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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

Book 1 in the series:Phaedrus

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Readers describe 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' as a thought-provoking journey blending philosophy and travelogue. The book follows a father and son on a motorcycle trip across the United States, delving into discussions on quality, values, and the author's personal philosophy. Pirsig weaves together elements of fiction and philosophy, challenging readers to contemplate the deeper meanings of life and the pursuit of excellence. The narrative style is a mix of travel memoir and philosophical exploration, making readers reflect on the nature of quality and the complexities of human thought.

Characters:

The characters are deeply layered, with the narrator embodying philosophical introspection, Phaedrus representing a split persona due to mental illness, and Chris illustrating familial disconnect.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style blends engaging storytelling with dense philosophical reflections, requiring readers to actively engage with the text.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intertwines a road trip narrative with deep philosophical reflections, focusing on the relationship between a father and son while exploring the concept of 'Quality'.

Setting:

The setting is a 1970s America as experienced through a motorcycle journey, rich in cultural references and picturesque landscapes.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, balancing between detailed travel accounts and lengthy philosophical discourse, which can lead to a drawn-out reading experience.
I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning. The wind, even at sixty miles an hour, is warm and humid. When it's this hot and ...

Notes:

The book combines storytelling with deep philosophical inquiries.
It follows a motorcycle journey across America, making it a unique travel narrative.
The protagonist grapples with the meaning of 'Quality' throughout the book.
Pirsig uses his experiences with motorcycle maintenance as a metaphor for life.
The novel is semi-autobiographical, reflecting Pirsig's mental health struggles.
It was initially rejected by 121 publishers before being published.
The relationship between the narrator and his son, Chris, is central to the narrative.
Pirsig's character, Phaedrus, represents his former self and grapples with sanity and reason.
The book not only discusses Western philosophy but also integrates Eastern thought.
Many readers find the philosophical discussions complex or challenging to digest.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include discussions of mental illness, existential crises, and the impact of traditional educational systems.

From The Publisher:

This lyrical, evocative, thought-provoking journal of a man's quest for truth - and for himself - has touched and changed an entire generation.

At its heart, the story is all too simple: a man and his son take a lengthy motorcycle trip through America. But this is not a simple trip at all, for around every corner, through mountain and desert, wind and rain, and searing heat and biting cold, their pilgrimage leads them to new vistas of self-discovery and renewal.

Ratings (35)

Incredible (8)
Loved It (11)
Liked It (6)
It Was OK (4)
Did Not Like (4)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (93):

Read It (32)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (40)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (16)

2 comment(s)

Hated It
10 months

DNF. I tried reading and listening to this and I just could care less. Nothing against the writing really or the book, just not my cup of tea.

 
Did Not Like
1 year

too slow, the message was lost on me

 

About the Author:

Robert M. Pirsig (1928-2017) was born in Minneapolis. He studied chemistry, philosophy, and journalism at the University of Minnesota and attended Benares Hindu University in India, where he studied Oriental philosophy. His 1974 book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values was an immediate phenomenon which first published and continues to be bestseller.Michael Kramer has narrated over 100 works for many bestselling authors. He has received Audiofile magazine's Earphones Award for the Kent Family series by John Jakes and for Alan Fulsom's The Day After Tomorrow. He has also read for Robert Jordan's epic Wheel of Time fantasy-adventure series. His work includes recording books for the Library of Congress's Talking Books program for the blind and physically handicapped.Michael also works as an actor in the Washington, D.C. area, where he lives with his wife, Jennifer Mendenhall, and their two children. He has appeared as Lord Rivers in Richard III at The Shakespeare Theatre, Howie/Merlin in The Kennedy Center's production of The Light of Excalibur, Sam Riggs and Frederick Savage in Woody Allen's Central Park West/Riverside Drive, and Dr. Qari Shah in Tony Kushner's Homebody/Kabul at Theatre J.

 
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