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.