On the Road is a book that's often misread as idolizing the lifestyle in portrays; Kerouac was, in the end, rooted enough (or desperate enough for a root) to understand on some level that Neal Cassidy's lifestyle would leave him sick and alone in Mexico.

Kerouac didn't have a much better way out, of course -- drink -- but anyway. I'm curious as to what it was you despised so much about OtR; the book isn't my cup of tea (I preferred Dharma Bums by far) but never struck me as especially offensive.