The Catcher in The Rye

Could someone please tell me about Catcher in the Rye. I'm British, and I feel that I am either an utter dullwit unable to see a shining gem in front of me, or all of American culture is completely inaccessible to me.

What I took away from this book was: A guy is intelligent but an utter slacker, he gets kicked out school. He spends a few days in New York, then he stays with his favourite teacher who may (or may not) attempt to Paedophile him.

Then he goes chats with his sister and then it ends.

So, I am left wondering what life-lessons I skimmed passed in this incredibly popular book. From what I read, if this is the Great American Novel, then the American Dream must be that one where you get chased around your bedroom by your lamp.

>>19
Valuable?  I value life, and my integrity. I value information, the "product" that intellectual property supposedly protects, but I realize that the only reason information has any value is in furthering our common understanding, and facilitating our common progress.  I understand that intellectual property laws retard this process so that a few may profit by it, and that most of that profit is realized by unscrupulous creatures who had little or nothing to do with its creation.  Creatures whose desire is not to inform or entertain, but to advance their own interests at the expense of all others.
The practice of attaching a monetary value to information confuses its true value.  It's the primitive way of an industrial society and it's greedy, materialistic people.  I just don't think think that way.  Respect the Information.  Respect yourself and your work.  Share it freely.  Join the information age, writer.