[1][2] The book is a collection of writings about Thompson's past that focuses on the theme of rebellion against authority.

Many of the stories are placed in the context of the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and its emphasis on heightened police and military operations.

[3] The book seems to begin as memoir or an autobiography, but rapidly devolves into numerous fragmented accounts of Thompson's exploits which could be termed as a type of Gonzo biography.

However, some continuity does exist throughout the work, for example, the "Witness" segments, dealing with Gail Palmer's sexual assault lawsuit against Thompson, appearing once every section in roughly the same area.

In particular, he habitually uses the following alterations: Thompson also used this style in the contemporary Hey Rube: Blood Sport, the Bush Doctrine, and the Downward Spiral of Dumbness.