Rating: 
Summary: The message is compassion, and it rocks!
Review: This book pulls no punches. It's a gritty, sometimes heartbreaking look into the downward spiral of a heart filled with disappointment and anger. While reading, I relived some of the darkest, loneliest and most painful memories of my youth. With his transformation and new delight in life, I was lifted up. Noah Levine has an easy charm in writing that makes the journey almost effortless. His story and purpose are inspiration for a disillusioned generation, and those to follow.
Rating:
Summary: Dharma Punx is often Misunderstood
Review: This is a great book for someone in the middle of their journey to discovering their Dharma, but not for someone looking for a "Rocky" type of comeback story. The story starts where most books leave off, when someone has controled their addictions. But, the question the book examines is now that you've managed to control the addiction what do you do now? It's this journey and story that keeps the book from becoming an inspirational cliche.This is a wonderful example of a person's journey in finding their own Dharma. Noah shows us, through his extreme example of his addictions and criminal history, how life can become so hectic that we can't hear ourselves think. It's only when we are able to calm ourselves AND our environment that we can listen to what the universe is trying to tell us. And as Noah shows us, even then the universe doesn't give us clear directions. If you looking for a "How to" book on Dharma, check out Jack Kornfield, Dali Lama, or even Noah's other book "Wide Awake." If you're in the middle of your journey to discover your Dharma and are cofused about the journey, tired of it, or just need some guidance, then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: Dharma Punx is often Misunderstood
Review: This is a great book for someone in the middle of their journey to discovering their Dharma, but not for someone looking for a "Rocky" type of comeback story. The story starts where most books leave off, when someone has controled their addictions. But, the question the book examines is now that you've managed to control the addiction what do you do now? It's this journey and story that keeps the book from becoming an inspirational cliche. This is a wonderful example of a person's journey in finding their own Dharma. Noah shows us, through his extreme example of his addictions and criminal history, how life can become so hectic that we can't hear ourselves think. It's only when we are able to calm ourselves AND our environment that we can listen to what the universe is trying to tell us. And as Noah shows us, even then the universe doesn't give us clear directions. If you looking for a "How to" book on Dharma, check out Jack Kornfield, Dali Lama, or even Noah's other book "Wide Awake." If you're in the middle of your journey to discover your Dharma and are cofused about the journey, tired of it, or just need some guidance, then this book is for you.
Rating:
Summary: A Reminder of Hope
Review: This is not a book meant for people who have lead a life without major trials and hardships. This is not a book meant for people who view spirituality as a fad or a passing interest. This book is about how spirituality helped a troubled boy become a strong and respectable man. I found Dharma Punx to be both inspiring and comforting. If you do not find yourself overcome by emotion and compassion while reading this book you are missing the point completely.
Rating:
Summary: A Reminder of Hope
Review: This is not a book meant for people who have lead a life without major trials and hardships. This is not a book meant for people who view spirituality as a fad or a passing interest. This book is about how spirituality helped a troubled boy become a strong and respectable man. I found Dharma Punx to be both inspiring and comforting. If you do not find yourself overcome by emotion and compassion while reading this book you are missing the point completely.
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Writing and Spiritual Narcissism
Review: Wanted to Love it. Read 40 pages and put it back on the shelf...I was smelling far too much spiritual materialism. Noah may have an interesting story, but he seems way too impressed with it himself. I found myself thinking..."Who Cares?". Hope this book offers something good to others, but it certainly didn't for me. P.S. Cool cover, though.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it
Review: Well, obviously this book had some negative reviews, but that is just typical Noah- Stirrin stuff up...
Basically, this book was a walk through his experiences. It is obvious that rather than egotistical, he spoke truthfully. Personally, i found his writing simple, yet descriptive enough to make me feel like i was there with him. Perhaps because i grew up around many of the same people and places, it was easier for me to relate.
I love Noah. Those who gave the book bad reviews seemed to have missed the point. But I guess everyone can't like everything, or we wouldn't have reviews!!!
Rating:
Summary: A book for anyone.
Review: When I say this is a book for anyone, I mean anyone...people who grew up in the punk/hardcore scene, recovering addicts, buddist, people who meditate, anyone even just interested in another kind of life they have never lived or experienced. Even if you can't relate...this is a book that will open your eyes outside of your life. This book will make you relize no matter what type of crowd or town or lifestyle you grew up with..that life is tough and we all go through hard times and its about learning how to be more in touch with our own life/mind/soul and heart. Like I said, this book is for anyone...even if you would never understand someone shaving their head and dying their hair, going too a punk show..its about a life that someome had to live and that they accutally survived to write about it. GREAT GREAT BOOK!
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre writing at it's finest
Review: You can't have too much hope for a gutter punk as a writer. The book lures you in by opening with the tale of a suicide attempt and the agony of trying to find a way to live past all of the negativity. I was originally drawn to the concept of the book: a very uneducated man trying to shake his drug habit and find himself with the help of eastern spirituality. Page after page is filled with ridiculous acts of youth, even as he progresses in age. Although the descriptions of India were intriguing, the author seems either too overcome or too wrapped up in what others think to devote himself in this quest. I was disappointed in the continuing admitted vanity. There is a lot of opportunity for the reader to take something from the book if you look past the shallowly presented ideas. The stories presented by the author function as a clear example of what not to do and in some ways the book can serve as an instruction manual on how to prevent letting the past hinder your growth as a human. Levine seems to have found himself despite the fact that on his journeys he allowed woman and drugs to hinder the possibilities laid out before him. This book really shows how people can overcome their past, all the while wallowing in just who they used to be. I am so torn between whether I enjoyed it or not. At some moments I found myself amazed by how bold he was to clearly present his emotions out to the reader and at other times I just viewed the writing as childish with a little too much to prove. Perhaps if the egotism was not as blatant as it is for most of the book, I wouldn't have felt the disgust I encountered at times. It is easy to feel compassion for the author which I don't really think was his original intent. I think he wanted you to be educated by him but he bonds with you instead of presenting himself to you. He seems to be the poster child for teenage rebellion rather than a spiritual leader which is too bad. He does have insights that can be helpful but at times he seems to wrapped up in discovering such a thing to get his point across. The tragedy that consumes Levine's life serves as a good outline for a novel but perhaps somebody with a better focus could turn his life experiences into an amazing novel. Perhaps I was deterred from this book simply because the author had so much to prove. Perhaps it is because the writing is simple, basic and similar to that of an 8th graders. If you are looking for hope in a compacted, easy to swallow form, than this is your novel.
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