Timothy Denevi on Hunter S Thompson and the Art of Journalism (Part 1) | The Daily Stoic

Intro

In this episode of “The Daily Stoic” podcast, Timothy Denevi discusses his book “Freak Kingdom” and explores the life and work of Hunter S. Thompson, a masterful journalist and writer who deeply understood human nature. Denevi sheds light on Thompson’s 10-year crusade against American fascism and the impact of his writings on society.

Main Takeaways

Exploring Hunter S. Thompson’s Work

• Timothy Denevi’s book, “Freak Kingdom,” delves into Hunter S. Thompson’s 10-year crusade against American fascism and sheds light on human nature.
• Hunter S. Thompson was not just a crazy party animal but also a masterful journalist who deeply understood human nature.
• “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” is a book about the American dream and a response to the despair of the 60s.
• Thompson’s quote, “He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man,” explains what he was doing and still explains much of what people are doing now.

Unrecognized Writers and Literary Perspectives

• Sacramento failed to celebrate one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, Joan Didion, until recently.
• Joan Didion was protective of her Sacramento roots and was identified with Los Angeles.
• John Fonte is another writer who captures the Northern Italian immigrant experience well.
• Fonte’s book “Brother to the Great” is set in Roseville, California.
• Fonte’s “Ask the Dust” is considered one of the greatest novels of all time.

Writing About Identity and Place

• Sacramento is not a literary or artistic city, making it surprising to find a writer from there like Susan Strait.
• Writing about where you’re from, even if it’s not a major city, can be interesting and shape the reader’s perspective.
• Stakpole and Suns, the small publisher of “Ask the Dust,” also published an unauthorized edition of Mein Kampf, leading to legal troubles and distracting from the book’s marketing, causing it to be forgotten until Bukowski rediscovered it in 1970.

Insights on Journalism and Politics

• Author John Fonte is dying of diabetes and dictating his sequel dreams from Bunker Hill to his wife.
• “1933 was a bad year” is a novel by Fonte about his youth Italian American experience.
• “Ask the Dust” by Bukowski features a delusional narcissistic writer and a Mexican girl in a toxic relationship, highlighting colorism and racism within the Italian immigrant community.
• The book also explores the toxic relationship every aspiring artist has with Los Angeles.
• Hunter S. Thompson understood power structures and was always looking for ways to indict them.

Reflections on the 60s and Activism

• The conversation about the 60s is still ongoing, and the same battles are being fought today.
• The Civil Rights Movement was successful because it ultimately changed public opinion through overreaction to entrenched interests, not just marching.
• Protests and marches are no longer illegal, so they do not have the same impact they did in the past.
• Change cannot just come from large-scale protests; it must also happen at the community and local level.

Summary

Exploring Hunter S. Thompson’s Work

Timothy Denevi’s book, “Freak Kingdom,” provides an in-depth exploration of Hunter S. Thompson’s 10-year crusade against American fascism. It highlights Thompson’s mastery as a journalist and his deep understanding of human nature. Through works like “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” Thompson critiques the American dream and reflects the despair of the 60s. His famous quote, “He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man,” encapsulates his approach to writing and continues to resonate today.

Unrecognized Writers and Literary Perspectives

Sacramento’s lack of recognition for writers like Joan Didion until recently is a surprising oversight. Didion, protective of her Sacramento roots, was often associated with Los Angeles. Another writer, John Fonte, captures the Northern Italian immigrant experience well in his works, such as “Brother to the Great” set in Roseville, California. Fonte’s “Ask the Dust” is considered one of the greatest novels of all time, shedding light on the struggles of the Italian immigrant community and exploring the toxic relationship aspiring artists have with Los Angeles.

Writing About Identity and Place

Despite not being a literary or artistic city, Sacramento has produced notable writers like Susan Strait. Writing about one’s hometown, even if it’s not a major city, can offer unique perspectives and shape readers’ understanding. The small publisher of “Ask the Dust,” Stakpole and Suns, faced legal troubles due to an unauthorized edition of Mein Kampf, diverting attention from the book’s marketing. However, it was rediscovered by Charles Bukowski in 1970, leading to its recognition.

Insights on Journalism and Politics

Author John Fonte, dictating his sequel dreams from Bunker Hill to his wife while battling diabetes, provides a poignant glimpse into his Italian American experience in the novel “1933 was a bad year.” Bukowski’s “Ask the Dust” explores colorism and racism within the Italian immigrant community through the lens of a delusional narcissistic writer and his toxic relationship with a Mexican girl. The book also delves into the complicated relationship every aspiring artist has with Los Angeles. Hunter S. Thompson, known for his ability to understand power structures, constantly sought to indict them through his writing.

Reflections on the 60s and Activism

The ongoing conversation about the 60s highlights the enduring relevance of the era’s battles. The success of the Civil Rights Movement was not merely due to protests and marches but also to the ability to change public opinion through overreaction to entrenched interests. Today, protests and marches, no longer illegal, do not have the same impact. Change must occur at the community and local level, necessitating an understanding of history, psychology, and local politics. Hunter S. Thompson’s experience in running for local office provided him invaluable insight into how entrenched interests protect their power.

Conclusion

Through Timothy Denevi’s exploration of Hunter S. Thompson’s work and the discussion of unrecognized writers and reflections on the 60s, this episode of “The Daily Stoic” podcast offers valuable insights into journalism, politics, and the power of writing. It emphasizes the importance of understanding power structures, the impact of writing about one’s identity and place, and the need for change at the community and local level. Ultimately, it reminds listeners of the enduring relevance of past struggles and the role of writers in shaping society.