Hunter S. Thompson: The Last Interview: and Other Conversations

The Last Interview

by Hunter S. Thompson, David Streitfeld (Editor)

Hunter S. Thompson was so outside the box, a new word was invented just to define him: Gonzo. He was a journalist who mocked all the rules, a hell-bent fellow who loved to stomp on his own accelerator, the writer every other writer tried to imitate. In these brutally candid and very funny interviews that range across his fabled career, Thompson reveals himself as mad for politics, which he thought was both the source of the country’s despair and, just maybe, the answer to it. At a moment when politics is once again roiling America, we need Thompson’s guts and wild wisdom more than ever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Journalism, History, Memoir

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2018

About the author

Hunter Stockton Thompson (1937-2005) was an American journalist and author, famous for his book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to such a degree that they become the central figures of their stories. He is also known for his promotion and use of psychedelics and other mind-altering substances (and to a lesser extent, alcohol and firearms), his libertarian views, and his iconoclastic contempt for authority. He committed suicide in 2005.

Reviews

[M. Sarki · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://msarki.tumblr.com/post/173411...

…I haven’t found a drug yet that can get you anywhere near as high as sitting at a desk writing, trying to imagine a story no matter how bizarre it is…

This book was a purely wonderful and insightful read. Hunter Thompson redeemed himself to me in these interviews. I had thought him insignificant by his last years but this book proves he was anything but. Thompson could see it all coming, and what our country is reeling from now would be no surprise to this great journalist. He spoke the truth and didn’t give a damn what anybody said or thought about it. Hat’s off to Hunter Thompson, a true American hero.

[Peter Knox · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m coming to this as an HST fan. I’ve read and listened to lots of his interviews and admit that he is not always the most coherent sensical man on the record, but he is certainly intelligent and impactful.

To have selected THESE interviews in particular (all of which were new to me, I’ll give them that, feels like a disservice to his legacy. They’re rambling, contradictory, and serve mainly to fit the preconceived theme/lens of post 2016 Trump in power, as hammered in the introduction.

Sure, HST loved and lived politics. He would have a lot to say about Trump like he did Nixon and Bush. But if we’re reading just one interview from each decade leading up to his death (I understand you don’t get to pick and chose your Last Interview - but at least this one was a little sweet, with HST trying to mentor the poorly prepared journalist in training on the other end of the phone), but the other selections could have been more about writing and reporting and his life than the politics of the moment.

I’d suggest another book, perhaps Gonzo Wisdom or Conversations with HST, if you’re looking for more here from the Good Doctor.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guy used to be my favorite. This Passion had dulled over the years. I mean you can't have a heavily armed drug add lunatic around the small children can you? The book was excellent in a way in that it showed how Hunter was a slave to the persona he created in his beginning. All in all a fascinating tale with a woeful ending.

[yumi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very politically and living-legacy oriented curated collection of interviews, slightly repetitive, but fun nonetheless.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful, concise piece of work, detailing forgotten/lost interviews of Hunter S. Thompson and what could be his last interview before his suicide (with a poor stunned college girl no less).

Hunter S. Thompson is one of those voices that is one in a million... but one that we also know a ton of people that are so similar. "To dangerous to live" types, no alcohol, drug, or adrenaline activity to risky, not worth taking, not worth doing. As Scruffy from Futurama would say: "The Candle that Burns Brightest Goes Out the Fastest." We all know the type, yet Hunter S. Thompson is still refreshing and new and different. His antics are one in a million, but are also found a million times over, but the way he is, the mannerisms, the character behind himself, not just Raul, or Duke, or what have you, but Thompson himself, is so starting different and shockingly so, that its poignant to always keep him in mind. A clear voice at times when voices need to be clear and concise and pragmatic. Especially in the topics he discussed most - politics, drugs, life, gangs, violence, human endeavor, the American Dream, etc.

The interviews themselves are great, and showcase who Hunter S. Thompson really was. His maniac, his teetering on the edge of explosion, his sharp will and wit, his slipping in and out of reality (either on or not on drugs), but yet his deep and underwhelming intelligence and knowledge of the human soul belying everything he said. The closing interview with a star-stunned, shell-shocked, fresh blood college girl is a great final cap to his life and this series, and about as great of a final interview one could get out of Thompson.

[Krokki · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand the development of American politics, the how and why's of todays polarized mileu, you should read Hunter Thompson. His thoughts and predictions around and after the events of 9/11 is breathtakingliy accurate as the realities of today - over 13 years after his death;

..."One thing that I was about to write here in my own article is, what kind of maniac would declare war on the rest of the world, turning the country into, yeah, like Nazi Germany. Pepole aren't choosing to make the US a bunch of facsist Nazis, but the proof of it keeps coming. We invade countries, and then wonder why they bitch and try to get back at us through terrorism. The Bush people have created this terrorism, this fear."...
- Hunter S. Thompson, 2004.

What we have seen since the Bush jr administration started the war against terrorism is an increase in terrorist attack in the western hempishpere. Of course, as Hunter predicted - not all muslims are happy about getting the blame for the expanded invasion of their own turf, some of them will try to get back at their enemys.
And then there is this propaganda going on that muslims are trying to take of the world, and thats why they are blowing themselfs up in the West and camouflaging themselfs as refugees of war to take over our money and government. "Sneak-Muslimism" they call it. Hideous times! We need Hunter Thompson more than ever.

[Sharla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of a series of collections featuring some of the greatest writers and thinkers out there. If you are a fan of the Hunter S. Thompson body of work, you will definitely want to read this book. It could also serve as an introduction. My familiarity with his work comes from reading what he did for Rolling Stone magazine. He was unique. He wrote the way he lived.

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”
― Hunter S. Thompson, The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

[JerryDeanHalleck · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok for what it is - a collection of interviews Thompson gave from 1970 to his death. About 200 pages much of which is various interviewers providing an introduction to HST and "scene setting". Most interesting tid-bit: HST broke off relations with Werner at Rolling stone in 1975, when Jann Wenner (1) refused to pay for HST's life/health insurance in Saigon, and (2) shut down Jann Wenner's book publishing firm, without paying HST his contractural $75,000 advance.

Seems that Werner was a shifty fellow when it came to money. Art? Sure. But $$$ above all. But by the 1990s HST was back working wither Rolling Stone Magazine. Supposedly, Werner's wife Jane Schindelheim was responsbile for the reunion.

[Alec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable (chronological) journey through interviews with Thompson. Heavy focus on political malfeasance and death of American death underpinned by his own waning starlight. A limitless man. "no more fun" "a man must choose a path which allows his natural abilities to function at maximum efficiency towards the gratification of his desires" want to read more in the 'last interview' series.

[Anneli Waara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Långt ifrån ointressant att läsa intervjuer med denne galna geni och upphovsman till gonzojounalistiken. Anklagad för konspirationer, men samtidigt otroligt klarsynt med all sin erfarenhet av amerikanska presidentvalskampanjer. Han förutsåg ju Trump i vita huset! Nen. Samtidigt. Hans egna böcker är ju något annat. Ska man läsa något, läs dem.

[Loki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, but it gets a little repetitive in places. The way every second interviewer seems to think that they're the first one to ever think of describing their conversation with Thompson in a gonzo-lite style is particularly wearing. Ultimately, it's that Thompson remains who he always was throughout, so the further one reads, the less necessary it becomes to keep reading.

[Emmett Grogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me, the highlight of the book was the guy who talked to Hunter Thompson in 1990, 1994, 1999, and then one last time in 2000. But it's kind of a bummer that the "last interview" HST gave was to a college student who obviously had not read much of his work, and so didn't have anything interesting to ask him.

RIP Hunter S. Thompson, 2005. Gone, but not forgotten.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

whenever I read the actual words of Hunter S Thompson, I gain a whole new respect for him as a human being that thought. about things that were not always popular to write or think about. I love you Hunter.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection gives the reader a solid understanding of Thompson's sensibility and outrageous behavior. He was haunted by demons and made them a great source for bold writing. The book gives the reader a glimpse of how he operated in real time.

[Sarah Hasanat · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting and tarrying reading experience as exciting and terrifying his life was (or so he tells us.) Highly recommended for entertaining purposes and if you have a taste for politics, and who doesn't?

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surface rubbing of Thompson's views over the decades. I read the whole thing in his voice (even the interiewers) which certainly made it come alive.

The most fascinating part is always that he is so accurate and still very relevant.

[Don Bennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An assortment of interviews and articles based on interviews…as the book goes on the interviews and content become less interesting and add less to the understanding of Thompson, his writing, and motivations.

[Barry Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed bag of interviews, good overall.

Highlights: Random funny stories, e.g. the toilet snake. 9/11 chapter on the state of journalism was fantastic.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

His ideals and opinions are so fascinating. Especially looking back at them with the knowledge I have his predictions for the future of America were eerily accurate.

[laila* · Rating 5 out of 5]

what can i say i’m a slut for hunter!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Frederick Gault · Rating 5 out of 5]

If only Hunter was still here to write about the current state of the world!

[Margaret Harrell]

This is a marvelously witty, informative book that comes alive on the page and has interesting anecdotes of the author's experiences with Hunter as well as interviews that are not easy to find elsewhere. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I easily give it five stars.