Jack Kerouac's On the Road is one of the most famous works produced by a so-called "beat" writer—one of a group of nonconformists who shocked many of their contemporaries not only because of the works they produced but also because of the lives they lived. Initially attacked for its celebration of seemingly free-spirited attitudes and behavior, On the Road has been increasingly criticized lately for its allegedly outdated views, especially involving women. This volume examines, among many other topics, why On the Road remained popular for decades after it was published, and why it has been the target of strong criticism, and how that criticism has changed, over the years.