by Jack Kerouac
First published 1958
Ray Smith, a Zen-inspired wanderer, roams the mountains and cities of the 1950s West. He hitchhikes, communes with nature, and debates Buddhism with his iconoclastic friend Japhy. As their paths diverge, Ray must reconcile his spiritual ideals with the chaos of modern life. A poetic exploration of the search for enlightenment.
Genres: american-fiction, 20th-century, american, adventure, contemporary, buddhism
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: California
Penguin Publishing Group