The Footloose American: Following the Hunter S. Thompson Trail Across South America

I am a child of the sixties but not an expert or even follower of Hunter Thompson. Brian Kevin's book was recommended to me by a member of my family described in the book. I learned to love travel books after reading Steinbeck's Travels with Charley in high school. Kevin's book certainly is an excellent addition to that genre. The prose is delightful and engaging without the sort of sensationalism one has come to expect in contemporary writing. There is a sincerity and warmth to Brain Kevin that comes through in the book. I am certain he makes for a wonderful travel partner. His descriptions of each South American country he visits offer a balance of appreciation and critical reflection. It is a mixture that goes down smoothly just like the beer he so frequently imbibes throughout his journey. What does he learn through his various adventures? Coming to know Brian through his account, one is not surprised to find he is modest about what insights he can offer about Hunter Thompson or the quest to better understand the United States from his encounter with the people and cultures of South America. He leaves us with more questions and doubts about the future of South America than answers. Having spent time in Peru in places far from the popular tourist sites, I certainly resonate with his reluctance to offer grand visions or slogans. He has learned from Hunter what little was accomplished in Kennedy's "Alliance for Progress" and how inflated visons of change for South America emerging from North American sources have fared. However, there are glimmers of hope in this book that North Americans have something to offer South America. Hope shows up here and there in the local efforts of individuals striving to make a difference in the lives of the poor and marginalized people in South America. Read the book and discover both the biright and dark sides of South America through the eyes of both Hunter Thompson and his insightful interpreter, Brian Kevin. You will enjoy the journey!

This is not my normal genre. I can rant for hours on the differences between the book and movie of "The Fellowship of the Ring". I write postcards to my sister in Norse Runes. I only vaguely recalled that Hunter S. Thompson was connected with one of those movies that was popular when I was in college that I never saw.This book does appeal to non Thompson junkies because it stands on it's own as a witty, insightful, thought provoking, well-researched, novel. Background is provided to help even a novice see how messed up South America was and is. Anytime you start to feel bogged down with history and poverty, there is a recounting about something funny or a well-phrased comment. This balance makes "The Footloose American" an unforgettable read. If you've ever stayed in a Hostel, this book is worth reading for the backpacker scene alone. I enjoyed seeing South America through Brian's mind and would love to meet Lucas the duck, but will probably keep my travel plans to Western Europe. I hope people outside the journalism field give this book a chance. It deserves to be widely read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This is a great travel diary - really getting into the nitty gritty of what it is to be a stranger in a strange place. Admittedly, there's not as much HST content as some of his fans would like, but I was satisfied. The book is well written and breeze to get through. Most travelogues don't do it for me anymore, but this one is so authentic and the voice is not forcefully crafted. The adventures unfolded the way they did and he doesn't hide anything. That is travel for the sake of travel. To experience. To embrace. I found it beautiful and inspiring.

Great read!

Brian Kevin is a journalist who spent six months following the Thompson trail. It is a journey that begins in Colombia and ends in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil. I would love to experience some of the things that Brian Kevin describes in this book. The Thompson trail is named for the late journalist Hunter S. Thompson. He spent one year travelling the continent in the early sixties and wrote about his experiences in a book entitled The Proud American. He also wrote for articles for newspapers in Brazil and the United States I don't know much about Thompson's work, but I think just reading The Footloose American makes me want to learn more about him. I love it when one book inspires me to read other books.I love every aspect of this book. I love the unusual foods that Brian Kevin describes. People in Colombia poach turtles and eat their meat. Brazilians like to eat fried alligator tails. Brian Kevin also ate alpaca tacos and drank an anise flavored liquor. I have never even thought of consuming these foods. I am curious if I would eat these foods and what they taste like. I learned a lot about the geography of South America. Argentina is part of South America, but Brian Kevin did not write about Argentina. I wonder how many other South American countries he left out. I want to learn more about the geography and history of South America because of this book.I would love to visit the tourist attractions that Brian Kevin describes in this book. The Pantanal is located in Brazil. It is the largest wetland in the world. It is filled with piranha that I could try to catch. It would be an exciting experience for me. Brian Kevin glosses over some tourist attractions. I wish that he described in greater details what the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru look like. I can look up a picture of a picture of the ruins online, but I would have appreciated a description in words. I would love to see the beauty of the Magdalena river in Colombia. I learned that it inspired the book Love In The Time of Cholera. This book did not resonate with me, but I would read again just because Colombian people have such a reverence for the book. I missed the cultural significance of the book when I read it the first time. I learned that Paraguay is a poor country, but it also an excellent place to volunteer to gain experience in the medical field. Brian Kevin observed medical professionals treat people with respiratory problems. These medical professionals started out as volunteers in the Peace Corps.Brian Kevin also travelled to Bolivia. He writes about the fascination that Bolivians have with coca leaves. These leaves can made into the drug cocaine, which is produced a lot in Bolivia. These leaves can also be used to make a tea. I learned that this tea is a diet suppressant and a stimulant. This is the kind of tea that I would like to try for health reasons. Brian Kevin also ventured into a silver mine in Bolivia to observe miners working. I learned that mining is the number one industry in Bolivia. I would also love to visit the beaches of Rio De Janeiro to look at the beautiful people. I am motivated to learn how to speak the Portuguese and Spanish language. These languages would come in handy if I ever get the chance to visit South America. I wish that Brian Kevin would have included a map in this book. It would be nice to have a physical representation of the distance he travelled in six months. I learned so much from this book. I really enjoyed it.

A great book, written as I like to read - as if the author is talking to you, so it flows easily and has that invigorating, icy cool feel of truth. Very good mix of his own travels and Hunter S. Thompson. I'm a former Brazil resident, and can confirm the Brazil bits are dead right, none of that excited exotic overkill you can often get, just very vivid,honest writing. Highly recommended - and great to see that Hunter S.is still appealing to upcoming generations!