The Dharma Bums

About “The Dharma Bums”

The Dharma Bums is a 1958 novel by Jack Kerouac, part of the Beat Generation. It features Ray Smith, a character based on Kerouac himself, and Japhy Ryder, modeled after poet Gary Snyder, who introduced Kerouac to Buddhism. The story explores the contrast between Kerouac's love for nature—through hiking, mountaineering, and the outdoors—and his urban life filled with jazz, poetry, and partying. The novel reflects his search for a Buddhist perspective on his experiences and those of others. It influenced the 1960s counterculture movement.