Wayward Angel: The Full Story Of The Hells Angels

Good book

This is a good book

Unlike Yves Levigne, who denegrates the Hells Angels in every book he writes, yet makes a ton of money doing it without having the cajones to live it, George was an OG in the Hells Angels. I remember reading in the papers when he jammed pencils in his eyes in penitance for his turning state's evidence. But, whether you agree with his actions(turning states evidence) or disagree(because you don't rat out your friends), the fact remains George lived it, which only an Angel can do. There are some pro's and con's considering everyone wants to put their best foot forward. But, it is fairly written in that he doesn't try to hide too much about his actions or the club's. A very interesting read for those who would like to know more about the early days of the Hells Angels.

George Wethern may appear to be "coming clean" in this book, but just like in every book written by ex-OMG'ers, the bravado as he describes his days with the HAMC is a bit of a turn-off. As Sonny Barger used to say, "Why do they lie about us? The truth is bad enough." Well, neither Sonny nor George seems capable of just laying it out there for us to see in some un-trumped-up manner. At least Sonny's books don't purport to be tell-alls. What is Wethern's excuse? This book really fell apart at the end. Wethern took a wrong turn. Rather than talking at length about the details of his cooperation with authorities, and his feelings about his "ex-brothers" as well as their feelings for him, he spends little time on it. Instead, we are treated to page upon page of trailer park-esque writings between him and his wife. Who cares? I also believe that the book was not particularly well edited. Still, this is sort of a landmark writing because it blows a little lustre off the mystique, and there is not a lot out there by ex-insiders that purports to tell any truth. I do recommend "Under and Alone" by William Queen if you want a little more honesty about what it's like "inside." As for Wethern's being a "rat", the people in question were all criminals to some degree anyway, so why get hung up on that? I do like the brotherhood aspect of OMGs and I am not particularly fond of rats, but there are reasons why George turned. Wethern was not the only one to not live up to the "brotherhood" ideal.

If you’re in a true crime, this is a good book. I would recommend it. Reddit cover the cover and even loaned it out.

I have read this book and it portrays the "boys" as they really were in the early days! Hey, a guys got to do what a guys got to do to make a living in the world! Of course, there are people out there that don't understand what it's like to be or feel like an outcast and then be accepted by others without question!... and they're most likely the ones who will criticize this book! Some of these guys came from poorer areas and some not so poor but still felt unaccepted by mainstream society. A lot were rejected for their participation in the Vietnam War and others for their views of the world. Where else were they to go? Maybe your house in the "burbs" for the weekend? George Wethern expressed his views of the everyday life in the Club of the 1960's. It appears that some of the acitivities done during this time peroid were done out of the necessity of building and estabilishing the structure of the club including the way opposition was dealt with. It's the same for all businesses who are trying to estabilish themselves. Hey, how many bodies have other big businesses buried in their growing years and haven't been discovered as of yet?

Back in the late seventies or early eighties (can't remember which) when this originally came out, we all went down to Delaurer's bookstore on Broadway back home in Oakland.A number of ladies whose significant others were in the local chapters were there buying up every copy they could so the public wouldn't have any insight into the club and it's workings.Reason I mention it is that books on famous clubs are all over the place, Ralph has gone to Cave Creek and is now a best selling author etc..Bill Queen did two years with the Mongols and now gets his own movie..If you're biker history buff and want the real story on the Oakland chapter, then this in combination with "Hells Angel" would be the best choice. Leave the rest for the RUBS and Johnny come lately wannabes and their softtails.

He writes from his personal experience as a Hell’s Angel. Chronicles the 1960’s mostly so decades ago. I hoped for something more current.

Before this book, I had read Hunter S Thompson's and Sonny Barger's accounts of the HAMC over the same period. Utterly compelling and gripping throughout. To say, of the three, that this was the best book for me would be to ignore the importance of the other two contributions to my wider understanding of the 20 year period covered - an era I was merely growing-up in. I'd heard of the Hell's Angels but had no idea of their background or impact over that period. I also found myself looking up the cities and streets mentioned in the book to somehow make some of the places more real and to understand the scale and distances covered - so it was a geography lesson too! But overall Methern's book was really hard to put down. Don't expect to laugh more then once or twice, or find any glamour - this is a hard-punching book about a culture born in the '50's that came of age in the '60's and '70's to brutal and devastating effect. I wonder what Mick Jagger made of his HAMC experience.....

My husband, not being a book lover as I am…I decided to take the opportunity and order this book for him. He prefers everything about bikers, golf and billiards. So happy I was able to get this book in time for Father’s Day ✅

A rather boring book, without one photo

Un libro davvero interessante, ben scritto e coinvolgente. Pur contenendo alcuni punti discutibili o non del tutto condivisibili, offre uno spaccato autentico sulle origini, le motivazioni e gli eventi che hanno segnato la nascita e l’evoluzione di uno degli MC più noti al mondo. Per avere una visione più completa e bilanciata, ho deciso di leggere anche la “controparte” scritta da Sonny Barger, così da poter confrontare i diversi punti di vista e interpretazioni. Lo consiglio vivamente a chi è curioso di avvicinarsi al mondo della cultura motociclistica e desidera una prima conoscenza sulle sue dinamiche interne.

I am in the three-quarters of the reading of this book and I can said that, if you are into motorcycle and mc groups, this book is a must-have. Yes. it talks about choppers, women, guns, booze and drug traffiching, what else you want?