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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values (Vintage Classics)

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An odyssey into life's challenging philosophical 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, to complete the Chautauqua spiritual journey, 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 and meaning - 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

Review

Mr Pirsig has written a work of great, perhaps urgent, importance. Read this book ― Observer

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

The book is inspired, original...the narrative tact, the perfect economy of effect defy criticism.The analogies with Moby-Dick are patent ― New Yorker

Profoundly important-full of insights into our most perplexing contemporary dilemmas ― New York Times

A brilliant and original book... A path-finding attempt to examine and solve our contemporary ills. Everybody should read it. ― The Guardian

The Wholly convincing American narrator moves seamlessly between narrative, metaphysics and the fringes of insanity. ― The Observer

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

From the Back Cover

Tells a story of the narrator, his son Chris and their month-long motorcycle odyssey from Minnesota to California profoundly affected an entire generation.

Review:

4.9 out of 5

97.78% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - 25th Anniversary edition

M.R.J.S. · 20 May 2010

This is an interesting book - no, really. Despite the title it is not really about Zen Buddhism nor is it really about motorcycle maintenance, although both these topics feature.It begins with the narrator (his name is never supplied directly) motorcycling through parts of North America with his son, Chris, and two friends, John and Sylvia. The topic of maintaining motorcycles comes up and it is clear that the narrator has a totally different attitude from his companions. There is a tension that becomes stronger as time passes. The friends depart, their journey completed, but the narrator and Chris continue.As the book proceeds it becomes clear that there is not a single story here, there are at least two. There is the motorcycle journey, which provides the structure for the book, and there is the story told in memory-fragment flash-backs of an 'other' called Phaedrus. Suddenly, it is apparent that the narrator and Phaedrus are one and the same, yet different. This difference and what caused it are the main thrust of the book. Phaedrus was seeking the truth about excellence, quality, what is is, how it is defined, how to achieve it. His search took him into philosophy where he was overwhelmed. He was declared insane and subjected to ECT (electro-convulsive therapy - shock treatment) which stripped his memories. Somehow, the book doesn't define how, he survives for years with his early memories gone but Chris remembers the way he was and resents the present condition. Along the journey, the narrator remembers being in various places before as Phaedrus and the feelings become stronger as the journey nears its completion. The end of the book is almost as expected, but not quite.This book contains many thoughts and insights into attitudes about excellence and the approach to quality that impinge on every aspect of modern life. Don't read it expecting to learn about Zen Buddhism, nor about motorcycle maintenance, except in very general terms (it is notable that the author's bike always seemed to need work done on it to keep it running whilst John and Sylvia's bike was never touched yet they had no problems with it), just read it. It is a wonderful book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, although showing its age nowadays...

A.K. · 18 January 2024

What can I say about this book that has not been said? I will just talk about my experience with it. I read it first time in the early eighties during my University days. Been a keen motorcyclist myself, I was totally captivated by it. FF several decades and after my daughter seized my original "vintage" copy, I thought I'd buy another one and give another go at reading it. This time, I am afraid that the decades past made their mark! I found the text much less intriguing and captivating than I remembered. At times, it was tiring and draggin' its feet. Eventually I gave up and put it back on the shelf, a reminder of my youth. If you have not read it yet, I totally recommend it, only remember this is a text from another era, with different agendas, concerns and worries and the world has moved on since then (not necessarily for the better!). Even the author himself and the other key character in the book, had follow-up lives that were not very pleasant, without happy endings. Anyway. Remains a remarkable milestone still deserves the five stars, and I definitely will not be giving it away. It stays visible on my library.

4.0 out of 5 stars I would have liked more of the two stories

S. · 22 January 2016

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig (40th Anniversary Edition). There are three threads: a motorbike trip across part of America, a philosophical discussion on romantic and classical philosophical views and the concept of quality; a man being haunted by his own journey into madness. I read it on Kindle even though I have a 40 year old copy because of current eye problems. I struggled to get through it because some of it whooshed over the top of my head. But, and this is an important but, it fascinated me and I wanted to read it all. I would have liked more of the two stories, especially about his son, Chris, and his alter-ego Phaedrus. However, I think I would say it was an experience more than anything. And because it was a 40th Anniversary Edition there was lots more information at the back. I’m going to end on a quote and a question.Quote from Pirsig about his 122 submissions. Twenty two publishers were interested at first but during the four years it took to get the book written that number dropped down to six. After those six read the manuscript, only one wanted it. But, of course, one is all you need.And my question is: if it was a new book would it be published today?

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent.

J. · 20 October 2024

Every teenager should read this.Nope, every man should read this.But it helps if you are younger at heart.

Amazing Book

G. · 19 October 2024

Some sections of this book required energy for me personally to get through, discussions of technical Greek philosophy and such, but I assure you, the whole book is so so worth it.

Good book

R.I. · 13 June 2024

clarified my thoughts

Lectura recomendada

E.R. · 5 May 2017

Zen And the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values es un libro que te manda en una serie de reflexiones constantes, hablando de la filosofia Zen con analogias faciles de entender, aun para una persona que no esta familiarizada con la filosofia Zen.El libro esta estructurado en un formato de novela, la cual es bastante interesante.Si te gusta la filosofia, o si te gusta el Zen lo recomendaria ampliamente.

Amazing piece of litterature

J.H. · 16 December 2023

The media could not be loaded. Mandatory reading from my boss to our whole team.

Still relevant and thought provoking

K.C. · 1 October 2023

Read this year's ago and on re reading it is not quite how I remembered it. The philosophical discourses stand out now. It's an excellent and complex book,

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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values (Vintage Classics)

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Product origin: United Kingdom

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