Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club

Book Description

Narrated by the visionary founding member, Hell's Angel provides a fascinating all-access pass to the secret world of the notorious Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. Sonny Barger recounts the birth of the original Oakland Hell's Angels and the four turbulent decades that followed. Hell's Angel also chronicles the way the HAMC revolutionized the look of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle and built what has become a worldwide bike-riding fraternity, a beacon for freedom-seekers the world over.

Dozens of photos, including many from private collections and from noted photographers, provide visual documentation to this extraordinary tale. Never simply a story about motorcycles, colorful characters, and high-speed thrills, Hell's Angel is the ultimate outlaw's tale of loyalty and betrayal, subcultures and brotherhood, and the real price of freedom.

Customer Reviews:

Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club.......2007-07-19

I bought this book for my brother-in-law. So I had to ask him what he thought. He told me how much he enjoyed the book. So buy this book for anybody that is a biker or a biker at heart.

Best of Angels.......2007-04-30

I've read just about every Hells Angels book out there and this is by far the most interesting and easiest to follow.

"IF YOU THINK YOU'RE TOUGH INSULT A BIKER".......2007-02-17

A first hand and personal look into the life of a Hell's Angel.Where better to find out what the Hell's Angels are all about than from a founding member ,the President for many,many years and who has been in the center of the organization for 40 years. There is nothing he doesn't know about the organization since he was there through it all,and had a hand in everything that happened.
There has been much written and much coverage in the media over the years,some of it true but a lot of it pure fiction and legend.From reading this book ,you'll come to the conclusion,that by and large ,the fiction and legend is heavily slanted towards putting the Hell's Angles in as bad a light as possible.
More often than not,when violence erupted,it was started by law enforcement,town officials or other club riders who decided to hassle or take on the Hell's Angels. These people soon found out that their actions would not be tolerated and the Hell's Angels would stand by their own,to the end and if others wanted to " take them on " it was their choice. When the smoke cleared ,the media and police would alwys blame the riders.
The clubs were made up of men who were independent to a fault, to everything except the loyalty to each other,and the rules of the club. You learn that you didn't decide if you wanted to join,the club decided ;and either you obeyed or you were gone.The Hell's Angel's were tough men,who lived hard ,who gave no quarter and asked for none.
In all the years I've seen groups of Riders on the highway,I have always found them very courteous and well behaved.In later years, there seems to be a lot in the media about their illegal activities such as drugs;but everyone knows there is a lot of that,it's a tough business,of territorial disputes,beatings and killing;but there's a lot of people involved other than Moror Cycle clubs.Heck! even law enforcement and other officials turn up on the wrong side on those issues.
Some people get nervous with the sight of a group of Riders ;but if you give them respect,I don't expect they will give you any trouble.
As a personal experience,several years ago,I was attending a big outdoor event of Country Music.David Allan Coe was one of the star performers and everything was going very well.There were a lot of security types around that gave the impression that they'd just love to take you on if you dare get out of line.In other words,almost hoping something would happen,so they could "move in". Well,about an hour before David Allan Coe was to appear ,a large group of Motorcycle Club members arrived.I can't remember what club they were;Hell's Angels,Satan's Choice,Outlaws or whatever. The crowd seemed to get nervous and many even moved back and probably a few left. I noticed they drove their big machines into the parking area ,all in one spot,dismounted,took off their expensive helmets and simply sat them on their bike seats ;then proceeded to the concert. I did,however, notice several uniformed police officers (not the security personnel) remained in the parking area. It was obvious,that noboby was going to mess with thir "stuff". Coe came on,did his show,the Bikers and Women enjoyed the concert,and were very well behaved.A lot of them had a knife on their belts
(but never took them out),several smoked,and many were even friendly with the crowd.When Coe finished, the Riders had seen what they had come to see,everyone enjoyed themselves,and they got up and left very orderly.The next act came on and the concert continued as if they had never been there.The only thing thst changed was a lot of music fans obtained a different feeling for these people than they had developed from the media.
Of course,there,s a lot of people who would not like their lifestyle,but that's their problem,not the Bikers.
Of course,they break laws,so do a lot of businessmen,politicians and others.When they get caught,they pay in spades,as Sonny did,that can't be said of many other types of lawbreakers.
You will also find a lot of comments on other movies and books about the Hell's Angles but I found the contrast in what Sonny had to say about Hunter S Thompson ,and the reviewers comments on his book on the Angles ,very interesting.
A great read if you want to know what the Hell's Angles are all about.

Take The Patch & Scratch.......2007-01-13

Sonny Barger's tales are Slurs of Confabulations, False Recollections, Fuzzy Logics, basics of "FMS" (False Memory Syndrome). Sonny Barger demonstrates a "Limitless Capacity for Denail" therefore Distorting His Own Statements from Yesteryear. Mr. Barger was evidently under the impression, by placing his name upon a book that the reading public would be sensationalized into the Illusion Barger's some sort of an American Hero, Hardly. Mr. Barger speaks of Brotherhood & Freedom; Never Defining either. (Brotherhood was betrayal of silence after the RICO Trial. Freedom was before Barger's First Conviction, since he has never known real freedom.) All too-much in Barger's Book can be refuted by its mere statements. This book was obviously just put together for money and cover-ups. Publisher should have included an airsickness bag with each book. 10% of a book that covers over 40-years of Hells Angels History was spent taking cheap shots at the Government, over the RICO Trail 1979/1980. This was a Gamble by the Publisher, too-many have known otherwise. Publisher changing the title would help. (Hell's Angel: The Lies and Crimes of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club)

An interesting memoir and lifestory. .......2006-12-31

Love him or hate him, Sonny Barger has one interesting story to tell. In this book he chronicles his life as a child being kicked out of school for hitting the principal, the beginnings of his life on a motorcycle, the creation phase of what would become the Hell's Angels motorcycle club, his legal battles, prison time, and other related Hell's Angels stuff.

Sonny Barger is quite a writer, and this book is a well written look at an era in history of when the Hell's Angels ruled the biker world with an iron fist. You will not read another book like this, and you need not have an extensive education on the Hell's Angels to understand this book. While it's somewhat shocking, it has a lot of entertainment value and even some inspiration here and there.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent look inside Iroquois society of 1812-14.......2000-07-05

After 186 years, it's about time for a comprehensive look at the Indians' participation in the War of 1812, on both sides of the conflict. While Carl Benn's focus is on the Iroquois of the Six Nations (or Grand River Tract) of Upper Canada, and the battles and skirmishes in the Niagara region, he also refers to their brethren of western New York, the Seven Nations of the lower St. Lawrence region, Tecumseh's western conflict, and other nations such as the Delaware, Ojibwa and Mississauga. His explanation of the Iroquois way of war does much to dispel the myth of the "savage" and leads to a better understanding of their reasons for fighting, temporary desertion, looting and the now-repugnant practice of scalping. He allows the reader a glimpse into Iroquois society and the divisions within it, similar to those of Euroamericans, with pro-British, neutral, and pro-American factions. His account of the personal agendas and internal strife among the Indian Department, the civil authorities and the military illustrates that, unfortunately, the status quo has changed little over the centuries.

This book is a scholarly treatise, with 609 footnotes, and although there is a factual tone to it, it is certainly not dry. Benn has made the best use of an extensive bibliography to create a well- balanced examination of the Iroquois alliances and conflicts, among themselves, and with their allies and enemies. His description of the Battle of Chippawa is downright exciting.

Benn tends to skim over actions that do not involve the Iroquois. This is understandable, due to the subject matter, but quick reference can sometimes result in slightly distorted facts. As an example, Benn states that "Brock ordered the commandant at St. Joseph's Island in Lake Huron to capture the American post of Fort Mackinac at the head of Lake Michigan." In fact, Brock was under direct orders from his commander-in-chief, Sir George Prevost, to restrain from aggression; he therefore ordered the captain at St. Joseph Island to act according to his best judgement; by capturing Fort Michilimackinac, the captain acted on his own initiative. However, this is a small point. For the most part, this is an excellent book about a part of history that deserves to be better known and appreciated.

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The Iroquois in the War of 1812
Carl Benn
Manufacturer: University of Toronto Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

War of 1812 | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000PKJXNA

Product Description

Until now, the story of Iroquois participation in the War of 1812 has not received detailed examination, and there have consequently been major gaps in our understanding of the Iroquois, their relations with Euroamerican society, and the course of the war itself. The Iroquois in the War of 1812 proves that, in fact, the Six Nations' involvement was 'too significant to ignore.' Benn explores this involvement by focusing on Iroquois diplomatic, military, and cultural history during the conflict. He looks at the Iroquois' attempts to stay out of the war, their entry into hostilities, their modes of warfare, the roles they played in different campaigns, their relationships with their allies, and the effects that the war had on their society. He also details the military and diplomatic strength of the Iroquois during the conflict, despite the serious tensions that plagued their communities. This account reveals how the British benefited more than the Americans from the contributions of their Iroquois allies, and underscores how important the Six Nations were to the successful defence of Canada. It will appeal to general readers in both Canada and the United States and will have relevance for students and scholars of military, colonial, and Native history.

Iroquois in the War of 1812.: An article from: The Loyalist Gazette

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Iroquois in the War of 1812.: An article from: The Loyalist Gazette

Manufacturer: United Empire Loyalists' Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

War of 1812 | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00098J9IC
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Loyalist Gazette, published by United Empire Loyalists' Association on September 22, 1999. The length of the article is 701 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Iroquois in the War of 1812.
Publication: The Loyalist Gazette (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 1999
Publisher: United Empire Loyalists' Association
Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Page: 52

Article Type: Book Review

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Every man his own guide to the falls of Niagara, or, The whole story in a few words: To which is added a chronological table containing the principal events ... lecture upon the recession of Niagara Falls

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Every man his own guide to the falls of Niagara, or, The whole story in a few words: To which is added a chronological table containing the principal events ... lecture upon the recession of Niagara Falls
T. G Hulett
Manufacturer: Printed by Faxon & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

War of 1812 | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Public speeches,: Delivered at the village of Buffalo, on the 6th and 8th days of July, 1812,

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Public speeches,: Delivered at the village of Buffalo, on the 6th and 8th days of July, 1812,
Erastus Granger
Manufacturer: Printed and sold by S.H. & H.A. Salisbury
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

War of 1812 | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008AAUHU

Book Description

Inspired by the events of September 11, one of America's foremost political philosophers mounts an impassioned defense of "just war" against terror.

Jean Bethke Elshtain has been hailed as one of this country's most influential public intellectuals. Michael Walzer called her award-winning Democracy on Trial "the work of a truly independent, deeply serious, politically engaged, and wonderfully provocative political theorist." These rare qualities are once again vividly in force in Just War Against Terror.

In this hard-hitting book, Elshtain advocates "just war" in times of crisis and mounts a reasoned attack against the defenses of terrorism that have abounded since September 11. Arguing that those who defend terrorist acts on the basis of their "root causes"--poverty, political conflict, infringement of Western values on Islamic culture--minimize the responsibility of terrorists, Elshtain interrogates the sources of root-cause reasoning and traces them to a fundamental misunderstanding of the Judeo-Christian ethic of war and peace, compounded by "faux-pacifist" positions and retro-sixties cultural romance. Why, she asks, are pacifist alternatives so palpably inadequate? So implausible? often so irresponsible? How indeed does one respond to acts of terror that constitute an act of war perpetrated against one's own citizenry? Advocating an ethic of responsibility, Elshtain forces us to ask tough questions not only about the nature of Islam but also about ourselves.

Elegantly written and forcefully argued, Just War Against Terror offers a badly needed and refreshingly clear look at responses to terror in the modern world.

Customer Reviews:

Christian agnosticism.......2006-06-27

The problem that all authors of books similar to this one face is the fact that there is really no such thing as a "just war" as far as Christ is concerned. If you are a REAL Christian who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and, as such, IS God,and do all you can to live as Christ did, which is what He commanded of all true Christians, you can NEVER subscribe to the "just war" THEORY (I remind all...it's called a "theory"). Jesus was COMPLETELY (I repeat, COMPLETELY)NON-VIOLENT. To imply otherwise in order to realize a Constantinian (church-state) agenda is the height of hypocrisy and falsehood. The present author, Weigl, Novak, Neuhaus, et. al., are morally bankrupt apologists for Christian agnosticism...that's all.

Needed wisdom from one of the best.......2005-11-10

This is an excellent and accessible account of Just War as it relates to the War on Terror - primarily in Afghanistan. Should be read even by those unfamiliar with Just War for the clarity it brings to the discussion about American foreign policy and Islamofacism. A previous reviewer who claimed JBE is in need of more training "in law and morals" is not familiar with her work in the least. She is one of America's leading public intellectuals, and this work will show you why.

just being against terrorism dose not make the war just........2004-08-15

The author oversimplified in analysing a more complicated topic than she can handle. Just like what I put down as the title of this review: Being against terrorism only does not justify every single military action against any suspect of your choice. The author needs more training in the areas of law and morality.

Best book I Read This Year.......2004-08-13

This may be a stretch for some but worth the effort. Elshtain upends the moral universe by suggesting the obvious. Those outside the academic/seminary world may not see the significance but this is a great book. It seems like a college education can erase some common sense with regard to public policy for reasons understandable given the cynical world we live in but they are often wrong and deadly so. This book acts as an antidote to a boat load of gibberish from the looney left.

Why we must fight.......2004-06-30

This volume very nicely brings together four broad themes into one focused discussion. The nature of radical Islam, the threat of terrorism, the doctrine of just war, and the place of American power in a turbulent world are the major issues treated. University of Chicago professor of social and political ethics Jean Bethke Elsthain is well suited to this task.

She deftly merges the various streams of philosophy, theology, ethics, politics and international relations into a coherent account of how the US in particular and the West in general should proceed after September 11. She reminds us that appeasing terrorism is not the answer, yet we need to deal with the threat of militant Islam in a way that does not violate our own ethical codes and political ideals.

As such, this book has a bearing on recent events which were unknown at the time of writing, notably the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandals. How can democratic nations defend both their values and their borders against an enemy that does not play by the rules, and is happy to use the freedoms associated with democracy in its attempts to destroy it? How can we uphold ethical standards and at the same time weed out those committed to undermining our way of life?

How can democratic nations respond to terror without resorting to terror? Indeed, can moral distinctions be made in this regard? Is all killing and the use of force evil, or is it sometimes justified? Should we accept the argument of moral equivalence which states that American use of force is just as bad as Muslim terrorism? And, as some assert, did America bring September 11 upon itself?

These and other questions are expertly addressed in this incisive work. An overriding theme of the volume is that America has a moral and civil obligation to withstand those who seek to destroy it. American has the right to defend freedom and the ideals and values that make America a beacon for many around the world.

Indeed, the author is also one of sixty signatories of "What We're Fighting For," which is included as an appendix to this book. This document explores some of these core values and the right of a democratic nation to celebrate those values as well as defend them, when necessary.

Segments of this volume examine the political realism of Tillich and Niebuhr, and lay out the doctrine of just war as elaborated by Augustine, Aquinas and others. Augustine said that tranquillitas ordinis, or ordinary civic peace, was the primary responsibility which a government must provide. Without secure civic order, none of the basic human goods that people aspire to can flourish.

Thus a just government will protect its people from internal anarchy and outward threats. And one of the greatest outward threats that Western nations face today comes from terrorists and fanatics, often associated with Islamic extremism. What happened on September 11 2001 was not the first of such assaults, but it was the most glaring and horrific. September 11 put the world on notice that there is a clash of civilisations underway, as Samuel Huntington has phrased it.

Those nations that value human dignity, religious freedom, and democratic polity are pitted against those who hate such values and want them eliminated altogether. The Osama bin Ladens of the world do not just want Western nations to withdraw to a small part of the globe, but they want them exterminated. We need to take the words of these fanatics at face value. When they say they hate what we represent and want to see us overrun by the rule of a theocratic Islam, they mean it. They have openly proclaimed that they are involved in holy war, and that their cause is right.

As such, free nations have a moral and civil obligation to withstand these terrorists and prevent them from implementing their agenda. It is neither Christian nor responsible to appease such opponents, nor seek to pretend that such threats do not exist. Loving your neighbour includes protecting them from harm and maintaining their dignity as human beings. Terrorists do not respect the democratic ideals nor the Christian virtues. Therefore a just war against terrorism is in order, and one does not have to have grave moral misgivings about it. To withstand the enemies of freedom and democracy is both a right and an obligation.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Air & Space Power Journal, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2005. The length of the article is 1115 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Just War against Terror: The Burden of American Power in a Violent World.(Book Review)
Author: Christopher Toner
Publication: Air & Space Power Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Page: 117(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Just War Against Terror: The Burden of American Power in a Violent World.(Book Review): An article from: Journal of Church and State

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Just War Against Terror: The Burden of American Power in a Violent World.(Book Review): An article from: Journal of Church and State
J. Daryl Charles
Manufacturer: J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Journal of Church and State, published by J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State on March 22, 2004. The length of the article is 631 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Just War Against Terror: The Burden of American Power in a Violent World.(Book Review)
Author: J. Daryl Charles
Publication: Journal of Church and State (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2004
Publisher: J.M. Dawson Studies in Church and State
Volume: 46 Issue: 2 Page: 407(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Just War against Terror: the Burden of American Power in a Violent World.: An article from: Ethics & International Affairs

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Just War against Terror: the Burden of American Power in a Violent World.: An article from: Ethics & International Affairs
John Langan
Manufacturer: Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Ethics & International Affairs, published by Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs on April 1, 2004. The length of the article is 1253 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Just War against Terror: the Burden of American Power in a Violent World.
Author: John Langan
Publication: Ethics & International Affairs (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2004
Publisher: Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs
Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Page: 101(2)

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THE MYSTERY AND MIRACLE OF HUMMINGBIRDS
Unknown
Manufacturer: TERRELL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SBU8YY

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Mystery and Miracle of Hummingbirds
Smith-Southwestern Inc
Manufacturer: Smith-Southwestern Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Nature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1562744216

Book Description

Mystery and Miracle of Hummingbirds-a 32 page pictorial guide of nine different species of hummingbirds.

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the Mystery and Miracle of Hummingbirds
Norma Lee Browning
Manufacturer: Terrell Publishing Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MAZJ86

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