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Message started by LostArtist on 12/16/10 at 11:17:32

Title: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by LostArtist on 12/16/10 at 11:17:32

worth reading/listening too? thinking about buying it as a audible book to listen to on my way to work in my cage from time to time, so just asking for review if anyone has read it.

I got "Rebuilding an Indian" and really enjoyed it, kinda short though. . .

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by Midnightrider on 12/16/10 at 12:09:52

Been a long time since I read it, but if memory seves me correct the first part is motorcycle oriented and is great reading. You have to really be in to phsycolgy to enjoy the last 2/3 of the book.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by Boule’tard on 12/16/10 at 12:46:00

I think it is worth reading, it has a soothing eastern-philosophy vibe to it. I also think it is overrated. Persig turns his confusion over two definitions of the word "quality" (1. characteristic or trait, 2. goodness or value) into a useless post-modern reframing of the subjective/objective. He thinks "quality" is the source of objective reality and the subjects perceiving it. Still, as a high-strung person I found the book relaxing and worthwhile.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by Stimpy - FSO on 12/16/10 at 12:49:21

Yes.

This book seriously changed my life a number of years ago.
It has actually little to do with motorcycles and more to do with
the basics of philosophy, the drive of human nature and, in my
opinion, with the pinnacle of reasoning principals of "the greatest
generation" that since have been lost to technology, modern life's
"easy button" and the lure of an instant gratification lifestyle, all
this and more packed in to a somewhat simplified, readable manner
and road trip journal format.

Over the last 3 decades criticism of this book follows this pattern:
1) silly people who thought bought a repair manual
2) c0cky people who actually study philosophy and found nothing new in it
3) dumb people who didn't understand it
...and yes it's a ittybittybit overrated ;)

mt 2 cents are that this is a beautifully written book worth
reading or at least listening to, over and out, richard.

http://www.univie.ac.at/Anglistik/ang_new/webprojects_erg/RoadCult/zen/pirsigbike.jpg

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by Midnightrider on 12/16/10 at 13:12:52

He wrote a couple of lines I'll never forget. Traveling in a car looking through the windows is like looking at the world on a TV screen. Cant compare it to seeing the view on a motorcycle. Truer words were never spoken.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by mornhm - FSO on 12/16/10 at 13:38:37

Yeah, it's worth reading. Is it enjoyable? I think if you enjoy "Walden; or, Life in The Woods," you would enjoy this.
He also wrote a book called "LILA: An Inquiry Into Morals." I think somebody described ZAMM as a philosophical text masquerading as a novel, and LILA as a novel masquerading as a philosophical text.
I think his name is spelled Pirsig. I think both books are supposed to be semi-autobiographical.
Some people are still really into the "metaphysics of quality." Me, not so much.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by LostArtist on 12/16/10 at 13:47:27

okay, this is starting to sound like homework. . . :-/

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by Midnightrider on 12/16/10 at 14:36:20

LA if ya dont wanna spend any money PM me your address and I'll mail you my old paperback copy.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by mick on 12/16/10 at 16:05:22

I found it to be a great book just before bed,pick it and start to read in a few minute's you will be sleeping.I cant find my old copy,must have thrown it on the burning pile.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by mick on 12/16/10 at 16:09:37

684C414B4C424D51574C414057250 wrote:

I heard a different version, "driving a car is like watching a movie,"
when riding a bike "you are in the movie" .

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by PerrydaSavage on 12/17/10 at 07:00:51

I read Pirsig's book several years ago and I have to admit, that the whole "philosophical" bent of the piece bored me ...

Read this follow up book called "Zen and Now; On the Trail of Robert Pirsig" a year or so ago and actually found it to be much, much better!

http://www.zenandnow.org/

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by groupus on 12/19/10 at 14:48:38

I started reading that this past summer. really enjoyed the first 1/2, but then i slowed down in the second half when he started diving into his past and stuff. got really slooow. loved the discussions on maintenance, like the comparisons of quality, but I stopped reading because i had renewed the book at the library about 5 times and school was starting back up again. has a lot of good quotes, like the one below my profile pic
<-------
I recommend reading it, but will act as a sedative at some point

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by Starlifter on 12/19/10 at 21:33:06

"I think somebody described ZAMM as a philosophical text masquerading as a novel, and LILA as a novel masquerading as a philosophical text."

That pretty much hits the nail on the head. The books are okay, but there are much better novels out there, and much better philosophical texts out there too.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/19/10 at 23:17:45

I read

The God Machine
when I was 14. Man, that was one trippy book. About a puter that takes over, coercing people into things,, pretty crazy crap for a 14 Y/O..

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by mick on 12/19/10 at 23:19:55

was the machines name "Hal"

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/19/10 at 23:23:41

No, that woulda been 2001 S0pace Odyssey.. I never really got into that one. I was visiting Mom in Houston over the summer & read that book after everyone went to bed,. took a couple O weeks, big book.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by PerrydaSavage on 12/20/10 at 00:47:18

332C2A2D30370636063E2C206B590 wrote:

I read The God Machine when I was 14. Man, that was one trippy book. About a puter that takes over, coercing people into things,, pretty crazy crap for a 14 Y/O..

I read that book about when I was 14 or so as well Justin ... "trippy" indeed! 2 other (and better IMHO) books about omniscient and omnipotent Super Computers are David Gerrold's "When Harlie Was One" and Robert Heinlein's "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by WebsterMark on 12/20/10 at 05:45:14

Lost; it’s worth the read, but I’d prepare myself for long stretches philosophy talk, I mean long stretches. He can take a while to bring a particular thought to a close, but in the end, I thought he made valid, potentially, life changing points.

From the motorcyclist point of view, the thing I liked the best is the idea of riding until you’re done for the day and setting up camp pretty much wherever. Today, the cops would run you out of a park or roadside field. At least in parts of the east and Midwest, maybe in the less populated areas of the west, you could still pull that off. Most other places, you're waiting for the black and white to pull up at anytime.

Spoiler alert. Depending upon the year your copy is printed, do not jump ahead and read the epilog if it has one. Don't do it, it will ruin the book for you.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/20/10 at 07:41:03

Be Here Now
by Babba Ram Das

That;; put yer Zen in place/

Babba Ram Das was his name after he went to India & studied, Before that, iy was Richard Alpert, friend of & fellow traveler with,,

Timothy Leary

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by mornhm - FSO on 12/20/10 at 07:45:40

Another suggestion for a fun philosophy book is "Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar." I don't think it would take much background in philosophy to make it an entertaining read. More of a survey than a single view.

Title: Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Post by LostArtist on 12/20/10 at 11:39:12

okay, no way I'm getting this book now. . . no more heavy thinking for me . . . not until next semester