The Best of Rolling Stone

by Rolling Stone Magazine

A twenty-fifth anniversary collection features some of the most influential articles from the magazine that redefined journalism, with works by Tom Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson, Chet Flippo, Ellen Hopkins, and others. Simultaneous.

Genres: Essays, Journalism, Music, Nonfiction

509 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

Rolling Stone is a U.S.-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner (who is still editor and publisher) and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this collection of Rolling Stone articles chiefly for the "Death of a Cheerleader" story that was the (true) basis for the legendary Tori Spelling Lifetime movie (no, not Mother, May I Sleep with Danger? The other one.)

The articles are by some great writers. The reason for the DNF and the rating when there is such great journalism in this book is the articles have been edited, sometimes heavily. Do you have to hack away at the stories? Maybe you could have just published two volumes instead?

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it possible to actually pine for a time you've not really experienced, but feel you would have slotted right into? Back in the 70s, I wasn't even a love letter (according to my dad), and yet reading this book makes me look back in wistful regret. Onto what, I'm not entirely sure.

Be it glorification of a past that may not have been all that groovy, this collection of essays and stories brilliantly encompasses the spirit of an epoch that dwindled long ago. Back when journalism used to be all about experience and investigation, back when we didn't simply resort to selfies, listicles and minute-to-minute accounts of Kim Kardashian's life. Back when it was interesting to meet the hidden musicians in the heart of Africa, launch your own murder inquiry, or simply say what was on your mind about hot topics such as hallucinogenic drugs, Jerry Lee Lewis' deranged behaviour or a trip to Vegas that went off the rails into Bat County.

Now please excuse me while I go invent a time machine.

[Rodreyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo leí en español. Una cuarentena de notas periodísticas de la famosa Rolling Stone. Mucha música, pero también política y ciencia, arte y aventuras. Un imperdible, especial para reporteros.
¿No lo has leído?. No te creo.

[Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The good stuff was really good. Just amazing writing and journalism. The celebrity horseshit totally blew!

[Daniel Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here they are: the signature stories of the fearless and fearful writers of journalism on the edge. More than 600 pages of original writing from writers who knew that no subject is out of bounds as they carelessly broke the rules (which Miss Ester Balane and Cecilia R. Lana are proud sticklers to) in the process of finding a new and deeply personal way of telling a story.
All the bad, and therefore good, beasties are here, From David Black to Bill Zebane— and legends such as Ken Kesey, P.J. O'Rourke, Hunter Thompson and Tom Wolfe in between.

Go now. Take a cab or a tricyle, I don't care. Just go and beg, borrow or steal yourself a copy, 'cause I'm not selling or swapping mine.

[Mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journalism changed when 21-year-old Jann Wenner founded Rolling Stone in 1967. The magazine published far-out pieces that pushed the envelope. Re-reading some of the pieces, they still feel revolutionary--the authors convinced that they can change the world through the power of the written word. Superb.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skimmed a lot of this book as the music articles did not interest me at all. The ones focusing on politics, people and events of the 70's - 80's proved to be a tad better but out of the 39 essays I read maybe 10. It also irritated me that they were not the complete articles though I understand for length some had to be edited. All in all a kinda boring collection.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

the subtitle of this book is "25 years of journalism on the edge" and it does have some incredible writing in here. Not just music criticism or features, lots of great in depth articles that rolling stone was once known for.

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit dated but still has some interesting tales of recent history: Karen Silkwood, Patti Hearst, Warren Beatty.

[Lawrence Casiraya · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my best Booksale finds

[MaryRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorite non-fiction collections. Amazing writing. Incredible stories.