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Let me start by saying that I honestly think The Dharma Bums is much better than Kerouac's more famous book, On the Road. I first read The Dharma Bums when I was around 20, and it blew my mind � it became one of those books that helped shape my worldview. Now, rereading it, I’ve noticed different things. Like how the main character is pretty much always a little tipsy, and his friends keep pointing it out. Or how he twists Buddhist principles to justify his own actions. But this only adds depth to the text, and now it feels even more profound to me than before.

Kerouac brilliantly describes the search for spiritual enlightenment and freedom, blending Zen Buddhism and Eastern philosophy with the life of American beatniks in the '50s. Gary Snyder, who inspired one of the characters, called it Buddhist anarchism. The characters are all about finding harmony with nature and seeking truth through wandering and meditation. The book captures this vibe of freedom and rebellion against the conventional norms of society.

Kerouac’s writing style is something else � free-flowing, spontaneous, but full of life. After reading just a few pages, you feel this urge to drop everything and head for the mountains, to escape the chaos and find some peace and harmony in the simplicity of nature.