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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas  By  cover art

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

By: Hunter S. Thompson
Narrated by: Ron McLarty
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Publisher's summary

Maverick author Hunter S. Thompson introduced the world to "gonzo journalism" with this cult classic that shot back up the best seller lists after Thompson's suicide in 2005. No book ever written has more perfectly captured the spirit of the 1960s counterculture. In Las Vegas to cover a motorcycle race, Raoul Duke (Thompson) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (inspired by a friend of Thompson) are quickly diverted to search for the American dream. Their quest is fueled by nearly every drug imaginable and quickly becomes a surreal experience that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. But there is more to this hilarious tale than reckless behavior, for underneath the hallucinogenic facade is a stinging criticism of American greed and consumerism.
©1971 Hunter S. Thompson (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"The best book on the dope decade." (The New York Times Book Review)

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What listeners say about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Ron McLarty?

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Unfortunately, I think Ron McLarty's narration really missed the mark. He sounds like a stoned surfer from Malibu, rather than Hunter. Maybe my problem is I had seen Hunter speak a few times, seen documentaries, even met him once, and McLarty comes off a little too much like Jeff Spiccolli from Fast Times. If you've never seen or heard Hunter speak or read, you might really enjoy it, but for the more familiar, hardcore Gonzo fans, you might want to skip this one.

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75 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

A Review

Have read this at least 20 times since high school,college, grad school. I couldn't get past the narrator's voice. It kills me to not finish a book but this one was "ejected" after 10 painful minutes.

Warning: listen to sample before spending $$$!

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63 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Too Much Fear and Loathing

Just goes to show, you can have great ingredients, but with the wrong chef, you still don't get much of a meal. First audio book in a year that I just stopped listening to, and put on the shelf. I felt like there was a little too much Ron McLarty and he overpowered Hunter Thompson's writing. Accents we're odd and inconsistent. Just my personal taste, take it with a grain of salt.

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56 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

narrator could have respected hunter's cadence

I felt the narrator was not familiar enough with Hunter's cadence and style so parts of this were too dry

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Boring

Do you want to hear Hunter S. Thompson talk about how really really really high he is? Do you want to hear him restate his one idea -- Americans are greedy consumers -- over and over and over and over? If so, then this is the book for you.


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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Gonzo Lives!

This is one of the best books I enjoyed on Audible. It is certainly not for everyone, "R" rated, but captures the essence of Gonzo journalism and Rolling Stone Magazine in the 60s and 70s. Exceptional narration.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Over The Top

I'm not really sure how I feel about "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." It leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Vegas and acid trips were very redundant, than again I didn't find the movie much better either. Maybe I was born a different time to respect Hunter S. Thompson, but I'm not into bikers, dopers, or hoes. I found the book completely over the top and to be very basic.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fear not

Not quite sure how to describe this all-time classic, so I won’t. Suffice to say that you shouldn’t miss it! The narrator, Ron McLarty, hits the spot exactly. There’s nothing about this book that could be improved.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Sharp and Still Relevant

This is a highly entertaining download. It is occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, but also is filled with searingly sharp observations of American culture. Thompson is writer of rare skill, his mastery of the craft sometimes takes your breath away, he's that good.

The book is occasionally a little disjointed (not surprising given the drug use it chronicles in great detail) and will certainly offend those who tend to very straight-laced, conservative Republican views, but it richly deserves its status as an American classic. It translates well into an audiobook format and the quality of the narration is very high. Recommended.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best on Audible

This book oon the drug counterculture in california iin the early 70s is a masterpiece as written.
The reading is as good or better--
Brilliant--if you are in any way interested in this American period sociologically.
Almost done with it---definitely will listen again.

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9 people found this helpful