Donate!
Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register :: View Members
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance (Read 183 times)
LostArtist
Ex Member




zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
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. . .
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
Midnightrider
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

Alliance Member

Posts: 3244
Winston Salem, NC
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #1 - 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.
Back to top
 
 


"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
  IP Logged
Boule’tard
Serious Thumper
ModSquad
*****
Offline

Master of the
Obvious

Posts: 1620
Austin TX
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #2 - 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.
Back to top
 
 

That which can be destroyed by the truth should be. - P.C. Hodgell
  IP Logged
Stimpy - FSO
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

SuzukisSavage Int'l
Division

Posts: 1203
Germany - formerly SD, SoCal
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #3 - 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  Wink

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



 
Back to top
 
« Last Edit: 12/16/10 at 17:13:18 by Stimpy - FSO »  

Recently sold 97'savage (change of residence) - looking to buy another - just bought a temp, a great SR125 called 'methadone'
WWW Stimpy - FSO   IP Logged
Midnightrider
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

Alliance Member

Posts: 3244
Winston Salem, NC
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #4 - 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.
Back to top
 
 


"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
  IP Logged
mornhm - FSO
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

HMMM

Posts: 1105

Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #5 - 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.
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
LostArtist
Ex Member




Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #6 - 12/16/10 at 13:47:27
 
okay, this is starting to sound like homework. . .   Undecided
Back to top
 
 
  IP Logged
Midnightrider
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

Alliance Member

Posts: 3244
Winston Salem, NC
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #7 - 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.
Back to top
 
 


"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
  IP Logged
mick
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Hell-bound

Posts: 7323
Dayton Oregon
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #8 - 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.
Back to top
 
 

Science and Logic fly you to the moon,
Religion makes you fly into skyscrapers
mickrowe37   IP Logged
mick
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Hell-bound

Posts: 7323
Dayton Oregon
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #9 - 12/16/10 at 16:09:37
 
Midnightrider wrote 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.

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

Science and Logic fly you to the moon,
Religion makes you fly into skyscrapers
mickrowe37   IP Logged
PerrydaSavage
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Riding "The
Rock"!

Posts: 3522
Republic of Newfoundland
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #10 - 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/
Back to top
 
 

Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by arseholes!
WWW   IP Logged
groupus
Senior Member
****
Offline

Maintenance is as
much art as it is
science.

Posts: 296
PA
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #11 - 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
Back to top
 
 

Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death. ~Hunter Thompson

'03 Savage bobber. Rebuilt too many times.
  IP Logged
Starlifter
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

It only snows seven
months of the year
here.

Posts: 3746
Eastern Michigan
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #12 - 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.
Back to top
 
 

Proud to be everything the right-wing hates.
  IP Logged
justin_o_guy2
Serious Thumper
*****
Offline

What happened?

Posts: 55279
East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #13 - 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..

Back to top
 
 

The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke.
  IP Logged
mick
Serious Thumper
Alliance Member
*****
Offline

Hell-bound

Posts: 7323
Dayton Oregon
Gender: male
Re: zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
Reply #14 - 12/19/10 at 23:19:55
 
was the machines name "Hal"
Back to top
 
 

Science and Logic fly you to the moon,
Religion makes you fly into skyscrapers
mickrowe37   IP Logged
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print


« Home

 
« Home
SuzukiSavage.com
05/18/24 at 00:54:12



General CategoryThe Cafe › zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance


SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2!
YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved.