At the time I picked up On the Road, I had been having an extreme desire to travel and see the world. As I got further and further into the story, the desire became a need.

The symbolism at the end of the book that relates back to the most famous quote in this book, broke my heart “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” Dean IS this quote, but all roman candles burn out and so did Dean at the very end. All he was at the end was a sputtering, but beautiful roman candle. When I came to this realization in the last few pages, I began to cry for him.

I highly recommend this to people who want to see the world and have the sudden desire to do so. Five out of five stars.

This story changed my life. I am more determined to see the world than ever, my savings are growing and so is my passion for the world.

While I understand why this book is a classic – it is beautifaully written it is not for me. Perhaps it is more of a mans book? I don't know, I just feel like nothing happens in it.

On the Road is a stream-of-conscious accounting of Kerouac's several aimless wanderings with Cassady. It's listed as fiction, but most people agree it's thinly veiled fact. Jack Kerouac wrote on a single long scroll of paper a rambling account of their infidelities, meanderings, drug use, bigamy, drinking, and general lawlessness. It is am interesting novel about post-WWII men lacking a frontier to conquer. It is about ennui, aimlessness, and the destructive ends that seeking adventure and answers can lead you to. It is also about men making their own odyssey, and it has inspired generations of people to take to travel, to trust the kindness of the road without any destination in mind.