Every now and then I read something which reminds me why I love to read. Firstly this is a penguin book, say no more. Secondly, I haven't read Hunter S. Thompson for years. In fact I haven't read anything he wrote post 9/11. I remember wondering at the time though what he thought of those events (and the Bush administration in general). This book contains a few pages that he wrote back then and it's amazing how clearly he saw the situation, and how much of what he wrote on what the after effects would be has now come to pass. Yes there is a war. Yes there's gloomy news on the economic front (on September the 19th 2001 Thompson wrote "The last half of the 20th century will seem like a wild party for kids compared to what's coming now."). Thompson wrote like a drug crazed maniac for a very good reason, however his perception of the politics of fear (and I guess American sport although I'm not qualified to judge on that one) are spot on. More than that he's just funny - his description of slapping a Buddhist in the ear as the answer to the riddle of the sound of one hand clapping is my guilty pleasure for the day. I've given away about half of the Hunter S. Thomspon books I've ever owned (they seem to good to keep to yourself) and I still mourn the first edition of the Great Shark Hunt that I picked up on the West Bank of the Seine and then 'loaned' to a friend (never to see again) so it seems fitting that I found this one. I'll definitely be reading Kingdom of Fear (some of this was familiar so maybe I already have?) and probably re-reading Hells Angels on the back of this. Enough time has passed. ( )