Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Books | Philosophy / Zen

3.6

(958)

Robert M. Pirsig

THE CLASSIC BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED MILLIONSA penetrating examination of how we live and how to live betterFew books transform a generation and then establish themselves as touchstones for the generations that follow. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one such book. This modern epic of a man’s search for meaning became an instant bestseller on publication in 1974, acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters. It continues to inspire millions. A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance becomes a personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions on how to live. The narrator's relationship with his son leads to a powerful self-reckoning; the craft of motorcycle maintenance leads to an austerely beautiful process for reconciling science, religion, and humanism. Resonant with the confusions of existence, this classic is a touching and transcendent book of life.This new edition contains an interview with Pirsig and letters and documents detailing how this extraordinary book came to be.

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Author

Robert M. Pirsig

Pages

448

Publisher

Harper Collins

Published Date

2009-04-21

ISBN

0061907995 9780061907999

Ratings

Google: 3

Community ReviewsSee all

"Loved reading this, multiple times now, each reading adds something different, and listening to the Audible version. This book is a lesson in philosophy without bluntly attempting to be."

Drew Contractor

"This book was a gift from a good friend years ago that continues to give. "

D A

Daniel Ashcraft

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was recommended to me by a friend who said it was his favorite book of all time. Now I know why. I wasn't really expecting such a deep dive into philosophy when I started reading this book. But here it is, a book written in a totally conversational and accessible style that knocked my intellectual socks off. I think I could probably read this book three or four more times and just barely scratch the surface of what Pirsig is trying to convey in this book. This book has made me think harder than I've thought in my entire academic career. It's hard to pin down exactly what this book is about. It's sort of a philosophy book on value in life, part commentary on man and technology, and part story about a father and a son held apart by a dark history of obsession and insanity. Pirsig's big philosophical push in this book is about something he calls "Quality" - a term that he claims defies definition but is sort of like the Tao. I'm still not sure I completely understand it. It's sort of like the absolute essence of something. I'll get back to you after I read this book a few more times. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle seems to have some sort of cult following. If you carry this book around, people will approach you and share their experience with the book. It happened to me multiple times when I was waiting to cross the street, picking up a copy to send to my girlfriend (scoring major points), and eating at Moe's. Life gets better after you read this book."