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jemerevoltedoncnoussommes's review against another edition
2.0
Kerouac's dense eulogy of Siddhartha Gautama, this book sums up everything I love and hate about religion; magic, conceit, blind trust, naïveté, misogyny, group think, battles between good and evil, philosophical musings on the nature of the cosmos, and the eventual hope of deliverance which promises a simple answer to the question: How should I live my life?
Judging from his demeanor on these pages the Buddha would not last 5 minutes in today's woke reality scape. The dramatic assassination attempts on his life by his jealous cousin was news to me, though, as were the sobering images of him walking the neighboring villages cupping his begging bowl.
The book climaxes in a heated exchange between the Buddha and (the good cousin) Ananda, who is reprimanded for meandering on the Way with long winded arguments on the nature of everything.
Kerouac has written far better books than this, and anyone semi-versed in the life of the Buddha will find little, if anything, new here. I recommend going to the Dharma Bums instead, since at least there we find bubbles of life, people, imperfection, doubt, insecurity, hope, silliness - the beat of life, rather than the beat of the thumping heart in a silent forest - and last, but not least, Kerouac's own frail attempts at portraying a wretched life lived to its fullest in the puzzling turmoil of existence.
Judging from his demeanor on these pages the Buddha would not last 5 minutes in today's woke reality scape. The dramatic assassination attempts on his life by his jealous cousin was news to me, though, as were the sobering images of him walking the neighboring villages cupping his begging bowl.
The book climaxes in a heated exchange between the Buddha and (the good cousin) Ananda, who is reprimanded for meandering on the Way with long winded arguments on the nature of everything.
Kerouac has written far better books than this, and anyone semi-versed in the life of the Buddha will find little, if anything, new here. I recommend going to the Dharma Bums instead, since at least there we find bubbles of life, people, imperfection, doubt, insecurity, hope, silliness - the beat of life, rather than the beat of the thumping heart in a silent forest - and last, but not least, Kerouac's own frail attempts at portraying a wretched life lived to its fullest in the puzzling turmoil of existence.
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
3.0
This was a tad more dense than I expected for Kerouac. Having just come off of Dharma Bums, I guess I was looking for a bit more of a beat vibe to his interpretation of Gautama Buddha's life. Instead, it's a pretty thorough (and well told/well researched) biography.
Well done, just not quite what I expected. Sorta hoping for a bit more of that 'into the mystic' wordplay that Jack is capable of, but he treated this story with a reverence that belies some of his more freestyle writing.
Well done, just not quite what I expected. Sorta hoping for a bit more of that 'into the mystic' wordplay that Jack is capable of, but he treated this story with a reverence that belies some of his more freestyle writing.
moviebuffkt's review against another edition
1.0
just wasn't doing anything for me, and i couldn't concentrate on it.
kfrench1008's review against another edition
4.0
Distilled from other sources, but it has the exuberance of the youthful Kerouac.
dandreamelissa's review against another edition
2.0
I learned I'm not a very spiritual person based on this book. Felt very catholic though about Buddha, and was not impressed with how women were treated as quite lesser. Whether this is a reflection of Kerouac's or societies push on to Buddhism I don't know.
ajkane's review against another edition
1.0
I'm not entirely sure what I've just read but I know I definitely didn't like it. Wouldn't have bothered finishing it if it wasn't the only book in my bag at work.