Summary

Hunter S. Thompson's daily routine was unconventional, starting his day at 3 PM with alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes before engaging in writing and other activities late into the night.

Abstract

Hunter S. Thompson, known for his "Gonzo Journalism," maintained a daily routine that was far from ordinary. His day began in the afternoon with a glass of Chivas Regal and continued with a cycle of cocaine, cigarettes, coffee, and more alcohol, including Heineken and Chivas. Thompson's routine also included a late lunch at the Woody Creek Tavern, where he consumed a variety of foods and drinks, and his evening was filled with more substances like grass, Chartreuse, and acid. It wasn't until midnight that Thompson would start writing, often fueled by a mix of stimulants and relaxants until the early morning hours when he would finally conclude his day with a hot tub session, champagne, and more food before going to sleep around 8:20 AM. This extreme lifestyle, while reflective of his unique approach to life and work, was also indicative of his struggle with substance abuse, which ultimately contributed to his poor health and his decision to end his life in 2005 at the age of 67.

Opinions

The author suggests that Thompson's lifestyle, while seemingly full of pleasure, was ultimately detrimental to his health and well-being.
The detailed account of Thompson's daily routine is presented without judgment but implies a critique of such an excessive lifestyle.
The article emphasizes the importance of finding joy in natural aspects of life rather than relying on artificial stimulants, as exemplified by Thompson's life.
The author posits that creating a balanced routine is crucial for maintaining one's physical and mental health, contrasting Thompson's routine with more sustainable habits.
Thompson's routine is portrayed as an extreme example of how not to manage one's daily life, with the implication that readers should seek a healthier balance in their own routines.

Hunter S. Thompson Daily Routine — An Odd Way of Life

Hunter S. Thompson — “The Gonzo Journalist” — had one of the craziest daily routines.

Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash

Mark Wahlberg wakes up at 3.30 AM to exercise and take care of his health. Early rising is a great habit, isn’t it? But what about waking up at 3 o’clock in the afternoon?

What about starting a day with a glass Chivas Regal? Can it get any more unusual than this? “Gonzo Journalist” Hunter S. Thompson did exactly that with his days.

In her book Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson, biographer E. Jean Carroll shared a detailed account of what Hunter did throughout his day. Let’s have a look at what Carroll reported as Hunter’s daily routing — a day that starts at 3 PM (Not AM).

Hunter S. Thompson’s Daily Routine

3:00 p.m: Wake up

3:05: Drink Chivas Regal while reading the morning papers & smoking Dunhills

3:45: Cocaine enters the day

3:50: Followed by another glass of Chivas and smoking Dunhill

4:05: A bit of caffeine with the first cup of coffee and smoking Dunhill

4:15: Cocaine makes another appearance

4:16: A glass of orange juice & Dunhill

4:30: Cocaine (again)

4:54: Cocaine (and again)

5:05: Cocaine (and again)

5:11: Second cup of coffee with Dunhills

5:30: More ice in the Chivas

5:45: Cocaine

6:00: Grass to take the edge off the day

7:05: Go to Woody Creek Tavern for lunch. Drinks Heineken, two margaritas, have coleslaw, a taco salad, a double order of fried onion rings, carrot cake, ice cream, and a bean fritter. Consume Dunhills, another Heineken, cocaine, and a snow cone — three to four jiggers of Chivas poured on shredded ice

9:00: Cocaine again

10:00: Drops acid

11:00: Chartreuse, cocaine, grass

11:30: cocaine, etc, etc.

12:00 midnight: Hunter starts to write

12:05–6:00 in the morning: Move between Chartreuse, cocaine, grass, Chivas, coffee, Heineken, clove cigarettes, grapefruit, Dunhills, orange juice, gin, and continuous pornographic movies.

6:00: the hot tub-champagne, Dove Bars, fettuccine Alfredo

8:00: Halcyon

8:20: Go to sleep

Who was Hunter S. Thompson?

From an early age, Hunter S. Thompson showed his writing talent. Eventually, after serving in the United States Air Force, he started his career in journalism. He traveled across the country for his job — mainly to cover different topics & write for magazines.

His highly immersive and personal style of reporting would eventually become known as “Gonzo Journalism”. In 1972, he published the bestseller “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by writing in the same style. He also wrote the book “The Rum Diary” — which was adapted for the big screen in 2011 with Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in key roles. However, the book that brought him to prominence was “Hells Angels” — for which he spent a year living and riding with the Hells Angels motorcycle gang.

Unfortunately, despite obvious talent, Hunter’s lifestyle including the usage of drugs led to poor health. And in 2005, he committed suicide at the age of 67.

Final Thoughts

While no one is going to live forever, it’s important to find pleasure in natural things in life to make life more pleasurable. Resorting to chemicals or artificial ways of acquiring pleasure can only lead to the downfall of one’s body and mind.

Our lives are precious. Unfortunately, Hunter couldn’t live with himself in the end. We shouldn’t create a life that becomes unbearable for us. We must take care of it while we can. And a great way to do so is by creating a routine that helps us be productive but also allows us to enjoy life.

How To Create The Perfect Daily Routine For 2022

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Source:

Hunter: The Strange and Savage Life of Hunter S. Thompson by E. Jean Carroll
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/rolling-stone-at-50-how-hunter-s-thompson-became-a-legend-115371/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/33487/hunter-s-thompsons-daily-routine
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4507666#:~:text=toggle%20caption-,Hunter%20S.,at%20the%20age%20of%2067.