OK, I bought this book for its cover. I mean “Dharma Punx” tattooed on the edge of “praying” hands, how can you not be intrigued by that cover? Well the cover delivered an intriguing book. “Dharma Punx” is the memoirs of Noah Leivine, child of 60’s parents. I am not sure who polices whether something is a memoir or autobiography, but either classification of this book would seem applicable to me. It’s the story of his drug and alcohol addicted childhood and his slow rise to Buddhism adult teacher.

In the first few chapters the phrase “so we stole their weed” appears enough to be comical. But, for me it became the key to understanding. Leivine never blames anyone, but himself, for his drug and alcohol abuse. He gently points out most adults’ failure of character which left an open path to his abuse. The notable adult that doesn’t have “weed to steal” is his father Stephen Leivine. When Leivine hits bottom the one person he reaches out to is his father. Through out the book his father is the go to guy. Slowly, over the course of the book, Leivine find his greatest and single most important teacher in his father.

The book is written in a very flat style. There is little if any simile or metaphor, to describe things and situations. This style brings a certain charm and believability to the book. He describes shooting up heroine and meeting the Dali Lami with about the same enthusiasm. The description of both encounter’s aftermath are described with same style the result is dramatic. This style also prevents the book from get preachy. You learn about how Buddhism and meditation lead him away from his abusive nature. Yet, you would be hard press to explain exactly what Buddhism is after reading this book. The book is more about the possibilities of grace, than the details of grace. Another example of this, is the twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous. Leivine discusses working the twelve steps. What the twelve steps are is never discussed. There is description about the accepting a higher power instead of God, step. There is discussion about making amends step. Never, are the steps outlined and checked off. I don’t even think alcoholics anonymous is actual ever mentioned. There is one exception to this, the basic description of how to start meditating is clearly written out. The simple detailed description stands out making it a key message in the book.

Then there is the Punk rock. Leivine relationship with punk is complex and simple. It is at the root of everything. It is at the escape from rules and hypocrisy of his youth. It is the bedrock of his adult purpose. Punk rock even gets endorsed his Buddhist teachers. There are names of dozen of punk bands. There is even a pretty excellent history of punk rock. If you don’t get punk rock already maybe after reading this book you might just learn to understand it.

I am neither a recovering alcholic nor drug user so I can’t honestly endorse the book for help with those issues. I can recommend it for a compelling read for anyone interested in a story about struggling to be a better person. ( )

Have been wanting to read this for a bit now, mostly because I love punk music and like Levine, feel that I am most connected to that musical form than others (because I grew up with it, maybe?) although by now I like all kinds. Levine traces his life through substance abuse, which started when he was 8, finding solace in punk music and eventually through his spiritual rehabilitation through travel and Buddhism. His desire to connect his love of punk music with his love of Buddhist spirituality culminates in the creation of the "Dharma Punx," a cultural community for people who embrace both Buddhism and punk rock music. A fast read. ( )

It was okay, charming, not mind-blowing. ( )

While this book is a fascinating read, it just didn't quite do it for me. The author describes the antisocial behavior of his street punk years (and earlier) as demands for attention, but I feel he never outgrew that. Even his spiritual search seems, in some senses, to be a search for attention as well, just in a more positive way this time. Perhaps he wrote the book too soon? I enjoyed it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read Hardcore Zen a few weeks prior. Dharma Punx holds up well as a memoir of a punk rocker with spiritual leanings, but not as well as a memoir of someone trying to be a spiritual guide. So it's good, but Hardcore Zen is better. ( )

Rip roaring book about ones quest towards buddhism. ( )