396358)
pages 272
description Since his 1972 trailblazing opus, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, Hunter S. Thompson has reported the election story in his truly inimitabl...more
date added
12-25-06



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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 677)



Josh
Josh rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
12/06/07

Read in January, 2004
For a books following the 1992 presidential race, this one is surprisingly righteous. Or maybe not so surprisingly so. I thought that maybe because the politics were so closely removed from the present, that it would suffer for it, but it didn't, partially because THE SAME PEOPLE ARE STILL HANGING AROUND WASHINGTON (there's a pretty f-ing brilliant pic of George II in there, sticking his tongue out at the camera), and partially because Hunter S. Thompson is hilarious - and I think always had t...more
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Simone
Simone rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/24/07

This is an account of Hunter Thompson's time on Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign. I love the fact that he doesn't pull any punches ... he calls Bill Clinton the sleaziest person he's ever met and describes a bar fight between himself and James Carville (my hero) the night of the election. It's vintage Hunter S. Thompson ... I read this during an 8-hour layover in Brussels, Belgium, in 1998, which was the only thing that kept me from going insane (the Brussels airport is nothing but a white box wit...more
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Jason
Jason rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/20/07

Read in January, 2000
recommends it for: Political junkies
Thompson's idiosyncratic chronicle of his time on the campaign trail covering the '92 Bush/Clinton presidential race. By far the most cohesive of the "Gonzo Papers" books, it should appeal to anyone who either is interested in the back room intrigues that occur in the midst of a political campaign and/or fans of Thompson's unique journalistic style and worldview.
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James
James rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
04/06/08

This is late-model weak tea HST, but it has a lot of relevance / counterpoint to today, as it's focused around A Bush and A Clinton. Marvel that HST thought Bush Sr. was the closest we could get to a modern Nixon! Watch in awe as he focuses his hope around a Clinton, only to be slowly disturbed at how a Clinton's campaign is run, and eventually disillusioned!
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Robijn
Robijn rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
03/10/08

bookshelves: currently-reading
Read in March, 2008
Is anything better . . .

Well, I thought it was a good time to revisit the 92 Presidential with Gonzo. Great fun in Little Rock and elsewhere. Oh what a boon it would be to have Hunter S. yapping about Hill and Obama now not to mention the tee off he would have on McCain! Pity. It is a really fun book to read, especially for poli-junkies like me. Enjoy!
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C.S.
C.S. rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
01/09/08

The waning years of Gonzo but still worth the effort.
Most of the humor here is in the form of faxes and personal notes.
The keen political insight of THompson's former years is scant in this volume and his vitriol seems contrived at times, but still a must for the Good Doctor's fans.
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Nathan
Nathan rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
09/17/07

bookshelves: history, history-politics, humor
Read in March, 2004
recommends it for: Shotgun artists.
Hunter S. Thompson's take on Bill Clinton's 1992 Presidential Campaign. He saw it long before anyone else did. And he loved it. Pure Thompson, pure Clinton. It's sick, and it'll make you wish Thompson was alive to write about the 2008 campaign. God knows we missed him in 2006.

NC
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Lawrence
Lawrence rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
07/25/07

Read in January, 2000
Includes description of Bill Clinton eating french fries written in a magical realism style. Perhaps funniest thing I have ever read. Also includes Thompson's obituary for Richard M. Nixon -- probably the greatest, truest, funniest and saddest political hatchet job ever.
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Meredith
Read in January, 2006
The fax machine was just becoming huge... His faxes to Stephanopoulos and Ted Turner are hysterical... There are also some great exchanged between Hunter and Carville. My favorite scene was Clinton and Hunter eating together...
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Thomas
Thomas rated it: 1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars1 of 5 stars
01/19/08

Read in January, 1994
My first real disappointment from hunter. I reviewed the book saying as much, and line from that review — with carefully placed ellipses to change the nature of my statement — was blurbed on the paperback edition. Figures.
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Rick
Rick rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
05/27/07

It's nearly impossible to make political analysis sound relevant twenty years later. Nevertheless, the part about driving around the desert with a crazed Clarence Thomas tickles me still.
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Philrequardt
Philrequardt rated it: 3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars
12/01/07

recommends it for: political junkies, people who hate political junkies
this book is worth readig for thompson's description of bill clinton alone. his exchanges (usually through fax) with political figures are manic genius.
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MIke
MIke rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
02/01/07

Compared to "Fear and Laothing... 72" this one falls short, not as in depth. But compared to most limp political writings Thompson still shines.
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Jeff
Jeff rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
02/09/08

recommends it for: Those wanting to read the best summary of Nixon's life
The Nixon obituary is prime Thompson, both hilarious and scarily insightful, and should be read by every American. The rest is better skipped.
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todd
todd rated it: 2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars
04/15/07

its still hst and he still gets amazing access to really interesting people, but he's mailing it in for the most part
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Cody
Cody rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
01/10/08

Read in January, 1997
Ha!
Hunter rules.
Bush's no Nixon, but he does a good turn.
Hilarious, and great reading during an election year!
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Amy
04/29/08

Read in January, 1994
This book made me laugh......he shows his funny side in this one., especially with the addendum about Nixon dying.
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Gilbert
Gilbert rated it: 5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
03/20/08

I found this book by accident. I can't read too much of Thompson or I start swaying drunkenly. Rest in peace.
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Dana
Dana added it
01/28/08

I have been reading this book over a year, and I keep getting torn away by other, better books.
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Virgil
Virgil rated it: 4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars
11/24/07

I can't remember when I read this. All I know is I had to wait for it to come out in paperback
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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.70 (564 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.70 (540 ratings)
number of reviews: 30






other editions

Better Than Sex (Paperback)
Better Than Sex: Confessions of a Political Junkie (Gonzo Papers, Vol 4)
Better Than Sex: Confessions of a Political Junkie, Trapped Like a Rat in Mr.Bill's Neighbourhood (Hardcover)