Stories I Tell Myself
Growing Up with Hunter S. Thompson
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Narrated by:
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Juan F. Thompson
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By:
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Juan F. Thompson
About this listen
Hunter S. Thompson, "smart hillbilly"; boy of the South; born and bred in Louisville, Kentucky; son of an insurance salesman and a stay-at-home mom; public school-educated; jailed at 17 on a bogus petty robbery charge; member of the US Air Force (airman second class); copy boy for Time; writer for The National Observer; et cetera.
From the outset, he was the wild man of American journalism, with a journalistic appetite that touched on subjects that drove his sense of justice and intrigue, from biker gangs and 1960s counterculture to presidential campaigns and psychedelic drugs. He lived larger than life and pulled it up around him in a mad effort to make it as electric, anger-ridden, and drug-fueled as possible.
Now Juan Thompson tells the story of his father and of their getting to know each other during their 41 fraught years together. He writes of the many dark times, of how far they ricocheted away from each other, and of how they found their way back before it was too late. He writes of growing up in an old farmhouse in a narrow mountain valley outside of Aspen (Woody Creek, Colorado, a ranching community with Hereford cattle and clover fields)...of the presence of guns in the house, the boxes of ammo on the kitchen shelves behind the glass doors of the country cabinets, where others might have placed china and knickknacks...of climbing on the back of Hunter's Bultaco Matador trail motorcycle as a young boy, and father and son roaring up the dirt road, trailing a cloud of dust...of being taken to bars in town as a small boy, Hunter holding court while Juan crawled around under the barstools, picking up change and taking his found loot to Carl's Pharmacy to buy Archie comic books...of going with his parents as a baby to a Ken Kesey/Hells Angels party with dozens of people wandering around the forest in various stages of undress, stoned on pot, tripping on LSD....
He writes of his growing fear of his father; of the arguments between his parents reaching frightening levels; and of his finally fighting back, trying to protect his mother as the state troopers are called in to separate father and son. And of the inevitable - of mother and son driving west in their Datsun to make a new home, a new life, away from Hunter; of Juan's first taste of what "normal" could feel like....
We see Juan going to Concord Academy, a stranger in a strange land, coming from a school that was a log cabin in the middle of hay fields, Juan without manners or socialization.... Going on to college at Tufts; spending a crucial week with his father; Hunter asking for Juan's opinion of his writing. And he writes of their dirt biking on a hilltop overlooking Woody Creek Valley, acting as if all the horrible things that had happened between them had never taken place, and of being there, together, side by side.... And, finally, movingly, he writes of their long, slow pull toward reconciliation....
©2015 Juan Thompson (P)2016 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...
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An iconic and controversial figure in American literature, Hunter S. Thompson displayed a brilliance that forever changed journalism. Thompson’s follow-up to The Proud Highway, this second volume of private, never-before-published letters spans the years 1968 through 1976. Addressed to such luminaries as Tom Wolfe, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jimmy Carter, this incisive collection showcases Thompson’s raw and starkly honest thoughts on a pivotal era in U.S. history.
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Here, against a backdrop of late-night tattoo sessions and soldier-of-fortune trade shows, Dr. Thompson is at his apocalyptic best - covering emblematic events such as the 1987-88 presidential campaign, with Vice President George Bush, Sr., fighting for his life against Republican competitors like Alexander Haig, Pat Buchanan, and Pat Robertson; detailing the GOP's obsession with drugs and drug abuse; while at the same time capturing momentous social phenomena as they occurred, like the rise of cable, satellite TV, and CNN - 24 hours of mainline news.
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Written in caps!
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Here is the private and most intimate correspondence of one of America's most influential and incisive journalists - Hunter S.Thompson. In letters to a who's who of luminaries, from Norman Mailer toCharles Kuralt, Tom Wolfe to Lyndon Johnson, William Styron to Joan Baez - not to mention his mother, the NRA, and a chain of newspaper editors - Thompson vividly catches the tenor of the times in 1960s America and channels it all through hisown razor-sharp perspective.
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Biography
- By GanjaPlanta on 11-14-14
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Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone
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“Buy the ticket, take the ride,” was a favorite slogan of Hunter S. Thompson, and it pretty much defined both his work and his life. Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone showcases the roller-coaster of a career at the magazine that was his literary home.
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If bad words offend you, don't read.
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Hell's Angels
- A Strange and Terrible Saga
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- Narrated by: Scott Sowers
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas author Hunter S. Thompson rocked the literary world with his mind-bending style of Gonzo journalism. First published in 1966, Hell’s Angels is Thompson’s up-close and personal look at the infamous motorcycle gang during the time when its moniker was most feared.
-
-
Visions of the Future of Motorcycle Gangs
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-
Kingdom of Fear
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- By: Hunter S. Thompson
- Narrated by: Scott Sowers
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson penned groundbreaking works as outrageous—and provocative—as the author himself. His memoir Kingdom of Fear provides compelling insight into his life and literary output.
-
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Sowers ruins Thompson
- By rocky on 02-09-13
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Fear and Loathing
- On the Campaign Trail '72
- By: Hunter S. Thompson
- Narrated by: Scott Sowers
- Length: 17 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An iconic and controversial figure in American literature, Hunter S. Thompson displayed a brilliance that forever changed journalism. Thompson’s follow-up to The Proud Highway, this second volume of private, never-before-published letters spans the years 1968 through 1976. Addressed to such luminaries as Tom Wolfe, Kurt Vonnegut, and Jimmy Carter, this incisive collection showcases Thompson’s raw and starkly honest thoughts on a pivotal era in U.S. history.
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Love the book, not the performance.
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-
Generation of Swine
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- By: Hunter S. Thompson
- Narrated by: Scott Sowers
- Length: 12 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here, against a backdrop of late-night tattoo sessions and soldier-of-fortune trade shows, Dr. Thompson is at his apocalyptic best - covering emblematic events such as the 1987-88 presidential campaign, with Vice President George Bush, Sr., fighting for his life against Republican competitors like Alexander Haig, Pat Buchanan, and Pat Robertson; detailing the GOP's obsession with drugs and drug abuse; while at the same time capturing momentous social phenomena as they occurred, like the rise of cable, satellite TV, and CNN - 24 hours of mainline news.
-
-
Written in caps!
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-
The Proud Highway
- Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967 (The Gonzo Letters, Book 1)
- By: Hunter S. Thompson
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 27 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Here is the private and most intimate correspondence of one of America's most influential and incisive journalists - Hunter S.Thompson. In letters to a who's who of luminaries, from Norman Mailer toCharles Kuralt, Tom Wolfe to Lyndon Johnson, William Styron to Joan Baez - not to mention his mother, the NRA, and a chain of newspaper editors - Thompson vividly catches the tenor of the times in 1960s America and channels it all through hisown razor-sharp perspective.
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Originally published in 1979, the first volume of the best-selling "Gonzo Papers" is now back in print. The Great Shark Hunt is Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's largest and, arguably, most important work, covering Nixon to napalm, Las Vegas to Watergate, Carter to cocaine. These essays offer brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in signature Thompson style. Thompson's razor-sharp insight and crystal clarity capture the crazy, hypocritical, degenerate, and redeeming aspects of the explosive and colorful '60s and '70s.
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This enormously eccentric book takes listeners on a crazy journey with renowned gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. The Curse of Lono is to Hawaii what Fear and Loathing was to Las Vegas: the crazy tales of a journalist's "coverage" of a news event that ends up being a wild ride to the dark side of Americana. Originally published in 1983, The Curse of Lono features all of the zany, hallucinogenic wordplay for which Hunter S.Thompson became known and loved.
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Performance
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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.
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Ron McLarty?
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Better than Sex
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Performance
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A pioneer of the New Journalism movement, Hunter S. Thompson wrote with a fire that captured the attention of millions. Here Thompson delivers a mind-bending view of the 1992 presidential race, packed with all the horror, sacrifice, lust, and glory that made this campaign so utterly fascinating.
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A Classic for One Chapter
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New York Times best-selling author and acclaimed Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson is known for such groundbreaking works as Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. A provocative collection of rants and reflections from Thompson’s columns at ESPN.com, Hey Rube offers outrageously brilliant insight on topics ranging from the 2000 election to his unconventional take on professional sports (“eliminate the pitcher” to improve Major League Baseball).
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A bit of the best, a bit of the... not best.
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Warning! This book contains the following: unsafe use of powerful firearms in combination with explosives; cultivation of illegal crops; impressionable minors being exposed to illicit activities; piloting of automobiles under impaired conditions; and transportation of large sums of cash across national borders. Please note: stunts performed in this book were undertaken by professionals. Do not attempt them at home.
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These Precious Days
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What listeners say about Stories I Tell Myself
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Karen Loucks Rinedollar
- 03-31-16
Hunter Remembered
Hearing Juan retell life with his father Hunter S. Thompson was a roller coaster ride of bone chilling and heart warming recollections.
I knew Hunter in the early to mid 90's as he was going through his polo phase. Juan's portrayal is spot on with my memories- with the added benefit of a lifelong relationship as sole child of this complex and endearing, larger than life, character.
One of the unique opportunities that The Listener gets to experience is the similarity of Juan's voice to his father's in tone and cadence.
If you ever wanted to know what life with The Real Hunter S. Thompson was like- listen to Stories I Tell Myself.
Condolences and congratulations to Juan on surviving and thriving this unique voyage.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Thomas L Mannik
- 06-28-24
Honesty and insight
Thank you, Juan, for articulating what it’s like to be the child of an addict. Plus sharing your childhood for the curious.
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- William C. Hood
- 04-13-17
loved it
Well written, great narration, loved the book. I will watch for more books by this author
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2 people found this helpful
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- Gotta Tellya
- 10-06-16
Liked the author, disliked his father.
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
So-so on this being time well spent. Like The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, this is an autobiographical tale of a child being raised by dysfunctional, abusive, neglectful, addicted parents, and that child's recovery from and eventual understanding of the experience. In this case, the author, Juan, grew up in the shadow of an illustrious, charismatic but unstable and often verbally cruel father. Juan's writing is excellent, as is his narration. However, just a few chapters into his book, I found Juan's famous father to be a horrific person. His literary accomplishments do not excuse the man in any way. Not that Hunter S. Thompson required anyone's approval, though he certainly demanded attention. I couldn't give this book more than three stars, as my dislike of Hunter S. Thompson was quite intense after I finished the book.
What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
I think Juan overly lionized his father after his death. Some degree of co-dependency going on, or wishful thinking, perhaps.
Have you listened to any of Juan F. Thompson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I am not aware of any other works Juan Thompson may have narrated. He did a great job with this autobiographical work.
Did Stories I Tell Myself inspire you to do anything?
No.
Any additional comments?
Just a plea to parents to be kind, attentive and reliable with their children. I'd love it if books such as this--another story of severe dysfunctionality--became a rarity.
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2 people found this helpful
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- MeatsDrawer
- 07-23-18
Touching father / son story about a wonderful man
I absolutely loved this book. It was a touching father / son book about a wonderful man many of us know and love thru his writing.
In terms of the audiobook itself- I had some trouble with the audio being too quiet for the first half of the book and then it strangely picked up its volume half way thru.
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- Grant Catton
- 07-17-20
Great Book on Father/Son Relationship
This is a great book not only about HST but about the often very complicated relationship between Fathers and Sons. I would highly, highly recommend it for any HST fans. Or really anyone who wants to read a touching portrait of a complicated father by a loving son.
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- alex
- 02-23-20
This was more then I bargain for
They story written and the narration by the author go together famously. Especially because that is what can make or break a audio book. Once i started this I couldn't stop. It is a humanizing look at the enigma Hunter S. Thompson and a very personal account to what means to love and care for someone riding the roller coaster life. Its amazing how much i felt i could relate to Juan's story which i did not expect at the beginning. I think this is a great book for anyone that has been involved with Al-Anon or the 12 steps program.
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- MrRedBeard
- 11-30-16
Gonzo Life
Fantastic story about life behind the scenes of Hunter S. Thompson! I always wondered what he was like as a father and how his son viewed him and this shares just that.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Lcthatch
- 08-18-22
Well if you ever considered. H.S.T a hero.....
Juan has the magic
Hunter is somewhere very proud of you following in writing
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- Greta
- 10-03-16
Expectations unfulfilled but well-read
I liked this book from the start. Juan reads his own material very well. I'll admit I read it hoping it would inspire me to read more HUnter S Thompson. But it did not. Quite the opposite. And about 2/3 or 3/4 of the way through, I grew impatient with the story line which was about Juan grappling with did his dad really love him. And gun cleaning. Way too much attention was paid to gun cleaning. Juan definitely was the one to read his own story, though. He did a good job.
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2 people found this helpful