A view of Zen and....

[iansoady]

I know Mr Pirsig's opus divides opinion. Personally I love it* and particularly the way it interweaves philosophy, (in)sanity, road trips and not least motorcycle maintenance.

I came across this article recently which, although I haven't got to the end of it yet, I thought may be of some interest.

https://motorcyclestudies.org/volume-21 ... intenance/

*I have to say his next book left me cold however.

[mangocrazy]

I've always had a soft spot for ZAMM, as the author owned the same bike that I did (a Honda CB77 305cc twin) at the same time as I was reading his book, and also suffered the same issues with his bike as I did with mine. It was hard going though, especially as I had virtually zero background in psychology and mental illness (although some would disagree...)

My overriding memory was reading ZAMM on a quiet night shift in the mid 70s and it finally started to make sense and I could really understand the points he was making. Then with only about 40 or 50 pages left, a situation blew up that required my full attention (I was a computer operator) and I couldn't finish the book.

When I came back to the book a few days later I couldn't make any kind of sense of the fucking thing and haven't picked it up since.

[Count Steer]

Well, I read it - a long time ago - and found it hard going after the first 25%. Made a few points that I thought were but it went on a bit.

[edulord]

Totally get what you mean! I’ve always enjoyed how Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance mixes life lessons with actual bike stuff—it makes the philosophy feel alive. Haven’t read the article yet, but I’m curious to see what new angles it brings.

[Rockburner]

I tried reading it years ago.

Both then and now (reading that article) makes me want to go ride, because then I'm not reading the book/article....

[ZRX61]

When I came back to the book a few days later I couldn't make any kind of sense of the fucking thing and haven't picked it up since.

I read it when I was about 18 & enjoyed it, tried to read it again a few years ago & thought it was a steaming pile of pretentious crap.

[mangocrazy]

When I came back to the book a few days later I couldn't make any kind of sense of the fucking thing and haven't picked it up since.

I read it when I was about 18 & enjoyed it, tried to read it again a few years ago & thought it was a steaming pile of pretentious crap.

I'd be slightly more charitable and say it was the product of a fine but very disorganised and troubled mind.

Crap, if you prefer...

[Scootabout]

I've read it twice, some years apart. I hardly ever read books twice, which might say something. I got at least some of the philosophical references, having studied the subject at uni, but never completely clicked with his attempt to merge eastern and western philosophy via his concept of 'quality'. The second time I read the book, I was struck by how much of it was about the author's struggle with mental illness. And his mention at the end - I think this is right - that he'd just realised that his son hadn't been able to see much because he was in the way was a bit weird.

Having said all that, I still think it's a special book, in a way that's hard to define.

[mangocrazy]

I've read it twice, some years apart. I hardly ever read books twice, which might say something. I got at least some of the philosophical references, having studied the subject at uni, but never completely clicked with his attempt to merge eastern and western philosophy via his concept of 'quality'. The second time I read the book, I was struck by how much of it was about the author's struggle with mental illness. And his mention at the end - I think this is right - that he'd just realised that his son hadn't been able to see much because he was in the way was a bit weird.

Having said all that, I still think it's a special book, in a way that's hard to define.