Combining fiction with journalism (alongside the aid of plenty of drugs and other dubious substances), Hunter S Thompson successfully spearheaded what is now known as 'gonzo journalism'. The story itself was serialised by Rolling Stone magazine, of which Thompson was one of their star writers.

The result is both a hilarious autobiography of a unique writer and a disparate nosedive into excess and its consequences. More than anything, it's an indictment of the American dream and one which all other road trip reads haven't quite recovered from. Consider it as hyper-reality, administered using a hypodermic needle. Unforgettable and unavoidable.

Buy 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' from Amazon