Liam Riley PO ‘26 discusses “Desolation Angels” by Jack Kerouac, a bout with severe sleep deprivation and altitude sickness climbing Mount Whitney, as well as the nature of reality. He also includes some motivation to read more.
Tag: Jack Kerouac
Inscriptions: Terror and beauty in Big Sur
Liam Riley PO ’26 returns with his weekly column. In this rendition, he explores Jack Kerouac’s slide into alcoholic psychosis. Riley explores Kerouac’s ideas in conjunction with his own, coming to the conclusion that discovering ultimate truth can spring from a deep dissatisfaction with everyday reality.

