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28th out of 45 books
—
35 voters
Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club
Narrated by the visionary founding member, Hell's Angel provides a fascinating all-access pass to the secret world of the notorious Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. Sonny Barger recounts the birth of the original Oakland Hell's Angels and the four turbulent decades that followed. Hell's Angel also chronicles the way the HAMC revolutionized the look of the Harley-Davidson mot...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
October 2nd 2001
by William Morrow Paperbacks
(first published 2000)
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Sonny Barger's memoir of his life dedicated to the cause of the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club is somewhat interesting, but poorly written, a bit on the redundant side and all-to-brief when Barger goes into some episode of violence/sex/philosophy of the biker that I wanted to know more on. He should of really juiced this up and gave even more sex and violence and given an insider's tour of what it's really like to live the "outlaw" biker lifestyle that he gripes about non-stop in the pages of the...more
I read this book in one weekend, which means that it was captivating enough to keep me turning the pages, and the simplicity of the oral style didn't hold things up either. I'm no biker, but I am keenly interested in the alternative lifestyles and subcultures of the 60's, and the iconic legend of the HAMC is an obvious object of curiosity and fascination. The fact that the events are told from an Angel's point of view,(and not just any Angel but Barger himself) rather than that of a journalist o...more
This is a ghost-written, or at least ghost-writer assisted, autobiography of the Hells Angel who essentially founded the Oakland chapter and was instrumental in building the Hells Angels into a national and then international group. It's pretty unapologetic and to some extent self-serving. It does 'humanise' the bikers, painting them in a sympathetic light and showing how chaotic their lives can be - though it's also less than forthcoming about some of the less attractive and more criminal sides...more
The Angel story told by the longtime president of the Oakland chapter. Bold and informative stuff, one would think, right? Wrong. Barger seems to be not only the most taciturn and non-introspective memorialist ever, but just plain dumb. He tells the reader nothing about what he feels, thinks, opines, or even guesses about any of the events of his life. Why did he rise to become leader of the Angels --- not how, but why? What’s special about him? The book doesn’t reveal the answer.
What does he th...more
What does he th...more
Interesting history book. There have been lots of books about biker gangs esp. Hell's Angels by Hunter Thompson but this is done by Sonny Barger who founded the Hell's Angels motorcycle club. By the way Barger points to Thompson as a chickenshit and his book being fantasy crap. The Hell's Angels beat the daylights out of Thompson after his book was released and sent him packing. I think for me what was most interesting was getting the viewpoint of what for the most part are very violent thugs. I...more
If anyone has noticed by now, I am a huge fan of FX’s show, Sons of Anarchy (Tuesday nights at 10 PM!). It is a show about a fictional outlaw motorcycle club (MC) created by Kurt Sutter and acted out by some amazing people. I am active in watching the show and participating in some fan things, such as listening to two fan podcasts and emailing them and calling them with my thoughts and comments.
So naturally, I thought I should get a slightly different view of the outlaw MC world, especially afte...more
So naturally, I thought I should get a slightly different view of the outlaw MC world, especially afte...more
Got this book for free... and I had a riot reading it. I think that Sonny Barger actually took his adventures in the motorcycle club seriously. He does believe that he is a well loved American Icon (even though I had never heard of him) and that the cops are out to get him. He believes that by riding his motorcycle and making a lot of money off of this book he is protecting America, and America equals freedom. That said, I read the book as a big fat joke, and appreciated that he did not make any...more
Sonny tells it like it is in this book, at least as much as is possible in a book about an organization surround by so much criminal activity. I was amused by how "Hollywood" the Hell's Angels were. Sonny's "job" was as a technical consultant for biker movies, and he held press conferences. You would think a group involved in so much crime would shun the limelight as much as possible, but it seems like we're all attracted to fame like moths to a flame.
It was interesting to me on one hand how se...more
It was interesting to me on one hand how se...more
Alright so this book isn't terribly well written but I didn't expect Tolkienesque description by the former president of the Hell's Angel Oakland Chapter. I also didn't expect to blow through this book in just a couple of sittings. Barger recounts the history of the HAMC fairly well and sprinkles interesting anecdotes throughout but I was really compelled when he describes working on and maintaining his bikes. His writing style changes in this chapter and is quite captivating. I also found the l...more
I feel like I really I know Sonny Barger after reading Hell's Angels. Even though he is a convicted felon, drug runner, and violent man he really does seem like a stand up guy. The best way I could describe Sonny after reading his autobiography would be as a very loyal and honest friend. The founder of the world wide motorcycle club the " Hell's Angels" and the founder of a world wide brother hood, Sonny created an expansive sanctuary for those who wanted to be part of something. Regardless of S...more
I like Barger. He's a blue-collar, no-shit guy from nowhere who became someone by virtue of simply being who he was. I have to admire that.
I don't admire some of the stuff he did in his life, but the book is like listening to one long and terrific tale from a guy you happen to start talking to in a bar, only to find out at the end of it that holy crap, yes, he's *that* guy. There's nothing false about him - he simply serves it to you, in his voice and from his point of view. Honestly, out of the...more
I don't admire some of the stuff he did in his life, but the book is like listening to one long and terrific tale from a guy you happen to start talking to in a bar, only to find out at the end of it that holy crap, yes, he's *that* guy. There's nothing false about him - he simply serves it to you, in his voice and from his point of view. Honestly, out of the...more
I enjoyed reading this book. It was interesting and gave me a better idea of what the Hell's Angels are all about. I grew up in NY and attended many concerts in the Fillmore East during the late 60's and early 70's. There were quite a few Hell's Angels walking around in the Fillmore East especially during Grateful Dead concerts. They were big and mean looking but I never saw them go out of their way to instigate any trouble. They usually minded their own business and enjoyed the concerts like ev...more
A small part of the life and times of Sonny Barger and HAMC, from his point of view.
After reading the book I can tell for sure three things:
- he is a tough, smart, energetic and charismatic asshole;
- he is cosmetically enhancing his side of the story, leaving aside details that would disgust people (he's good PR also);
- he can't write. The book is barely passable although it is written with two guys who apparently are doing it for a living (they wrote for some mobster and for the Mythbusters gu...more
After reading the book I can tell for sure three things:
- he is a tough, smart, energetic and charismatic asshole;
- he is cosmetically enhancing his side of the story, leaving aside details that would disgust people (he's good PR also);
- he can't write. The book is barely passable although it is written with two guys who apparently are doing it for a living (they wrote for some mobster and for the Mythbusters gu...more
I always love to read stories about and/or set it in Oakland, and the late 60's had to have been one of most historically interesting episodes in Oakland's development of identity. That being said, the story of the birth of the Hells Angels and their "to hell with the cops" mentality gave me pause about the current implications of that historical conflict on our community's continued struggle with the police and other authorities. And since I'm not a fan of "The Bad-Ass" per se, a history of how...more
This is an excellent read; not only does it tell the story of the motorcycle club from the perspective of the man who put it on the map, but the tone is so natural, so honest in delivery, that it feels like Sonny Barger had a couple of hours to kill, so he decided to plunk down on the barstool next to you and just start talking. He really puts you into the moments that he's describing.
This edition also includes photographs, so you can put faces to names, and even spells out some of the club's by...more
This edition also includes photographs, so you can put faces to names, and even spells out some of the club's by...more
Jesus Christ Man! What can you say about the man that has not already been said. He was a son of a bitch and I love him. Fascinating read that gets you excited about hooliganism. I can't say that I would want to hang out with Thompson, but I probably would have loved it. His relationship with the good Doctor is probably the only reason to envy Johnny Depp.
To the book, well, it is just an exciting and detailed peek into the lives of men so free that we will likely never know how on the fringe of...more
To the book, well, it is just an exciting and detailed peek into the lives of men so free that we will likely never know how on the fringe of...more
An interesting read because it provides a counterpoint to the works of Hunter Thompson and Stanley Booth's "Dance With the Devil" segments about the Rolling Stones at Altamont. Sonny Barger comes off media-savvy and often surprisingly charming and funny, though there are many moments in the book that history, documentary footage, court documents, other reportage and etc. just don't bear out. That said, it's a good read, and his insights on motorcycles are sometimes surprising (The Hell's Angels...more
This book was awesome. It tell the story of how the founder of the Hell's Angels feels about every bad and good thing that the angels have stood for. It gives his side of the story with drugs, murders, fights, motorcycles, the government,and laws we have today. It is both and interesting and in-depth look at what drives a man that many people probably consider the brother of Lucifer. You won't be able to finish the book without having a new found respect for what he and his angels stand for. Eve...more
Aug 21, 2009
David
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
summer-09,
baruch-2009-2010
Hell's Angel, more or less, is the story of Ralph "Sonny" Barger, the leader of the notorious motorcycle group known as The Hell's Angels. Throughout the book Barger describes the inner workings of the motorcycle club, giving the reader a captivating, as well as extremely disturbing, idea of what the life of the most serious of motorcyclists is like. Undoubtedly, Hell's Angel will show you that the Hell's Angel's stand out among all other motorcycle gangs when it comes to the dedication to a gro...more
I originally bought this book for my father and he gave it to me to read when he was finished. Throughout Sonny Barger is trying to make it sound like the Hell's Angels are a bunch of good guys with a bad rap. He makes it sound like beating the crap out of people and killing others was completely innocent. The book had some good stories, but really pissed me off at times. Especially when he makes it sound like anyone who rides a bike and isn't in a "motorcycle club" that is all about beating oth...more
I suffered through the first 2/3 of the book about how badass Sonny Barger (president of the Hell's Angels) thinks he is. It was 150+ pages about beating people, earning respect, loyalty, and brotherhood. Boiling it all down it seemed to be hundreds of men who can't handle the masses of alcohol and drugs they ingest. Finally, by the last 3rd of the book I found it interesting and not so juvenile.
The government and media fascination with the Hell's Angels was interesting. I had no idea about the...more
The government and media fascination with the Hell's Angels was interesting. I had no idea about the...more
Further required reading for the prospective motorcycle outlaw.
Sure this book doesn't have the most eloquent writing, neither does it appear to be showing the entire picture- often situations are presented as "we were innocent, we made fun of the law, and we won!"- but it's still pretty compelling reading!
I don't know if it's just me, but i had a hell of a time trying to put this down. A glimpse into the life and mind of America's nightmare!
Sure this book doesn't have the most eloquent writing, neither does it appear to be showing the entire picture- often situations are presented as "we were innocent, we made fun of the law, and we won!"- but it's still pretty compelling reading!
I don't know if it's just me, but i had a hell of a time trying to put this down. A glimpse into the life and mind of America's nightmare!
It reads like an apologia. You'd think Barger was some kind of a saint. Still, he does have a lot of charisma; and he seems to espouse some worthy or noble values - like loyalty, and sticking up for your brother. And it does give some insight into the mind-set, if not philosophy, of the Angels.
I'm really glad he wrote this book. He deserves to be heard. The Angels and their mystique are an important cultural artifact of our times.
I'm really glad he wrote this book. He deserves to be heard. The Angels and their mystique are an important cultural artifact of our times.
Another great read.
Forget what you know or what you think you know about the Hell's Angels.
This is the true story from a founding member and iconic leader of the most famous Biker gang in history.
Learn how and why the Angels were formed from the charismatic Sonny Barger.
Sonny's story is entertaining and informative. Never dull.
I read this book in less than a week as I couldn't put it down
Forget what you know or what you think you know about the Hell's Angels.
This is the true story from a founding member and iconic leader of the most famous Biker gang in history.
Learn how and why the Angels were formed from the charismatic Sonny Barger.
Sonny's story is entertaining and informative. Never dull.
I read this book in less than a week as I couldn't put it down
Ahh... well, honestly, I'm kind of afraid that if I give this book a lame review the local Hells Angel affiliate club with hunt me down and "rat pack" me.
Reading this right after Chosen Soldier I was kind of surprised by how similar the values of these two starkly different groups are. I can find nothing wrong with the moral underpinnings of being in an outlaw motorcycle gang, or the mob, or whatever, but think it's ironic that these groups that always purport to place family and brotehrhood as...more
Reading this right after Chosen Soldier I was kind of surprised by how similar the values of these two starkly different groups are. I can find nothing wrong with the moral underpinnings of being in an outlaw motorcycle gang, or the mob, or whatever, but think it's ironic that these groups that always purport to place family and brotehrhood as...more
I read Hunter Thompson's book about the Hells Angels in high school, and came away with a misbegotten romantic notion of them. Barger maligns Thompson in his own version of the story, and I believe that Barger's version is more accurate: the Hells Angels were violent, stupid thugs. I was surprised at how dull this book was.
Knygelė apie Hell's Angel's baikerių klubą, jo istoriją, nuotaikingam skaitymui prieš miegą: apie audringą gyvenimą, žudynes, narkotikus, seksą ir kalėjimą, o svarbiausia - laisvę, kai sėdi ant motociklo ir važiuoji kur akys neša, kas gali būti geriau, kai tuo metu gali pabėgti net nuo savęs..
Kaip sakė Lietuvos HD klubo prezidentas, knyga neatspindi viso klubo žiaurumo, nes angelų vengia net pasaulio HD klubų nariai. Galima įsivaizduoti, kaip JAV farai bandė susidoroti su visu JAV angelų klubu s...more
Kaip sakė Lietuvos HD klubo prezidentas, knyga neatspindi viso klubo žiaurumo, nes angelų vengia net pasaulio HD klubų nariai. Galima įsivaizduoti, kaip JAV farai bandė susidoroti su visu JAV angelų klubu s...more
Bit all over the place this one for me. Rather than a biography in chronological order......it was written around a base of different subject matter which I felt disrupted the flow of the book. That said, learnt a lot about the famous Hells Angels murder at the Stones Arlington concert and the druggy 60's. I just wish it had a little more about Hells Angels as a business......it was too closely guarded for me but I guess what goes on tour, stays on tour.
A fast read and exciting read from the man himself, Sonny Barger, president of the Hell's Angels. It is interesting reading and comparing his accounts to other author's account of the same event and time. It is filled with sex, drugs and rock and roll but from a different perspective.
On the one hand I enjoy memoirs about lives that are completely different than my own. Learning about the founder of the Hell's Angels was interesting and he shared some fascinating stories; however, my ultimate conclusion is that Sonny Barger and his "brothers" are way too hedonistic and misogynistic to earn my respect. I don't recommend that you waste your time reading his story.
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Founding member of the Oakland chapter of the motorcycle club the Hell's Angels.
In 1988 Barger was convict for conspiring to blow up an clubhouse of a rival motorcycle club.
Nowadays Barger is still an active member of the Hell's Angels and he has written diverse books about motorcycles.
More about Sonny Barger...
In 1988 Barger was convict for conspiring to blow up an clubhouse of a rival motorcycle club.
Nowadays Barger is still an active member of the Hell's Angels and he has written diverse books about motorcycles.
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