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Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson
by William McKeon

A volume to be greeted with gratitude by Thompson's fans, for McKeon has finally delivered the clear, concise, balanced, and straightforward account of Thompson's life that has been largely missing till now, especially in the wake of his 2005 suicide. McKeon steers largely clear of the personal axes to grind that have burdened so many of the others who have written on the literary legend. There's no faux Gonzo, no misplaced literary experimentation, no hagiography here; the reader is treated to a simple and direct recounting of Thompson's life, one that makes a complex man a little more accessible to both his devoted readers and those with only a mild interest. Outlaw Journalist provides the clearest look I've yet to find at one of the 20th century's most influential voices; it's a must read for anyone with a serious interest about writers and writing--the elements that go into making a literary life and how that life makes the literary output. Bravo.