I've never read Thompson, but I am grateful for one thing from him - it is clear that P.J. O'Rourke regards him as an influence on his writing.
Regards, Ivan
This is a quote from one article:
And Thompson's life was nothing if not surprising. He famously and fully embraced an unconventional lifestyle, summing up his attitude to fast living with the iconic phrase: "I do not advocate the use of dangerous drugs, wild amounts of alcohol and violence and weirdness - but they've always worked for me." A firearms fan, he allegedly kept a keg of gunpowder in his basement, and on one occasion accidentally shooting an assistant. Hi major foray into public life occurred in 1970, when he decided that "there might be some serious fun in politics" and duly stood for Sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado on a platform of drug decriminalisation. The Republican candidate was sporting a crew cut, which prompted the contrary author to shave his head entirely and refer to his rival as "my long-haired opponent" throughout the campaign. He lost by a handful of votes.