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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance An Inquiry into Values
Author: Robert M. Pirsig
The extraordinary story of a man's quest for truth. It will change the way you think and feel about your life. — "The cycle you're working on is a cycle called 'yourself.'" — "The study of the art of motorcycle maintainence is really a study of the art of rationality itself. Working on a motorcycle, working well, caring, is to become part of a pro...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780553277470
ISBN-10: 0553277472
Publication Date: 4/1/1984
Pages: 400
Rating:
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 104

3.7 stars, based on 104 ratings
Publisher: Bantam
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

mrsb avatar reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 78 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Well, I've heard nothing but raves about this book ... how it's a book you just HAVE to read and won't be sorry that you did. Hmmm?!

I am a pretty fast reader normally and I had such a difficult time getting into this book ... all the talk about Quality and what it is and how to get it and where it comes from, I was so confused ... it got to where I just began skipping over those sections where he begins to talk like this. Maybe that is why I did't enjoy the book ... maybe I missed some important bits in those parts I skipped ... but if I didn't skip them, I don't think that I would have ever finished the book!!

I am not one to really read "self help" books to begin with (and to be honest, I didn't realize that this is what this book was when I decided to go ahead and give it a try) so I did go into it without a preconceived notion that I wasn't going to like it ... but now that I see it is in the "self-help" category, maybe that also helps to understand why this book just wasn't my "cuppa tea" ...

I enjoyed the afterword more than anything else ...

There is a sequel to the book called ... Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals and one to that called ... Lila's Child: An Inquiry Into Quality
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
From Amazon.com:
Arguably one of the most profoundly important essays ever written on the nature and significace of "quality" and definitely a necessary anodyne to the consequences of a modern world pathologically obsessed with quantity. Although set as a story of a cross-country trip on a motorcycle by a father and son, it is more nearly a journey through 2,000 years of Western philosophy. For some people, this has been a truly life-changing book.
mrsb avatar reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 78 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Well, I've heard nothing but raves about this book ... how it's a book you just HAVE to read and won't be sorry that you did. Hmmm?!

I am a pretty fast reader normally and I had such a difficult time getting into this book ... all the talk about Quality and what it is and how to get it and where it comes from, I was so confused ... it got to where I just began skipping over those sections where he begins to talk like this. Maybe that is why I did't enjoy the book ... maybe I missed some important bits in those parts I skipped ... but if I didn't skip them, I don't think that I would have ever finished the book!!

I am not one to really read "self help" books to begin with (and to be honest, I didn't realize that this is what this book was when I decided to go ahead and give it a try) so I did go into it without a preconceived notion that I wasn't going to like it ... but now that I see it is in the "self-help" category, maybe that also helps to understand why this book just wasn't my "cuppa tea" ...

I enjoyed the afterword more than anything else ...

There is a sequel to the book called ... Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals and one to that called ... Lila's Child: An Inquiry Into Quality
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on
Helpful Score: 1
i read this book about 7 years ago and always aquire another copy somehow with intent to read again but never do. great book about the journey and not just the end.
luvbooks avatar reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 126 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The narrators motorcycle journey takes him in search of himself and life's values. As the author states inside the front cover..."The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called 'yourself'". This book is very profound and deep.
Read All 49 Book Reviews of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance An Inquiry into Values"

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reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on
This is a book that I've heard about for years, which, for me, tends to build a resistance against reading it, fearing that it will never live up to its own legacy. After having had it recommended to me by three separate friends, whose tastes in books are comparable to mine, within two months, I decided to take the plunge. It was worth it.

Pirsig manages to wrap up his dense philosophy into an engaging travel story, grounding his metaphysics in "real-life" experiences. While I've never found this to be a requirement for philosophy to be engaging, this sort of presentation does make it a more relatable system. The narrator's life is an example of an attempt at implementation of his theories, which allows for a examination of the pros and cons of that implementation.

The progression of Phaedrus's search is rivoting as well. He doesn't set out from the outset to define an overarching philosophy, but by pulling himself along the thread that started with his question, "What is Quality?", he is compelled to question the basic structure of Western thought. I won't go much more into it for fear of butchering Pirsig's eloquent arguments, but I can say this. You should read it.
ashtree avatar reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 17 more book reviews
I have not finished reading this yet. I appreciate the deep thought and mindfulness philosophy of this book, but it is not easy to read; certainly does not grasp me!
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 65 more book reviews
Tough to get into but once your past the fist 100 pages or so you will be glued to the book. Very creative with lot of great life lessons.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 33 more book reviews
This book is a classic. Not a light read, but fascinating.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 26 more book reviews
A classic
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 40 more book reviews
A classic. One man's journey to find himself; an inquiry into values. Standard liberal arts college reading.
Debisbooked avatar reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 136 more book reviews
Started out interesting but then it delved into the author's bouts of depression and his fear that his teenage son was experiencing some sort of mental illness too. I wanted to send this book to my son in Iraq (he's a motorcycle enthusiast) but felt it was too depressing to send someone in an already depressing situation.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 7 more book reviews
It is a pretty good, thought provoking book that I enjoyed but not immensely.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 15 more book reviews
Father and son take off across the US to ride, see scenery and bond a bit... good.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 34 more book reviews
A lot of people think this book is brilliant. I think it is ambiguous and not very well developed. But hey, that's just me.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 34 more book reviews
I liked, hoping I would really love it. Maybe if I had read it 30 years ago it would have more impact. Definitely give it a try.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 6 more book reviews
What more is there to say... I loved the quotes!
h4ngedm4n avatar reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 2 more book reviews
It lives up to high expectations, considering the hype and publicity surrounding this book. Very enjoyable and insightful.
reviewed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values on + 115 more book reviews
Self discovery book

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Phaedrus (Primary Character)

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