Super Short Summary

Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac follows Ray Smith, a beat writer in his thirties, who travels to Berkeley, California, where he meets Japhy Ryder, a Zen Buddhist enthusiast and mountain climber. Together, they bond over their love for nature, poetry, and Buddhist philosophy. Ray leads an ascetic life exploring spirituality, often through meditation, solitude, and hitchhiking across America. The book contains depictions of substance use and intimate relationships.