Never before published in Kerouac s lifetime, this 1955 biography of the founder of Buddhism is a clear and powerful study of Siddartha Gautama s life and works. Wake Up recounts the story of Prince Siddhartha s royal upbringing and his father s wish to protect him from all human suffering, despite a prediction that he would become a great holy man in later life. Departing from his father's palace, Siddhartha adopts a homeless life, struggles with his meditations, and eventually finds Enlightenment. Written at the end of Kerouac s career, when he became increasingly interested in Buddhist teachings, and collected for the first time in one book, this fresh and accessible biography is both an important addition to Kerouac s work and a valuable introduction to the world of Buddhism itself.