Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady, Allen Ginsberg and William Burroughs formed the spine of the Beat Generation and its inception, which ultimately inspired the cultural formation of the Beatniks, the San Fransisco Poets, and the hippie movements of the 60s. The 'Beat' generation stemmed from a post-war awareness of materialism and death, and this mindset reflected itself in the abandonment of mainstream ideals by its central figures. The writings of these literary ground-breakers awakened the social and cultural psyche to sexuality, jazz music, drugs, and a whole new take on living that was first shunned, and then embraced. On the Road by Jack Kerouac is a story that fills the spirit with recklessness, the heart with a wild longing for travel, and the mind with dreams of freedom. Sal Paradise (based on Kerouac himself) follows the Neal-Cassady inspired Dean Moriarty across the country and through classic Beat kicks: heroin, Benzedrine, bebop jazz, Mexico, sexual exploits, and ultimately a zest for life that encapsulates the soul of Moriarty, and the essence of the Beat Generation itself. ( )

I read this book a little too late in life probably. Maybe if I read it about 15 years ago fresh out of high school, I would have been struck with wonder - and wanderlust. But, I found my own road with that over time anyway. Not as extreme as Sal and Dean, but I'm still happy with the choices and where things delivered me.

Anyway, on with the book - I think that this would be worth a read again because I came across a lot of symbolism and it didn't seem to be hidden - so an easy read you can feel smart about... ( )

Another book that is best read in high school. ( )

romanzo cult del '57. Emblema dello spirito vagabondo. Letto oggi non mi entusiasma anzi direi piuttosto noioso. Non riesco a finirlo. ( )

Autobiografische fictie over een zwerftocht per auto door de Verenigde Staten van een stel jongeren, die van de ene orgie naar de andere gaan. Op dit boek is ook de film 'Easy Rider' gebaseerd; echter deze jongeren, waaronder Jack Nicholson en de zoon van Henry Fonda reisden per motor, Harley Davidson, door de USA. ( )