Peter Richardson's "Savage Journey"

Peter Richardson has written critically acclaimed books about the Grateful Dead, the iconic rock band; Ramparts magazine, the legendary San Francisco muckraker; and Carey McWilliams, the radical author, journalist, and editor of The Nation magazine.

Richardson applied the “Page 99 Test” to his new book, Savage Journey: Hunter S. Thompson and the Weird Road to Gonzo, and reported the following:

That page of Savage Journey reflects four key themes in the book. First, it starts a chapter on the origins of Gonzo journalism. Eventually, Thompson's signature style would make him a cultural celebrity for decades. Second, that page discusses Thompson's relationships with his editors, which the book treats at some length. In addition to partnering with illustrator Ralph Steadman, Thompson benefited from the talents of very skilled editors. Third, that page mentions the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. The political violence of that period pushed Thompson toward political commentary, which was hyperbolic but often prophetic. Finally, that page mentions Richard Nixon's 1968 campaign in New Hampshire, which Thompson covered for Pageant. Thompson's contempt for Nixon was intense--so intense, in fact, that it brought out some of his best work. (One of Thompson's biographers called Nixon his muse.)

Visit Peter Richardson's blog.

--Marshal Zeringue