Dan's review
The Dharma Bums
by Jack Kerouac
Don't you think every individual here on Earth is torn between "good" and "bad"? Some people are better than others in self-control. I give Kerouac credit for at least having the curiosity to think. Everyone is a saint and an a-hole, brilliant and dull.
Also --- you think only "white people...." should be recommended to read this particular book? I am never sure why people like yourself are so ready to expose their racism and high personal levels of narrow mindedness! Yikes!
Chill dude, it was a joke, on account of that I am a white person who is interested in Buddhism...
Dan's review
The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac
Dan's review
rating:
recommended for: white people interested in buddhism, beatniks, hippies, and loud mouthed malcontents
This is my favorite Kerouac Book. I would also venture that this book might be the best thing to come out of the dirty beatniks.
First I want to be very clear that I think Jack Kerouac is an a-hole. Crude? Yes, but simply true and it begs to be called out. He is a bad person. He was a womanizing, alcoholic, tramp who was trying to be good. He is a bad person with amazing writing skills, and that is why his books are so popular.
This book was interesting to me in many regards:
1) As a portrayal of a westerner (coming from the more traditional period of the first half of the 20th century) who was trying to study and practice Buddhism. As a westerner interested in Buddhism myself, in many ways I found it to be a more relevant text than translated Sutras.
2) As a period peace from the beats. And by extension the precursor to the 60s cultural revolution.
3) As the story of an unfocused and bad person who was trying to be focused and good.
4) As a classic American nov...more
First I want to be very clear that I think Jack Kerouac is an a-hole. Crude? Yes, but simply true and it begs to be called out. He is a bad person. He was a womanizing, alcoholic, tramp who was trying to be good. He is a bad person with amazing writing skills, and that is why his books are so popular.
This book was interesting to me in many regards:
1) As a portrayal of a westerner (coming from the more traditional period of the first half of the 20th century) who was trying to study and practice Buddhism. As a westerner interested in Buddhism myself, in many ways I found it to be a more relevant text than translated Sutras.
2) As a period peace from the beats. And by extension the precursor to the 60s cultural revolution.
3) As the story of an unfocused and bad person who was trying to be focused and good.
4) As a classic American nov...more
Don't you think every individual here on Earth is torn between "good" and "bad"? Some people are better than others in self-control. I give Kerouac credit for at least having the curiosity to think. Everyone is a saint and an a-hole, brilliant and dull.
Also --- you think only "white people...." should be recommended to read this particular book? I am never sure why people like yourself are so ready to expose their racism and high personal levels of narrow mindedness! Yikes!
Chill dude, it was a joke, on account of that I am a white person who is interested in Buddhism...