First published in 1990, Songs of the Doomed is back in print—by popular demand! In this third and most extraordinary volume of the Gonzo Papers, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson recalls high and hideous moments in his thirty years in the Passing Lane—and no one is safe from his hilarious, remarkably astute social commentary.
With Thompson’s trademark insight and passion about the state of American politics and culture, Songs of the Doomed charts the long, strange trip from Kennedy to Quayle in Thompson’s freewheeling, inimitable style. Spanning four decades—1950 to 1990—Thompson is at the top of his form while fleeing New York for Puerto Rico, riding with the Hell’s Angels, investigating Las Vegas sleaze, grappling with the “Dukakis problem,” and finally, detailing his infamous lifestyle bust, trial documents, and Fourth Amendment battle with the Law. These tales—often sleazy, brutal, and crude—are only the tip of what Jack Nicholson called “the most baffling human iceberg of our time.”
Songs of the Doomed is vintage Thompson—a brilliant, brazen, bawdy compilation of the greatest sound bites of Gonzo journalism from the past thirty years.
Download and start listening now!
"Hunter knew we were headed down a road to nowhere long before our current economic meltdown. He could smell the decay wafting off The Empire's carcass. He was a sage and a madman and I miss his whiskey-fueled wisdom. We need him now more than ever. R.I.P., brother."
— Moss (4 out of 5 stars)
“Songs of the Doomed allows us to track Thompson’s evolution as a writer, and hence the evolution of the form he played such a major role in creating.”
— Washington Post Book World" HST's little notes/asides/essays/journal entries etc. are just as good as his fiction writing. Recommended if you even have a thought that you might like his work. "
— Jason, 2/19/2014" This is the only Thompson book that I found nearly unreadable. A complete letdown. "
— Dean, 2/15/2014" Life becomes caricature; padding aplenty. "
— Brendan, 2/5/2014" Gotta read some HST at some point; this is a good overview. "
— Virginia, 2/3/2014" Great! This book comes in choppy pieces of insanity. "
— doug, 1/20/2014" The title explains it all and trust me its totally worth the read. "
— Eric, 1/17/2014" Another collection of Hunter's works that hits quite a few high notes. I would recommend it to a more eager Hunter Thompson fan. "
— Patrick, 1/10/2014" good if you like political history from the 70s and 80s "
— Brent, 12/14/2013" The perfect read this Independence Day! "
— Kevin, 12/9/2013" Some good stuff. Covering the 60's, 70's, 80's, and ends with an awesome court battle to kick off the 90's. HST never fails. "
— William, 12/6/2013" Uneven, but worth a read especially for the earlier stuff. "
— Joan, 12/5/2013Hunter S. Thompson (1937–2005) was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. His books on politics and society were regarded as groundbreaking among journalists, and he was celebrated as one of the early practitioners of an outraged, irreverent form of highly subjective journalism that became known as gonzo journalism. His numerous articles for Rolling Stone and books like Hell’s Angels and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas brought him wide recognition and cultlike status.