100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

New on the blog! πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅ Japanese Healing Fiction & β˜• The Perfect Winter Reads

Hell's Angels: Popular Penguins

3.98 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 53,974 ratings, 2,239 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Hell's Angels: Popular Penguins by Hunter S. Thompson is a gripping, first-person account of the author's year spent riding with the notorious Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. Thompson offers an unflinching look at their lives, exploring the group's complex culture, raw power, and the myths that surround them.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1500
Elsewhere:
$1599
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the gritty, raw exploration of the 1960s American counterculture. Hunter S. Thompson's immersive journalism provides a riveting and unfiltered view into the notorious motorcycle gang, offering both thrilling narratives and deep insights.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Hell's Angels: Popular Penguins by Hunter S. Thompson is a compelling and incisive portrayal of one of the most notorious motorcycle gangs in American history. This gripping narrative dives deep into the shadowy world of the Hell's Angels, a group that unleashed waves of disruption and fear across the United States during the 1960s. Through the eyes of Thompson, readers are taken on an unforgettable journey into the lives of these modern-day outlaws.

Determined to uncover the truth behind the gang's fearsome reputation, Thompson spent a year integrating himself with the Angels. He rode alongside the likes of Charger Charley, Big Frank, Little Jesus, and The Gimp, documenting every hair-raising encounter and clandestine meeting. What emerges is a raw, unfiltered account of the Hell's Angels, offering rare insights into their defiant and anarchistic way of life.

Hell's Angels stands as a masterpiece of underground journalism, pioneering what would come to be known as Gonzo journalism. With its free-wheeling and impressionistic style, the book shatters the conventional boundaries of reporting, blending brutal honesty with wild, fantastical elements. Thompson's unapologetic and candid prose vividly captures the chaos and camaraderie within the gang, while also critiquing the society that both feared and fascinated the Angels.

More than just an exposΓ© on a criminal organisation, Hell's Angels is a lasting cultural testament to a turbulent era. It catapulted Thompson to literary fame, cementing his legacy as the wild man of American journalism. Engrossing and provocative, this book remains a must-read for anyone interested in the darker fringes of society and the pioneers who dared to venture there.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Hell's Angels: Popular Penguins by Hunter S. Thompson is often praised for its vivid and fearless journalism. Reviewers highlight Thompson's immersive and unflinching narrative style, delving deep into the gritty world of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. Some note its raw and candid portrayal of the 1960s counterculture, capturing both the allure and danger of the biker lifestyle.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141045566

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 June 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 112.0mm

Height: 182.0mm

Weight: 156g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Hunter S. Thompson's works include Fear and Loathing in America, Screwjack, Hell's Angels, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Proud Highway, Better Than Sex and The Rum Diary. Hunter S. Thompsoncommitted suicide in February 2005.

Also by Hunter S. Thompson

View all
  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
    Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a seminal work of Gonzo journalism penned by the legendary Hunter S. Thompson. The book chronicles a drug-fuelled trip to Las Vegas, undertaken by Raoul Dukeβ€”an alter ego of Thompson himselfβ€”and his attorney, Dr. Gonzo. The journey begins with what was supposed to be straightforward coverage of the Mint 400 motorcycle race, but...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2699
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Hell's Angels
    We're the one percenters, man - the one percent that don't fit in and don't care. 'A phalanx of motorcycles came roaring over the hill from the west... the noise was like a landslide, or a wing of bombers passing over. Even knowing the Angels I couldn't quite handle what I was seeing. It was like Genghis Khan, Morgan's Raiders,...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
    Introducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience – classics which will endure for generations to come. β€˜You can turn your back on a person, but never turn your back on a drug – especially when it’s waving a razor-sharp hunting knife in...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Hell's Angels
    With "long hair in the wind, beards and bandanas flapping, earrings, chain whips...and Harleys flashing chrome", the Hell's Angels erupted into 1960s America, paralysing whole towns with fear. Determined to discover the truth behind the terrifying reputation of these marauding biker gangs, Hunter S. Thompson spent a year on the road with the Angels, documenting his hair-raising experiences with Charger...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone
    The king of gonzo journalism's most scorching work for Rolling Stone β€œIt would not do to be found in the desert under these circumstancesβ€”firing wildly into the cactus from a car full of drugs.” Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone showcases the evolution of a writer through his work at the magazine that he helped to put on the map....
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • Rum Diary
    THE BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JOHNNY DEPP β€˜Remarkable - a genuine, 100% proof discovery of great literary importance' - Mail on Sunday β€˜Hilarious, utterly real and tragic ... A lithe, well-crafted gem of a novel which leaves the reader disturbed and grinning in a way that makes people sitting nearby change seats' - Scotland on Sunday...
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Kingdom of Fear
    Hunter S. Thompson's Kingdom of Fear is the wild and outrageous autobiography from the world's most notorious journalist. It's an unrestrained and uncensored account of fast living, hard drinking, sharp writing and unimaginable drug taking; of road trips, girls, guns, bikes and being accused of trying to kill Jack Nicholson. Kingdom of Fear is both personal and political; an explosive...
    Paperback
    $1699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Songs of the Doomed
    Pre-order
    Songs of the Doomed
    The third volume of Hunter S. Thompson’s legendary Gonzo Papers. An iconic compilation of the greatest sound bites of Gonzo journalism spanning four decades – 1950 to 1990.
    Paperback
    $2999
    Pre-order
    Out 6 Oct 2026
  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
    A fiftieth-anniversary edition of the cult classic of gonzo journalism, hailed as β€œthe best book on the dope decade” (The New York Times Book Review), featuring Ralph Steadman’s original drawings and an introduction by Caity Weaver. The inspiration for the major motion picture directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro. β€œA scorching epochal sensation!”—Tom Wolfe First...
    Paperback
    $4900
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • The Proud Highway
    _____________ 'Brilliant' - Observer 'Vivid, hyperactive, combative, ferociously intelligent and iconoclastic' - Guardian 'Splendidly corrosive' - Independent _____________ The Proud Highway is a literary milestone. The first volume in Hunter S. Thompson’s intimate letters begins with a high school essay written in 1955, and takes us through 1967, when the publication of Hell’s Angels made the author an international celebrity....
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72
    The best, the fastest, the hippest and the most unorthodox account ever published of the US presidential electoral process in all its madness and corruption. In 1972, Hunter S. Thompson, the creator and king of Gonzo journalism, covered the US presidential campaign for Rolling Stone magazine alongside the establishment newsmen of Washington. The result is a classic piece of subversive...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    New Release
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • They Bloom Because of You
    Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. β€˜A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank β€˜A book to keep close and...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Leaves of Grass
    A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...
    Hardback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
    Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...
    Hardback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • To the Women - The New Collection of Wise Words Every Woman Needs
    THE COMPLETELY UPDATED COLLECTION WITH OVER 70 BRAND NEW POEMS, FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WILD HOPE AND WORDS TO LIVE BY 'Amazing . . . Donna's words speak to my heart' Davina McCall To the Women is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and joy of being a woman. A love letter to our deep capacity...
    Hardback
    $2999
    Backorder
    Ships early August
  • Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour
    The creative journey continues with Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour by Keri Smith, the latest and most vibrant edition of the groundbreaking series that redefined journaling. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this edition brings the playful destructiveness of the original to life in dazzling full colour, adding a dynamic new dimension to the beloved prompts. Whether you're a seasoned Wreck-er,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017β€”revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)β€”critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Odyssey
    The Odyssey by Homer is a monumental epic that has enthralled readers for centuries with its rich tapestry of adventure and human struggle. It chronicles the perilous journey of Odysseus, the cunning King of Ithaca, as he strives to return home after the fall of Troy. During this ten-year odyssey, Odysseus confronts myriad dangers, both natural and supernatural, that test...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.