39 pages 1 hour read

Hunter S. Thompson

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1971

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson follows journalist Raoul Duke and his attorney Doctor Gonzo as they travel to Las Vegas to cover an off-road vehicle race while also searching for the American Dream. The narrative chronicles their drug-fueled exploits, their attendance at a police narcotics conference, and their encounters with the changing landscape of American drug culture in the 1970s.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson is praised for its vivid, chaotic depiction of a drug-fueled road trip, unflinching social commentary, and groundbreaking gonzo journalism style. Critics, however, note its fragmented narrative and graphic content, which can alienate some readers. Overall, it's a polarizing but influential work in American literature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas?

Readers who enjoy Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas typically appreciate counter-culture narratives, dark humor, and the surreal. Fans of Jack Kerouac's On the Road or Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test may also find this work compelling due to its raw exploration of 1960s and 70s American culture.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Auto/Biographical Fiction

Journalism

American Literature

Topics

Addiction / Substance Abuse

History: U.S.

Themes

Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Society: Nation