“So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?”
Author and journalist Hunter S. Thompson made a name for himself by covering current events in an entirely unique manner. Historically speaking, journalists would take an objective stance in order to properly convey information. With a writing career that spanned decades, Thompson made famous the now prevalent subjective style of journalism by ditching the impartial approach. But did you know that in addition to his notoriety as a journalist, he was also a registered minister of the Universal Life Church?
Finding a Passion for Writing
Thompson was born in Kentucky in 1937. Throughout his childhood, he had a passion for both sports and writing. His love of the written word landed him a spot in the Athenaeum Literary Association, where he would contribute regular articles to the club’s various publications. Unfortunately, he was kicked out of the club and expelled from high school after being charged as an accessory to a robbery. Thompson was denied the right to complete his senior exams and never officially graduated.
After serving a short sentence for his role in the robbery, Thompson enlisted in the United States Air Force. During this time, he falsified his credentials and obtained a job as the sports editor for the Command Courier, a newspaper published out of Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Thompson’s superiors constantly berated him for his rebellious nature, and he was eventually given an honorable discharge. Throughout the early 1960s, he continued to work as an editor and writer in Pennsylvania, New York City, Puerto Rico, and California.
Diving Into the Counterculture
While living in California, Thompson was hired to write about the Hells Angels. The motorcycle club welcomed Thompson into the fold, and he spent a year living alongside its members. The article led to a book deal for Thompson but caused him to fall out of favor with the Hells Angels, who believed the writer was exploiting them. He continued to write about and criticize various counterculture movements of the 1960s and crafted a number of personal essays about his experience witnessing protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.
Developing a Unique Style
In 1970, Thompson wrote “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved,” which discussed the habits of attendees of the Kentucky Derby. Upon reading the article, Bill Cardoso of the Boston Globe applauded Thompson’s writing as “pure Gonzo journalism.” The term, which was derived from Boston slang, immediately stuck and became the official name for Thompson’s subjective and irreverent style. Soon after, he was contracted by Rolling Stone to cover the death of journalist Rubén Salazar. Working with activist Oscar Zeta Acosta, the story eventually transformed into Thompson’s acclaimed work “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”
“Fear and Loathing” was met with critical acclaim and helped to further Thompson’s career. He became a vocal opponent of Richard Nixon’s reelection and wrote a number of scathing pieces about the politician.
Falling Prey to Vices
Thompson’s later years were fraught with ups and downs. Though he did become a minister for the Universal Life Church, no details about any weddings he officiated were recorded. His history of drug and alcohol abuse also had an impact on his writing career, with his published work becoming more sporadic throughout the 90s and 00s. His final consistent writing gig was in 2000, when he returned to his roots and covered sports for ESPN. Thompson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2005, which is believed to be the result of depression caused by substance abuse.
The unique style and attitude of Hunter S. Thompson’s writing continues to be popular with audiences to this day. Though his life ended in tragedy, he helped create a fresh way of approaching journalism that proved as captivating as it was original.