On the Road
On the Road
Jack Kerouac
Ev Williams
On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.
Walter Isaacson
Read [this book]. - Walter Isaacson
Steve Jobs
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
Lex Fridman
Lex Fridman mentioned this book on Instagram.
Bob Dylan
It changed my life like it changed everyone else’s. - Bob Dylan
+
6
All books

On the Road

On the Road

Jack Kerouac
By
Jack Kerouac
3.6
20293
ratings on Goodreads

In the throes of post-war America, Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" unfolds as a seminal odyssey that captures the soul of a generation hungry for freedom and authenticity. Through the eyes of Sal Paradise, Kerouac's alter ego, we ride shotgun on an exhilarating journey across the vast American landscape—from the jazz-filled nights of New York City to the somber beauty of the California coast, and every dive bar and desert in between. Alongside the enigmatic and exuberant Dean Moriarty, Sal seeks not just the thrill of the open road, but a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly alive in an era of uncertainty and change. Kerouac's masterpiece is more than a mere travelogue; it's a vibrant tapestry of friendship, passion, and adventure, woven together with lyrical prose that pulsates with the rhythms of jazz itself. "On the Road" transcends its own narrative to become a beacon of the Beat Generation, capturing the restless spirit of those who dared to challenge the conventions of their time. It's a story of yearning and discovery, shining a light on the cracks in the American dream and celebrating the beauty found in the moments between. Kerouac invites us to take a seat beside him, to lose ourselves in the whirlwind of experiences, and ultimately, to find our own path on the road less traveled.

Read more
Released
1957
5 Sep
Length
307
Pages

6

recommendations

recommendation

It changed my life like it changed everyone else’s. - Bob Dylan
Lex Fridman mentioned this book on Instagram.
Opened up the ecstatic beauty of life’s little moments to me as a teenager. - Josh Waitzkin
Read [this book]. - Walter Isaacson
Daniel Kottke said he and Steve Jobs definitely read this book prior to the India trip.
On the "books read" section of Ev Williams' GoodReads profile.
[...]the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!
— Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Similar recommendations

View all
Atlas Shrugged
23
people
person
The Alchemist
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho
18
people
person
Siddhartha
Siddhartha
Hermann Hesse
16
people
person
Snow Crash
Snow Crash
Neal Stephenson
15
people
person
1984
1984
George Orwell
14
people
person
The Fountainhead
14
people
person
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina
Leo Tolstoy
11
people
person
Crime and Punishment
Crime and Punishment
Fyodor Dostoevsky
10
people
person
Brave New World
Brave New World
Aldous Huxley
10
people
person
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
10
people
person

This site is part of Amazon’s Associates Program. Purchasing books recommended by successful individuals through my links earns us a small commission, helping keep the site running, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our site!