Michael Kramer

Robert M. Pirsig

An Inquiry Into Values

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

One of the most important and influential books written in the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful, moving, and penetrating examination of how we live . . . and a breathtaking meditation on how to live better. Here is the book that transformed a generation: an unforgettable narration of a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, undertaken by a father and his young son. A story of love and fear -- of growth, discovery, and acceptance -- that becomes a profound personal and philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions, this uniquely exhilarating modern classic is both touching and transcendent, resonant with the myriad confusions of existence . . . and the small, essential triumphs that propel us forward.

JT Helms

While cycling through the western states, a disillusioned American questions the meaning of existence after confronting the ghost of his former, uninstitutionalized self.

Luka

Acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters, this modern epic became an instant bestseller upon publication in 1974, transforming a generation and continuing to inspire millions. This 25th Anniversary Quill Edition features a new introduction by the author; important typographical changes; and a Reader's Guide that includes discussion topics, an interview with the author, and letters and documents detailing how this extraordinary book came to be. A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, the book becomes a personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions of 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, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a touching and transcendent book of life.

Georgia Ball

Robert Pirsig

A philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions during an unforgettable summer motorcycle trip, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance transformed a generation and continues to inspire millions One of the most influential books written in the past half-century, Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful examination of how we live and a breathtaking meditation on how to live better. Following a father and his young son on a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, it is a story of love, fear, growth, discovery and acceptance. Both personal and philosophical, it is a compelling study of relationships, values, and eventually, enlightenment – resonant with the confusions and wonders of existence. Acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters, this modern epic became an instant bestseller upon publication in 1974. ‘The book is inspired, original...the analogies with Moby-Dick are patent’ New Yorker ‘Mr Pirsig has written a work of great, perhaps urgent, importance... Read this book’ Observer

40th Anniversary Edition

Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance

Bastien Vaucher

an inquiry into values

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance

anjali

Believe me when I say: This book will change your life. 

It can get challenging at times, but in the end, it's an amazing, amazing book. You will have at least questioned the basic and yet important tenets of intelligence, morality, and what it means to be good or bad and what it means to live, to really live, by the time you're done.

I first read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance when I was sixteen...it changed the way I thought about the world and about ideas. I don't think i've ever read anything quite like it. 

There are some that argue that Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is 'mental masturbation' of sorts; or a 'pretentious philosophical work' whose ideas are just all over the place. The truth is, this book is probably one of those few who deserve the oft-thrown around appraisal, 'this book will change your life' - because, at its heart, the book is about ideas and covers tremendous mental territory. It's a challenging read, but highly recommended.

Andrew Reeves

I really tried with this book, but it was a SLOG. Just clunky and unreadable to me at times.

John Nettles

Piles on the philosophy pretty heavy; I wasn't ready for that. The plot advances when the reader is suffocating from the lessons -- sometimes only lines at a time -- but I find subjects, such as the section on "quality," to be unrelenting. Worth a re-read, but not any time soon.

Steve C

Gabriel Ayuso

Gavin

Manages to put forward an actual critique of rationalism without being either vague and platitudinous, or irrational and irrationally proud of it. Smooth read, some beautiful bits, but a failure if it's primarily a vehicle for a metaphysics.

Matthew Royal

Very little fresh philosophical content; mostly name dropping. There is some small value in introducing some basic philosophical ideas, but there's quite a lot of garbage here to stumble over along the way. This book provides an insufferable meditation on how brilliant Pirsig considers himself: 
 - teaching Rhetoric by first convincing students of their need for it, 
 - driving himself mad by getting hung up on an apparent logical contradiction, rather than stepping back and reexamining his assumptions,
 - redefining the word "Quality" to mean a 3rd category, separate but equal to "mind" and "matter,"
 - inventing a useless, near-religious belief rather than investigating the real meaning and underlying mechanisms of quality.

Rather than switching tracks when he came to the end of the line in his "quality" investigations, Pirsig bashes his head into the buffer stop, and desires his readers to admire his maverick, intellectually honest attitude.

Systems engineering possesses most of the tools for what he was looking -- balancing the interaction of the objective and subjective to arrive at what Quality means for any given thing. The field has existed since the 1940s at Bell Telephone Laboratories and most recent triumphs to Pirsig's time were the Apollo missions. Pirsig should have realized that quality was more of a question of "how" rather than "why" -- "why" leading to the synonymous question of "What is good?" -- "how" leading him to a field of thinkers perhaps disjoint with the group of academic philosphers. 

He may admire the rowdy kids in the back of the class, but it's because he, like they, is guilty of not doing his homework.

An Inquiry Into Values (P.S.)

Jowanza Joseph

I learned a lot from reading this book about values and how to think through many situations I encountered in life.  It's certainly a book I wouldn't read cover-to-cover all the time but one that I turn to for guidance.

Michael Burkhardt

The collected rantings of a lunatic who doesn't realize he's a lunatic.

Christine

Jk Jensen

One of few books that will leave me digesting its concepts for the foreseeable future. I loved the storytelling, I loved the philosophy. The writing is magnificent. The insight into thinking in systems is invaluable.

Barry Hess

This was a challenge. I can't say I'd recommend it. The philosophical stuff (most of the book) is not something I have a strong background with. In the end I did take away some interesting ideas.

Fred Rocha

Quite the epic read. I feel this could be unfolded into 20 other books, such is the diversity of ideas and moral ground covered in it. 

Probably the best book on how to be a better craftsman that doesn't aim to instruct in said craft.

Nat Welch

An amazing look into everything in life. I need to read this again it is so awesome.

Meniah

Philosophical and deep in nature but one can get a lot of life lessons from it.

Tara King

I'm trying to read 36 books in 2013 (3 per month--one fiction, one nonfiction, one poetry). And I'd like to review these books a bit after I've read them, and to select a quote or two that I liked. 

"Nonrepresentative art is one of the root experiences I'm talking about. Some people still condemn it because it doesn't make 'sense.' But what's really wrong is not the art but the 'sense,' the classical reason, which can't grasp it. People keep looking for branch extensions of reason that will cover art's more recent occurrences, but the answers aren't IN the branches, they're at the roots." (p. 163)

"Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're not longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. THIS leaf has jagged edges. THIS rock looks looks. From THIS place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow." (p. 195-6)

"When you learn not to do 'just what you like' then the System loves you." (p. 225)

Juozas Salna

i had zero knowledge about this book before going in. did not know what to expect. but wtf is this?

Adam

A philosophy book told through first person is extremely interesting to me -- especially a travel memoir. Many of the conversations hit on specific points that I was nodding in agreement at. Specifically many of the ones that included frustration when getting points across to others, or taking pride in upkeep and finding a way to enjoy it. The only reason I'd rate it lower was due to the long periods of time between enlightening moments.

alexander

Chaotic, sometimes downright disturbing but a beautiful window into a beautiful mind. Can't wait to reread it.

Frank Meeuwsen

Ik heb dit boek ooit gelezen als 18jarige. Ik dacht het natuurlijk helemaal te snappen maar ik vermoed dat ik bij een herlezing weer nieuwe inzichten zal krijgen. Samen met On The Road een boek wat me het meest is bijgebleven.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance An Inquiry Into Values

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