Product Description

'A brilliant and original book... Everybody should read it' Guardian

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2683 in Books
• Published on: 1999-11-18
• Binding: Paperback
• 451 pages

Synopsis
The narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son becomes a text which speaks directly to the confusions and agonies of existence, detailing a personal, philosophical odyssey.

Book Jacket
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an unforgettable trip." --Time

"Disturbing, deeply moving, full of insights ... this is a wonderful book." --Times Literary Supplement

"This book may very well be a profoundly important one--a great one even--full of insights into our most perplexing contemporary dilemmas ... " --New York Times

"I think Mr. Pirsig has written a work of great, perhaps urgent, importance ... Read this book." -- Observer

"A brilliant and original book ... a pathfinding attempt to examine and solve our contemporary ills. Everybody should read it." --Guardian

About the Author
Robert M. Pirsig was born in 1928 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He holds degrees in chemistry, philosophy, and journalism and also studied Oriental philosophy at Benares Hindu University in India. He is the author of this book's sequal, entitled Lila.

Customer Reviews

Over Rated.
I bought and read this a few years back. The main reason was because it was highly recommended by some university types. I'm going to draw some flak on this review, because if you don't give it a 5, everyone thinks your a shallow pulp novel individual (which may be the case to a certain extent)...

The simple truth was that I couldn't really engage with the central character. Yes, there are a few moments of clarity - like when he discusses making parts himself. Unfortunately, the best elements become subsumed in a relatively dull life story. In other words, I found it dragged a bit. I didn't expect loads of action, but I did expect there to be a good deal more practical activity and a good deal less introspective discussion. I've got sympathy for the lead character (the author, as it turns out) - I just didn't enjoy his journey. The whole trip went nowhere and no-one seemed to have very much fun. Maybe I'm not supposed to have enjoyed reading it?

Relevant for today's IT workplace
Like many, I work in the computing / IT industry. I first read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as a first year undergrad at the Poly of Wales, as part of a course called 'Science, Technology and Society'. It was the only hands-on module, much maligned by many and taught by a great guy, who I remember as Red Des.
Re-reading it now has enabled me to rediscover and discover the many themes in the book but specifically the discussion on the Philosophy of Quality. Pirsig's method of presentation as a series of 'fables' makes it a very readable philosophy book with some lighter subjects and some more fundamental.
I did some research about Pirsig as I was reading it this time and it adds to the context and background to the book. Its a must read and is more relevant today than in the early 70's. As Pirsig espouses, turn off the TV and let your mind think.

A 'beautiful book'
If you want to read a 'road-trip' interwoven with philosophy and a fascinating personal story then you should read this book. It isn't an easy going paperback nor is it a full-on treatise on philosophy; but a wonderful mix which works for me!