Anyone who has an interest in writing, or in reading, or in politics or in any combination of all of these things absolutely MUST read "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail." It is the most honest account of what really happens in America during a presidential election. You'll probably learn more about partisan politics and how and why politicians lie to us all the time, just by reading this fine work of non-fiction. (Some would argue "creative non-fiction.")

In the book, Thompson tells us of John Wayne's appearance at the 1972 Republican convention in Miami when he refused to have an audience with a political group known as the VVAW. (Vietnam Vets Against the War.) Here's this supposed icon and mouthpiece for the military (who, by the way, NEVER served in the military) completely ignoring this group of people who did their time and had the right to be angry at an America who fed them to the dogs of Vietnam.

But, even in his anti-Nixon rants, he would find the good in him. Thompson speaks of a time where an aid to Nixon asked HT to ride with Nixon to the next stop on the trail. The only caveat was, Thompson was there to talk about football-no politics. Thompson complied and said he was truly impressed with Nixon's knowledge of football. So, even though HT definitely slanted his book to the left, he was objective enough to see at least some good in Nixon.

We all the time hear about how journalism is supposed to be objective. Anyone who watches Fox knows that isn't true. (To the right-wingers defense, it isn't true anywhere.) But, Hunter Thompson knew how to write and tell a true story. Was his stuff biased? Of course it was. But, he still tried to get you both sides of the story and to keep you as informed as possible.

Hunter Thompson was the inventor, and probably only true practitioner, of gonzo journalism. Without him, we're stuck with the ho hum. Sure, his stuff was funny. Sure, it was irreverent. But it was ballsy. And, in the end, it was honest. And that's what we really want in the world of journalism.

Learn more about this author, Paul Schingle.
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