Dharma Punx
by Noah Levine

This column's a few days late b/c I picked up Dharma Punx from the library and it took me a few days to read it.

So, it's Saturday night, 9pm, and I'm home trying to make a few other deadlines.....and trying to clear my conscience of my Cherry Bleeds responsibilities......24 oz Budweiser ($1.89 from the liquor store around the corner) on my desk next to my notes and my list of assignments.

I immediately connected with Dharma Punx.  As a teen in the 80's I was an elitist music snob....if it wasn't punk rock I wasn't interested.....I dreamt of having a Black Flag tattoo on my neck one day like my hero Henry Rollins.......damn, I'm being self obsessed tonite, let me get to the book.

Noah got into drugs really early...8 or 9 years old if I remember right.  From there he got into the punk rock scene in Santa Cruz and into harder drugs.  He landed himself in Juvi a few times, ripped off his family and friends to feed his addictions which included crack, heroine and cocaine.

After a failed suicide attempt Noah starts a 12 step program and a search for spirituality.

The beginning of the book brought back memories of punk shows, my first slam pit and the anticipation while waiting in line for a show that would shake my stomach up.

About halfway through the book, I was going to put it down and go, OK, I get it, you're a buddhist now, but then he takes a very long trip through Asia and that's when the book turns into a travel narrative/self discovery quest part 2.

I recommend this book for two reasons.  One, it's a great re-hash of punk rock and Two, Noah's message is inspiring.

You can purchase the book through the Dharma Punx website.

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