John Kerouac

The Dharma Bums

Jack Kerouac

During the 1950s the search for Buddhist truths takes two young Bohemians through a series of bizarre experiences in California

Sarah Sammis

The Dharma Bums was published the year after On the Road and like its predecessor is a semi-autobiographical novel. Where On the Road focuses on the city scene and the wild parties Beat Generation, Dharma Bums goes out to the countryside in search of peace, tranquility and enlightenment.

The Dharma Bums has all the charm, irreverence and wackiness of On the Road. It has train hopping, Chinese poetry in Berkeley, Buddhism in the Sierras, enlightenment in the snow and self imposed isolation in the Cascades. Over the course of these adventures, Ray Smith (the stand-in for Kerouac) grows as a character, finding peace in the simple quiet moments of life, preferring to sleep in a gully or live in a shack than partying in the big noisy cities he has fled from.

Except for the long and drawn out going away party for Japhy Ryder (inspired by poet Gary Snyder), I loved the book. The last fifty pages or so drag a bit, as if Kerouac was reluctant to reach the natural end of his story.

Published just one year after "On The Road", this is the story of two men enganged in a passionate search for Dharma or truth. Their major adventure is the pursuit of the Zen Way, which takes them climbing into the High Sierras to seek the lesson of solitude.

désirée

didn’t find this all that profound, felt exactly like on the road.

John Nettles

I am reminded of Truman Capote's critique of Kerouac's freestyle, on-the-fly method of banging out whatever came into his mind onto a typewriter: "That's not writing, that's typing." The Dharma Bums is an interesting peering into an eccentric group of young friends immersed in Buddhism in various capacities. The book, like the religion, is often written as if in mysterious koans, which one is supposed to draw wisdom and significance from, well, somewhere. 

Overall, Kerouac noodles around in his buddhist adventure, but since he's not hitchhiking from New Orleans to San Francisco this time, the reading just isn't as compelling.

Library Edition

Joshua Line

bum tiddy bum - as an account, this works. i'm still constantly amazed at what went on during the late 1950's.

Alfredo santos

all time favorite. loved it from the beginning. run free, feel free, think free.. gave me a sense of unimaginable freedom in a recent era, where non mainstreamism nor capitalism rules apply

Donald

Trash. The only part of this worth reading is the bit when they climb and run down the mountain.

Cola

Overall I love Kerouac's rambling story telling style, as well as his descriptions of San Francisco and hiking through the pacific northwest. 

But much like when I read On The Road, I can't get over how douchey best friend character to Kerouac. At one point he mentions Japhy being unable to sleep with a particular woman unless he got her good and drunk. Often it seemed like they used the idea of Buddhism to be dick heads and attempt to cover it up with them simply being enlightened.

John Balek

After reading On The Road last month I thought Dharma Bums would be the next logical step in my journey through Kerouac's bibliography. I would describe Dharma Bums as a "spiritual boy scout troop". Honestly this subject matter was more relatable to me than that of On The Road but still I would have to say it felt lacking in comparison to On The Road. The thrill that Kerouac can capture in his writing wasn't as present here and it lead to a book that, while enjoyable, felt less impactful.

Andrea Badgley

Jack Kerouac just doesn't do it for me. I've read On the Road and now The Dharma Bums, and as much as I try, I don't like his style, his characters, or his ego. I find myself gritting my teeth because Kerouac and/or his characters are so much cooler-than-thou, so much more-enlighted-than-thou, so "look how hip I am." His characters strut around with attitudes of I've got all the answers and look at all these poor losers who don't know as much as I do, who don't have it all figured out like I do. Women only make appearances as decoration - at parties and for sex - for the man-boys of the books to use when they want for what they want. Women do not come on the scene as poets, philosophers, Buddhists, or nature-lovers; they appear only as bodies, not minds.

As I read The Dharma Bums, I kept hoping for a character arc. I kept hoping for the protagonist, Ray, to find humility, for the man-boy to transform into a man. I saw no growth, though, only more of his own conviction that he was awesome and he had it all figured out, and I finished the book just as annoyed with him as I was in the beginning.

Michael Bowman

Adam Scharf

Ella Domenger

ame 

Ofer Halevi

Aske Dørge

THE DHARMA BUMS appeared just one year after the author's explosive ON THE ROAD had put the Beat Generation on the literary map and Kerouac on the best-seller list. The same expansiveness, humour and contagious zest for life that sparked the earlier novels sparks this one too, but through a more cohesive story. The books follow two young men engaged in a passionate search for dharma or truth. Their major adventure is the pursuit of the Zen way, which takes them climbing into the high sierras to seek the lesson of solitude. With an Introduction by Kerouac expert, Ann Douglas.

The Dharma Bums

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