The Dharma Bums Audiobook, by Jack Kerouac Play Audiobook Sample

The Dharma Bums Audiobook

The Dharma Bums Audiobook, by Jack Kerouac Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Ethan Hawke Publisher: Penguin Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.83 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.63 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: February 2020 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780593165270

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

37

Longest Chapter Length:

23:25 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

05 seconds

Average Chapter Length:

11:47 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

26

Other Audiobooks Written by Jack Kerouac: > View All...

Publisher Description

Jack Kerouac’s classic novel about friendship, the search for meaning, and the allure of nature First published in 1958, a year after On the Road put the Beat Generation on the map, The Dharma Bums stands as one of Jack Kerouac's most powerful and influential novels. The story focuses on two ebullient young Americans--mountaineer, poet, and Zen Buddhist Japhy Ryder, and Ray Smith, a zestful, innocent writer--whose quest for Truth leads them on a heroic odyssey, from marathon parties and poetry jam sessions in San Francisco's Bohemia to solitude and mountain climbing in the High Sierras.

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"good stuff. paints a very human portrait of kerouac, whom i had previously just viewed as a literary god. there isn't a ton of depth here, and the prose does get clunky sometimes, but there are times when it truly accomplishes the simplistic, beautiful truth it sets out to convey."

— Charlie (4 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “A vivid evocation of a part of our time.”

    — New York Post
  • “In his often brilliant descriptions of nature one is aware of exhilarating power and originality…The entire cast of characters is presented with that not unrefreshing blend of naivete and sophistication that seems to be this author’s forte.”

    — New York Times
  • “The Dharma Bums, with its mystical, environmental, and cultural messages, is a meaningful and relevant piece.”

    — Library Journal

Awards

  • A Booklist Pick of Audiobooks of the Month

The Dharma Bums Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 3.68421052631579 out of 53.68421052631579 out of 53.68421052631579 out of 53.68421052631579 out of 53.68421052631579 out of 5 (3.68)
5 Stars: 12
4 Stars: 10
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 6
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 (4.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 1
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 (5.00)
5 Stars: 1
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Story Rating: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    — Asaya Everson, 3/31/2017
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " As good or better than "On The Road." Not to be missed. Just as insightful. "

    — Patrick, 2/20/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I may have liked this book even more than On the Road. Kerouac's life and adventures are so sparsely described and his characters are all guys that I so want to know. Let me climb a mountain with you, Jack! "

    — Maxey, 2/7/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I sometimes dream of running around a fire naked like Japhy Ryder. :) It'd be so liberating. My favorite book. Changed my life. "

    — Obornys, 1/29/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Nice short read, i liked this more than On The Road. Less action but more introspection, and an obviously flawed but very personal view of buddhism. more than anything, this book just made me want to go hiking or camping. a book that makes me want to do something is always good. "

    — Alexandra, 1/26/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " monkey mind at its best. a cultural meme -- time, place, people, ideas. he gets all the zen terms correct but his applications in this work don't seem to hold (for this reader). nonetheless, there are some ideas worth gleaning. but overall, it's about the "summer of free love" where women are sex objects and the cutting edge ideas of dharma have folded into the daily routine of 2012. "

    — Maggie, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Less scattered then ON the Road, but the thoughts and ideas it deals with are more fleshed out, and was an absolute pleasure to read "

    — Emily, 1/5/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " I'm listening to this book as I commute from Marin to Berkeley and it links me to the early days of beat and buddhism "

    — Cynthia, 1/3/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " This book is amazing. Every sentence pulses with beauty and truth. The characters are beautiful, especially Japhy. It's wiser than On the Road, and it made a bigger impact on me. I got a lot out of this book. "

    — Ara, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Go away, thieves of the mind! "

    — bob_slocum, 12/9/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Nicely flowing well pictured story but I wouldn't read it twice "

    — Tiina, 12/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " I found The Dharma Bums on the coffee table in our house a couple of months ago -- my teenage son was checking out Kerouac. I'd read it back in the day ... was lukewarm about it then and now. The man was troubled. "

    — KathyC, 11/20/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " An amazing adventure story best read before the age of 25. Kerouac's slippery understanding of Buddhism is a bore, but his love of life propels this book through the wild nature and the '50s counterculture of the west coast. "

    — Harry, 11/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Loved the Gary Snyder connection. "

    — Mary, 11/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " It was a recommended book I read in 2002 so my memory of it isnt so great. I did like the zen ideal in the story. Kerouac is such a vivid writer and his search away from people was introspective. "

    — Matt, 10/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " BV puts this as one of her favourite books. But... I almost didn't finish it. It was fun enough, and some of the writing was quite beautiful. But I found it rather empty, although I am tempted to say "vacuous" instead of empty. And dissipative. "

    — Guy, 9/29/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Better than "on the road" "

    — Todd, 9/7/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Fun to read this again -- yikes it's been 20 years? "

    — MM, 3/30/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5

    " Too much bum, not enough dharma. "

    — Joan, 1/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " What can you say, either you love Kerouac's style or you don't. I appreciate his story, his passion and his freedom to discover life. I've read it before and I'll probably read it again in another 20 years. "

    — Brent, 11/20/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Gave Kerouac a second chance some 20 years after reading On The Road. Still not for me. "

    — Jason, 9/18/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " nice view of Gary Snyder - but Kerouac's trip up the mountain is sad... "

    — Geoffrey, 6/28/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Took some time to get used Kerouac's style but once you do it is am excellent read. One of my favorites, simply a joy to read and reread. My favorite Kerouac. "

    — Joseph, 4/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Interesting, but not my cup of tea. "

    — Linda, 11/4/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " It read a lot better when I was 22. "

    — John, 10/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " 63% Kerouac's bullshit, 37% fascinating cultural artifact. "

    — Ariel, 6/18/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Found this book very entertaining and it is what has sparked an interest into meditation for me. "

    — Steven, 5/22/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not the Road, but a good book all the same. "

    — Anthony, 5/9/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Even beggining to talk about this book is challenging. While stumbling on a cosmic truth does not entirelly suits the universal balance, self-induced illumination has got buddha nature. Nirvana can arrive at any time, and then, we'll throw in one hellu'va party. "

    — Donnie, 5/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " Vintage Kerouac. He is happy and free and it continually makes you want to enter his world. "

    — Nate, 5/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " In a very real sense, this book can save your soul. "

    — Richard, 5/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " Major influence on my life. "

    — Frank, 4/26/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " While I wasn't hooked on Kerouac from On The Road, I throughly enjoyed The Dharma Bums. A great read. After this book I'm ready to be a bum the rest of my life. "

    — Ashley, 4/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " I read this book twice in the span of only (maybe) six months. That is all I need to say. I look forward to future readings. "

    — Andrew, 4/10/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5

    " What can I say...I just can't get enough of Kerouac and each time I enter with hesitancy, I become drawn in. "

    — Clay, 4/10/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5

    " Not my favourite Jack Kerouac. Although I liked the writing style (a typical Kerouac style) I wasn't fond of the religious over tones. "

    — Ashleigh, 4/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5

    " Get out of the woods. It's not hard. "

    — Caelyn, 3/27/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5

    " The mature "on the road", where Kerouac turns his gaze inward, but still likes the wine. "

    — Zoo, 3/25/2011

About Jack Kerouac

Jack Kerouac (1922–1969) was an American novelist and poet who influenced generations of writers. He is recognized for his style of spontaneous prose and for being a pioneer of the Beat Generation. His first novel appeared in 1950, but it was On the Road, published in 1957, that epitomized the beat philosophy to the world. This novel created a sensation by chronicling a spontaneous and wandering way of life in a style that seemed founded both on jazz and on drug-induced visions. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, he attended local Catholic schools and eventually Columbia University. He published eighteen novels and several collections of his poetry. 

About Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke is an Academy Award­–nominated actor, author, and director. He studied acting at the British Theatre Association in England and at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. His motion picture credits include Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, Great Expectations, and Snow Falling on Cedars, among many others.