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Summary: Hell hath Fury; a fascinating look inside a forbidden world
Review: I'm not a motorcycle afficionado. However, I did go to university during the early 70's, and the Hell's Angels were very much part of the zeitgeist of the counterculture revolution. So I wanted to read Sonny Barger's account of how the Hell's Angels were founded and how they lived and died in those turbulent times because I wanted a peek into that secret world.I found this book absolutely fascinating. Barger tells about some of the original leaders of the Oakland chapter of the Angels, which, with San Bernadino (Berdoo) were the wildest of the wild bunch and at the heart and core of the organization. Many of Barger's closest Hell's Angels charter members died of drugs or murder and this is the most disturbing thing about the entire book. Murder, vicious beatings, drugs are all taken as status-quo. Barger himself went to prison more than once, being a target for prosecution as the top dog of a renegade organization. His account of how he was one of the first to experience the RICO act was fascinating. He certainly was involved in drugs. What else, well, everyone in prison always says they are innocent, so what can you believe? Barger doesn't neglect the women in his life. Their story is interesting and he tells about his marriages with stark reality yet with some tenderness. The most amazing thing is how a guy like Barger had such an attraction to danger and bad behavior, yet survived when so many around him died so young. One interesting factor is his upbringing. Son of a drunken, abusive dad and a mother who ran off and abandoned him, he had an strong desire for order and discipline coupled with a complete rebellion against any outside authority. This contradictory nature is apparently not an unusual combination. Barger ran off to the military, lied about his age to join and would have completed his term but for the discovery of his actual age. True to character, Barger loved the military (order) and didn't always react badly to the discipline (belonging to a gang or club apparently allowed him to accept at least some of the authority.) He took his strong drive for order and organization and turned that into the founding and management of the Angels. Had Barger a less dysfunctional upbringing, he might have been a corporate chieftain, not the leader of a band of counter-culture wild men. Who can tell? His taste for order and discipline showed in the way he organized and policed the club. He spent a lot of time on club management--this was not a life of complete anarchy. A fascinating situation. Even though I don't share Barger's value system, I certainly got a lot of insight into the Angels, and learned a fascinating piece of counterculture history.
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Summary: Hell's Angels
Review: i was bored and over at the library on post, Fort Eustis, Virginia, and there it was HELL'S ANGELS, by Ralph Sonny Barger, contributer, Keith Zimmerman, needless to say i had to read this because i'd read Hunter S. Thompson and several other books. i'm frankly very impressed because this book is straight off the cuff straight from the man. i don't see any attempt to recruit anyone into his lifestyle an excuse for what he has done or that it was good bad etc.. this is an accounting from his life and his experiences humourous and sometimes heartbreaking. he doesn't want to change a thing and isn't asking for a justification or feel sorry for me. i think a lot of your reviews miss the mark? i enjoyed all that i read and won't prospect because i read what he wrote but, i will continue to ride because it sure is addictive, i look forward to riding my harley back home to nevada again and riding with my family too! Excellent read! Couldn't put it down and will probably read this book again. for those out there that feel that this is an attempt to justify criminal acts i think you miss the mark because all it does is give an accurate accounting from someone who was there? he never claims to be the one who started the Hells Angels or to have stolen the reputation of restless returning veterans from World War II? Some of his brothers in South Carolina, have supported World War II veterans. They have War heroes in their ranks past and present they must be doing something right?
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Summary: back in the day...
Review: Not owing a bike or even being able to ride one, I found myself wanting to Be a Angel( mostly because of the parties, booze and the woman). The book is mostly about former members and the roots of the bike club. It pretty wild stuff and hell I can see why the FBI keeps tabs on these boys.. Over all if you every wanted to know about the Hells Angels read about it from the man himself....
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Summary: A thoroughly excellent book.
Review: Sonny Barger has lived the life and "Hell's Angel" chronicles it all. From the moment I began reading I found it hard to put down. Few other books have inspired that much anticipation in me. While never truly romanticizing the 1%'er lifestyle it still holds an appeal that is undeniable, which is to say that those close to the subject will understandably get the most out of this while the rest of us will still find it a remarkably engrossing read. I was surprised to find that not very many books on the Hell's Angels and other associated clubs have been written, and of those that have most are of the expose/tabloid variety. Sonny on the other hand lays it all out in a very plain, unapologetic manner. He doesn't seek your approval just tells it how it is without ever acknowledging the right or wrong of his actions. "Hell's Angel" is not an indictment of his personal values or those of the Hell's Angels themselves. At times, though, "Hell's Angel" has a tendency to meander out of chronological order and which gets kind of confusing but it usually becomes obvious after a few minutes of reading just exactly where the event in question took place. This is a must have for any Americana lover out there so do yourself a favor, don't wait, go out and buy this book right now.
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Summary: Hell's Angel speaks the truth.
Review: Back in the late 60's, I was a member of the Green Dragon'sMotorcycle Club in Houston. We were a linked brotherhood with theBanditos MC. During a rally in Dallas, some 50 or 60 Hell's Angels attended. To my pride I was able to meet Sonny Barger, he was at that time with the Oakland Chapter of the Hell's Angel. He is nothing short of one classy, dedicated to bikes and bikers, and honest to the bone. This book, he brings IT ALL OUT. I was amazed to read how the Angels got started and managed to stay together dispite the law breathing all over them, the public have a definite attitude against them. It was Sonny who kept the brotherhood together. Yes, we all know of the legal problems with the ANgels as well as other biker groups, in this book Sonny is totally honest and forthcoming. He has some very funny stories on state rallys and of course the problem at Altamont. This book is a must read for all bikers and those who WANT TO BE A BIKER. A classic read by Sonny. May God Bless You Sonny and keep doing just what you are doing. Don't change one thing. "The Attorney" Green Dragons MC - Houston
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Summary: An old man who has selective memory
Review: "Sometimes you have to fight to be free". Bless you Sonny, but you know the real truth and you have left all except the most innocent facts out of this book. The Hells Angels are a horror and a growing one at that.
Rating:
Summary: truly inspirational
Review: this book was such an inspiration to me, it helped me learn of a new alternitave way to live a life free of the daily toil of the system and helped correct all those rumors heard (especialy about "that" rolling stones incedent) and proved my point that Hunter S Thompson nothing that he makes himself out to be, i am not a bike or gang enthusiast, i had this book bought as an out of the blue gift and now that ive read it im so glad to have recived it
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Summary: A Great Read
Review: The Hell's Angels are scary, often violent, guys and the author doesn't try to make you think they're just a bunch of Good Samaritans who like to go around fixing old ladies' flat tires.
But do they do good things sometimes? Well, back in 1965 they beat up some anitwar (actually pro-Vietcong) demonstrators in Oakland. That was a good deed. When Barger found out that Yippie Jerry Rubin was wearing a ring fashioned from the body of an American fighter plane downed in Vietnam, Barger vowed to get that ring from Rubin if he had to cut the latter's finger off to do it. Barger didn't quite succeed, but it was a noble effort. Any time somebody says Sonny Barger is a bad guy, I take note of the above incident and say, "Well, he's not ALL bad."
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Summary: Pulls no punches, makes no apologies
Review: Sonny Barger makes it very clear in the opening introduction that he is not about to apologise for any of the things he has done during his time as a Hells Angel, nor is he about to sugar coat any of his stories, and he lives up to this promise! From riding his Harley absolutely wrecked out of his brain, to the kidnapping, torture and disbandment of rival club members after they foolishly stole, chopped up and threw one of his beloved hand built bikes into a river, you get it all in raw detail. While it's mostly a chronological writing from Sonny's childhood through to present day, I did feel it lacked substance in some areas, hence the 4 stars. Although I don't think you would be too surprised at the holes due to Sonny's own self-confessed extensive use of drugs and alcohol over the years. If you want to read about the gory details from the inside of one of the earliest biker gangs in the US, written by the man who was probably one of the most influential people in the system, then this is the book to get. The part where the Hells Angels were hired as security for the infamous Rolling Stones concert is particularly interesting, and oh isn't hindsight a beautiful thing. If you are after something more along the lines of a study into biker culture I would highly recommend "The Brotherhoods: Inside the Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs" by Arthur Veno who has made the study of biker gangs his passion for the last 30 years. It is mostly about Australian biker gangs, but you will get the idea. In fact, I highly recommend reading the two books one after another, just as I did.
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Summary: Excellent Read!
Review: I stumbled across this book while at the library looking for something else in the same section. I was hesitant to pick it up, but after I read the inside jacket cover, I knew that I had to check this one out.
I couldn't put it down! The myth is that "bikers" are evil, but after reading this, I don't think that is true. They just wanted to do their thing, but a lot of people constantly wanted to test them. I'm not saying they are angels (no pun intended) but I don't believe they are out to hurt anyone. Sonny Barger sounds like an intelligent individual who lived a rough and adventurous life. If I needed someone to back me up, I would definitely choose the HAMC instead of a lot of other so called "regular" people any day. Read this book, you will be pleasantly surprised!
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