What is the best Jack Kerouac book?

Question

or if they are all good, which one should i read first?

Answer 1

On the Road is definitely the best.

Answer 2

Read "On The Road." It will make you want to jump in a car and just leave the world behind.

In response to Jen's answer, the reason Kerouac's books deal with drunk people and mindless events is because of the time period which Kerouac wrote his books. It was just a sign of the times.

Answer 3

Well, his classic book is "On the Road," and that's probably the best place to start. Honestly, though, I've never read a Kerouac book that just blew me away. Still, people like his work because it exudes a certain "coolness." At any rate, I'd read "On the Road," and then see if you're still interested in reading any others.

Answer 4

On the Road gets all the publicity obviously but I believe Dharma Bums is a better book with characters it is easier to feel empathy for. The distinction of course is that Dharma Bums was written about a single episode whereas On the Rod was actually originally something like nine trips but his publisher made him combine all the best bits because it rambled too much. I find the result is a pastiche of characters without the bones. He also wrote a good little group of short stories called lonesome traveller which has a bit of the background for the other stories plus some extras. Visions of Cody is meant to be quite good but I've never read it, so is Pic

Answer 5

Tristessa! Its short, sweet, and revealing. Its Jack writing about what is happening in his mind while he is sitting in a dark room on a bad chair in Mexico City for some time. Also desperately seeking love and meaning in a dirty, boring civilization. William Burroughs stops by as well.

Answer 6

IMO Dharma Bums is the best, but the most popular is probably On the Road

Answer 7

they're not good at all, they have no plot, just a series of mindless events and drunken people