Forgotten in the bizarre chaos of his later journalism is that Thompson did a lot of real reporting in the '50s and early '60s, mostly on the political situation in South America. It's amazing to read -- he was simply better at journalism than contemporary journalists were. He has down pat the classic scene-setting cold open, bring it full circle, microcosm/macrocosm approach that all journalism schools teach -- and he was basically self-taught. Plus he adds his own voice, with spectacular results. One of my favorite authors of all time.

Read those seven classic pieces, yes, but also read the earlier parts of this. That book contains the evolution of gonzo journalism from nothing to something.