Hells Angels Book: A Strange and Terrible Saga Review

There may be only a few people on earth who don’t know about Hells Angels. If you belong to the biker world, there is no chance you don’t know about Hells Angels. Hells Angels is one of the biggest names in the motorcycle club culture. Most of us refer to them as the most ill-famed outlaw biker gang and 1%ers. Despite being declared as a criminal group by law enforcement agencies, people still want to learn more about them.

There are many sources that can help you learn about Hell's Angels. However, when it comes to authenticity, controversy, reality, and the best account of Hells Angels’ life, work, purpose, and mindset, “Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga” is the best Hells Angels Book out there.

This Hells Angels Book was written by Hunter S. Thompson, and many will not believe that it was his first published book. There are many books on this topic, but Hunter S. Thompson's Hells Angels book is the closest peek into the life of Hells Angels. Why? It was written and published in 1967 when Hells Angels’ activities were at their peak.

If you are interested in getting to know about the biker gang culture, especially Hells Angels, this Hell’s Angels book is a must-read. Let’s find out what this book is about and how it was seen by Hells Angels. We will also review it critically to find out every point of view covered in this Hells Angels book.

Before we dive into the best Hells Angels book ever written, we need to know why people read books about Hells Angels. What is it that attracts people, especially the bikers community, to read and learn about Hell's Angels?

A majority of people love to read books, whether fiction or non-fiction. They love reading about mysteries and the darker side of the world. The biker community is attracted to the biker culture, especially in the U.S. However, the biker gangs’ culture is incomplete without the Hells Angels.

Being one of the biggest outlaw biker gangs, Hells Angels is deeply involved in crimes. This makes their stories darker and luring to readers.

Some of the best books about Hells Angels are written by authors who got entry into the outlaw biker gangs. They became one of them or acted to be a loyal member of the outlaw biker club. However, in reality, they wanted a closer peek into the outlaw biker gangs’ world.

There are many undercover police officers or secret agents who join Hells Angels or other outlaw biker gangs just to collect evidence and useful info regarding their crimes and activities.

There are also many loyal ex-members of Hells Angels and other outlaw biker gangs who left the club and narrated their terrifying stories in the form of a book or articles. So, such books about Hells Angels and other Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) provide a deeper and first-hand account of their lifestyle and crimes.

Hells Angels has highly influenced the biker culture and beyond that, too. Whether in movies, T.V. shows, music, art, or literature, Hells Angels has become a prominent figure. Most bikers, even if they have nothing to do with motorcycle clubs or crime, love to look like a member of the biker gang by wearing a leather vest, patch, and bandana. Almost every bike rider is influenced by the biker club culture to an extent.

Hunter S. Thompson 

No, Hunter Thompson did not formally join Hells Angels or become a member of the group. However, he lived and rode with Hells Angels for study and research purposes. In his book, “Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga”, he wanted to only mention facts and reality.

Thompson formally introduced him to Hells Angels by Birney Jarvis, an ex-club member. Thompson lived with the Californian Chapter of the club for more than a year and submerged himself into their lifestyle.

Thompson also mentioned that there were instances when he used to forget that he was writing a book and only living with Hells Angels for research purposes. He got so carried away with the biker gang’s lifestyle, including drinking at the bars and riding bikes, that he sometimes considered himself as one of them.

The list of best Hells Angels books is incomplete without the Hunter Thompson Hells Angels book. It is the first and major account of the life of this outlaw biker gang. It exposed Hells Angels at the time when the club was the most active. He wrote this book with first-hand experience after riding with Hells Angels’ Oakland Chapter in California for more than a year.

For those who don’t know what Gonzo Journalism is, it is a type of journalism where the reporter or author is the main/center of the storyline. He narrates or reports a story in a highly personalized way. He/she writes the story in the first person as he/she has experienced all of what he/she is reporting.

Gonzo journalism is a very famous reporting style when it comes to outlaw biker gangs. Most authors infiltrated these outlaw biker gangs, became part of them, got to know them personally, and then shared their dark experiences with the world.

The Hells Angels book by Thompson is a prime example of Gonzo Journalism. He has experienced everything during his tenure while living with Hells Angels. He brought out the facts, reality, crime, controversies, lifestyle, and everything about Hells Angels.

The level of access Thompson had inside Hells Angels makes his book one of the best Hells Angels books of all time. Without a doubt, Hunter S. Thompson is considered to be the inventor or father of the Gonzo Journalism.

Along with many things, Hunter Thompson has mentioned in detail the Hells Angels’ violent nature, crime seriousness, complex members’ relationships, brotherhood, and drug use. It may be considered his version of what he faced while spending time with Hells Angels, but he has remained brutally honest. The Hells Angels book by Hunter Thompson was also termed by many reviewers as the chargesheet against Hells Angels.

Along with the Hells Angels’ violent nature, he also mentioned several good things about the outlaw biker gang.

On top of Thompson’s honest narration of realities, his chaotic and subjective style with vivid descriptions takes readers in the middle of the action.

This Hells Angels book by Thompson is more than just a biker lore. It very well critiques many themes, including societal decay, the definition of masculinity, and rebellion in the U.S. in the 1960s.

What is more controversial gets more viral. As a result of his brutal honesty in his narration, Thompson was beaten badly by some members of Hells Angels. These members were not happy with Thompson’s views and portrayal of the biker club. It sparked a controversy and debate. Though it wasn’t supposed to happen, it created more curiosity among readers who wanted to know more about Hells Angels.

Certain critics claim that Thompson created a striking image of Hells Angels, which presents them as pitiable outlaw figures instead of rear gangsters. His writing, at times, creates myths that merge true facts with mythical stories.

The Hells Angels assaulted Thompson brutally after he allegedly portrayed the biker gang wrongfully (As per Hells Angels). Reviewers or readers still debate whether he portrayed the outlaw biker club truthfully or simply used them for literary success.

Throughout the book, the author excludes the vital roles of “Old Ladies/Ol’ Ladies” or “Mamas” from the Hells Angels culture by focusing solely on the hyper-masculine world of Hells Angels.

Most members of Hells Angels overruled the book they considered to be exaggerated or dramatized. Sonny Barger, who headed Hells Angels Oakland Chapter as its most notable leader, called Thompson a “Spineless Coward” in a memoir he released later.

The police force condemned Thompson’s book because his work couldn’t justify the criminal acts of Hells Angels in a way that must have been done. The book differs from other undercover Hells Angels books or accounts such as: “No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels”.

The book by Thompson skipped detailed discussions of drugs and planned crime acts by Hells Angels.

Today’s readers who favor detailed factual inquiries about Hells Angels should consider ‘Under and Alone - by William Queen’ and ‘No Angel - by Jay Dobyns’. These books provide more thorough fact-finding approaches compared to the Hells Angels book by Hunter S. Thompson.

In his book “Hells Angels”, Hunter S. Thompson studied Hells Angels biker club as a historical creation of their time rather than evil by nature. He also seemed to admire certain aspects of their rebellious nature.

The following section examines the aspects Thompson admired about Hell's Angels, which appeared to be positive from his point of view.

As per Hunter S. Thompson, the Hells Angels formed as an answer to the post-World War II era. Those people who felt isolated and excluded wanted to find a new sense of identity outside of normal societal structures. As a result, they came closer to motorbikes and formed a group.

Attracted by the counterculture and a unique lifestyle of defiance and rebellion, Hunter S. Thompson found Hells Angels very interesting. His curiosity peaked, and he decided to join them to learn more about Hell's Angels. Thompson was attracted to Hells Angels because they chose to live against established societal beliefs and norms.

Within Hells Angels, Hunter S. Thompson observed a deep bond between members who created tight social ties that involved mutual assistance, loyalty, and respect.

The love for biker riding serves as Hunter S. Thompson’s main interest in Hells Angels because it implies both freedom and individuality. The biker culture in Hells Angels has always been so strong. Whether someone doesn’t like them existing as an outlaw biker club, they can’t deny the biker and rock culture Hells Angels have established and promoted.

Hunter S. Thompson discovered genuine human qualities in the Hells Angels’ way of life. It opposed what he considered to be the play-acting of conservative society. There were many qualities of Hells Angels and its members, which were usually not commonly seen among normal people. For example, the sense of respect, loyalty, sincerity, and support towards the members of the club is impeccable and unmatched.

The outlaws were considered part of the lower or middle class. There was a poverty-stricken image attached to Hell's Angels as well, which was considered to be the main reason behind their creation. However, Hunter S. Thompson discovered that their family backgrounds were lacking in financial hardships. Many parents of Hells Angels members possessed good credit.

As per Hunter S. Thompson, the Hells Angels claim they avoid trouble. It is true to a certain extent that Hells Angels don’t start troubling people on their own unless someone tries to penetrate or mess with members. However, Thompson is of the view that they deliberately seek situations that may lead to humiliation or fighting with other people.

The Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga book’s flaws do not reduce its value because it stands as a crucial work for many reasons:

• This book is well-known for serving as the basis for all outlaw biker literature, and current Hells Angels books are its direct descendants.

• Thompson’s writing style presents a thrilling experience because only a few reporters have written with such a raw style and passion.

• The Hunter Thompson Hells Angels Book stands as a cultural artifact that provides readers with a 1960s rebel beyond traditional biker literature.

Still, the most accurate crime reports about Hells Angels can be found in modern undercover Hells Angels books and journals.

• True Crime Fans would give ‘Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga’ by Hunter S. Thompson 4 out of 5 stars because of its engaging story-telling, but it lacks enough inspective reporting.

• Gonzo Journalism Lovers would give a 5/5 star rating. This Hells Angels book is a masterpiece of immersive and subjective reporting.

• Biker Culture Enthusiasts would give a 4.5/5 star rating. It is the most influential account of the Hells Angels biker club, if not the most accurate.