# The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac

3 Hacker News commenters recommended The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 1 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a favorite Kerouac book, including readers who have read most of his work. No criticism recurs in the quotes.

## Why people recommend it

- Favorite Kerouac book among readers (2 comments): "I can remember that one being my favorite too but I can't remember anything about it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46851451)) "Dharma Bums is my favorite Kerouac book, and I've read most of his." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46850390))
- Recommended by readers of most Kerouac (1 comments): "Dharma Bums is my favorite Kerouac book, and I've read most of his." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46850390))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/crime-and-punishment.md): 39 recommend
- [The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://hackerapproved.com/p/brothers-karamazov.md): 28 recommend
- [Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace](https://hackerapproved.com/p/infinite-jest.md): 26 recommend
- [The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://hackerapproved.com/p/great-gatsby.md): 24 recommend
- [Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand](https://hackerapproved.com/p/atlas-shrugged.md): 23 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0140042520?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780140042528) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac", https://hackerapproved.com/p/dharma-bums/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).