Better Than Sex
by Hunter S. Thompson
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Gosh, do I miss HST. He would have loved this politidal season.
This book, written in 1994, details (sort of) the 1992 presidential campaign, but really it serves as a larger meditation on campaign junkiedom and the looming political black hole on the horizon for the new millennium. He was so ahead of his time about so many things, but especially the ruthlessness and singular desire to win shared by Bill and Hill. If I would have read this when it came out, I probably would have dismissed a lo...more
This book, written in 1994, details (sort of) the 1992 presidential campaign, but really it serves as a larger meditation on campaign junkiedom and the looming political black hole on the horizon for the new millennium. He was so ahead of his time about so many things, but especially the ruthlessness and singular desire to win shared by Bill and Hill. If I would have read this when it came out, I probably would have dismissed a lo...more
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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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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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Read in June, 2008
HST's collection of writings on the '92 presidential election, up to and including his 1994 obituary of Richard Nixon. Parts are hysterical, parts are unbearable shtick, which Thompson leaned on far too heavily in his later journalism. He's an equal opportunity hater, though, and he pillories Clinton for being a soulless, opportunistic politician, in the mold of Tricky Dick Milhaus.
A fast read.
A fast read.
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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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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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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!
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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Read in August, 2008
Including such wonderful anecdotes as Hunter's fist-fight with James Carville over a stolen wallet, and a Hunter's interview with reporters about Clinton's pot usage cut short by police accusing him of firing a military rocket at a snowmobile, Better Than Sex is certainly the best look at politics in the 90s you will ever find.
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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.
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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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
NC
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Probably better if your old enough to remember the campaign itself...in quite a lot of detail.Still written in Hunters page a minute style but for me too dependant on knowledge of the candidates and instances along the trail. Too bad he won't be able to report on this election
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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!
Hunter rules.
Bush's no Nixon, but he does a good turn.
Hilarious, and great reading during an election year!
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