Legions of youthful Americans have taken "On the Road" as a manifesto for rebellion and an inspiration to hit the road. But there is much more to the book than that. In "Why Kerouac Matters", John Leland embarks on a wry, insightful and playful discussion of the novel, arguing that it still matters because it lays out an alternative road map to growing up. Along the way, Leland overturns many misconceptions about "On the Road" as he examines the lessons that Kerouac's alter ego, Sal Paradise, absorbs and dispenses on his novelistic journey to manhood, and how those lessons - about work and money, love and sex, art and holiness - still reverberate today.

About the Author
John Leland is a reporter for The New York Times. He lives in New York City.


Book Information
ISBN 9780143114376
Author John Leland
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 173g
Dimensions(mm) 194mm * 130mm * 15mm