Ancient Gonzo Wisdom (not the same thing as an “Ancient Chinese Secret”)

One of my favourite bits of Gonzo Wisdom is: “Everybody fumbles…its the recovery that matters”.  I think about it every time I screw something up.  I take a step back and think about what I did and how I learned from my mistake and then I go bat-out-of-hell like into the pile to find the ball. 

You are familiar with the book on Hunter S. Thompson’s wisdom, aren’t you?  You would be if you read my previous post on it.  If you habven’t done that, go ahead and take 5 minutes to do so…

…OK.  You done?  Good.  You need to understand that to then grasp what comes next.  Another book out out by Anita Thompson (HST’s widow) has hit the shelves.  ”Ancient Gonzo Wisdom” just arrived on my Sydney doorstep today (I actually heard the thud of it hitting the porch). I had been waiting for this sucker for sometime now.  It is not the same as a new work from The Man himself, but alas we have no choice but consider this the next best thing. 

Here is a product description on the book:

Fearless and unsparing, the interviews detail some of the most storied episodes of Thompson’s life: a savage beating at the hands of the Hells Angels, talking football with Nixon on the 1972 Campaign Trail (“the only time in 20 years of listening to the treacherous bastard that I knew he wasn’t lying”), and his unlikely run for sheriff of Aspen. Elsewhere, passionate tirades about journalism, culture, guns, drugs, and the law showcase Thompson’s voice at its fiercest.

 

Arranged chronologically, and prefaced with Anita Thompson’s moving account of her husband’s last years, the interviews present Hunter in all his fractured brilliance and provide an exceptional portrait of his times.

There are a number of people who have come out with books since his death.  What I like about this one and the Gonzo Way is that they are him…his own words.  What else I like is that it is arranged by someone (Anita) who cares about him, the man…not just Raoul Duke or Lono. 

NPR also ran an excerpt form an interview with the Good Doctor about his “Hell’s Angels” experience. Have at it.  Here is the link: