Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[DaveDragon]

Free Online at: http://virtualschool.edu/mon/Quality/PirsigZen/

[grifscoots]

I'm a voracious reader and devour many books. My habit is somewhat blunted by buying used at Amazon.com. One click shopping is the tits.

I've tried to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance three times and all three times I thought it sucked. Must be some hidden biological and psychological flaw in psyche.

[jhsonderb]

Thanks....this has always been one of my favorite books.

[Wolfgang]

I'm a voracious reader and devour many books. My habit is somewhat blunted by buying used at Amazon.com. One click shopping is the tits.

I've tried to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance three times and all three times I thought it sucked. Must be some hidden biological and psychological flaw in psyche.

Grif,

Don't feel alone. I have read it twice in english and liked parts of it but never saw what the big deal is. So, on my last visit to Germany I got the German translation. It was well translated, but I did not get any more out of it.

I think it just was a 60's 70's cult book and to be cool you had to toke a few joints and review the book with your friends kind of like this: Yea, man I read this too, its heavy shit...

:rotf:

[Bobnoxous]

Awesome. Thanks Dave.

I listened to the audio book a while ago. I didn't know what to expect, but had heard so much about it that I had to check it out. I've done this with many classical novels that I believed were important for my education.

I did like the book, but it was nothing like I expected. I enjoyed the different points of view, where the main character liked to work on his bike, and his riding buddy preferred to use dealers. All that metaphysical stuff got pretty deep, but I enjoyed the philosophy discussion too. Nothing wrong with thinking a little bit.

I just hope when I go cross-country, I'm not so preoccupied with my inner demons.

[grifscoots]

I think it just was a 60's 70's cult book and to be cool you had to toke a few joints and review the book with your friends kind of like this: Yea, man I read this too, its heavy shit...

:rotf: "The Teachings of Don Juan", by Carlos Castaneda. Now that was a 60's 70's cult book.

Have peyote, will travel.

Anybody remember, "Steal This Book", by Abby Hoffman?

[Yiet]

Of course Pirsig could have as easily used carpentry or book editing or software programming or farming as his foil for the philosophical discussion. He chose motorcycles and I am glad he did but I guess those who've read it now know that they might have been tricked. If you're into philosophy and religion a little, you will enjoy it. For some it is a sea change. And I personally think he brilliantly weaves a plot line into the real purpose of the book which is to re-examine the founding philosophers in light of modern industrial society.

He yearns for a return to a society where individual values are steeped in all we do, but sees instead a world in which we work to live rther than a world in which we live to work. This reminds me of what many of our dads will have told us - "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well".

Some great quotes from Pirsig:
p.296
on feeling at one with the task, goal, life, world; and on the distinction between the role of government and the role of the individual

“Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all. ….

I think that if we are going to reform the world, and make it a better place to live in, the way to do it is not of talk of relationships of a political nature, which are inevitably dualistic, full of subjects and objects and their relationship to one another; or with programs full of things for other people to do. I think that kind of approach starts it at the end and presumes the end is the beginning. Programs of a political nature are important end products of social quality that can be effective only if the underlying structure of social values is right. The social values are right only if the individual values are right. The place to improve the world is first in one’s heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there. Other people can talk about how to extend the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle. I think that has more lasting value.”

If you can find a mechanic with that attitude I suggest you keep him, otherwise you might want to work on that attitude yourself and do your own work as Pirsig elects to do.


Here's another:

p.211

"To the untrained eye ego-climbing and selfless climbing may appear identical. Both kinds of climbers place one foot in front of the other. Both breathe in and out at the same rate. Both stop when tired. Both go forward when rested. But what a difference! The ego-climber is like an instrument that is out of adjustment. He puts his foot down an instant too soon or too late. He’s likely to miss a beautiful passage of sunlight through the trees. He goes on when the sloppiness of his step shows he’s tired. He rests at odd times. He looks up the trail trying to see what’s ahead even when he knows what’s ahead because he just looked a second before. He goes too fast or too slow for the conditions and when he talks his talk is forever about somewhere else, something else. He’s here but he’s not here. He rejects the here, is unhappy with it, wants to be further up the trail but when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then it will be “here”. What he’s looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn’t want that because it is all around him. Every step’s an effort both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant.”

Many of us spend many thousands on travel and we do enjoy it. But if we could find a little more of that "self-less" traveller in each of us, think of the benefits. Now perhaps if we had that attitude we wouldn't travel at all since we'd all be busy absorbing and enjoying our current environments!

Anyway, if this piques your interest read Pirsig. If not, make a big detour; it won't be worth your time.

[BennyBob]

I loved the book, but it's not a "light read." It isn't really about Zen or motorcycle maintenance, but is a type of "coming of age" story. It's about a middle aged sufferer of chronic mental illness, and his reconnection to himself and those important in his life.

Very insightful, if you have friends or family who suffer from diseases of the brain. I imagine it's very disappointing if you're looking for a cool book about a cross country motorcycle trip.
;)

[grifscoots]

Very insightful, if you have friends or family who suffer from diseases of the brain. ;)If I could only find that dayem tongue supressor I'd go in for a leetle shock therapy about right now.

[Moot]

Holy Crap, Yeit. Were you an English teacher or something? Color me impressed. :clapping:

[BennyBob]

If I could only find that dayem tongue supressor I'd go in for a leetle shock therapy about right now.

OK Grif, I haven't met you yet, but will see if the folks over at Shoal Creek can hook you up ... :rotf: the fact that we may get some rain may be too much of a shock by itself. I'm looking forward to a RTE as soon as I can get my schedule to match up.

[Wolfgang]

OK Grif, I haven't met you yet, but will see if the folks over at Shoal Creek can hook you up ... :rotf: the fact that we may get some rain may be too much of a shock by itself. I'm looking forward to a RTE as soon as I can get my schedule to match up.

Meeting Grif can be a live changing experience. But he will grow on you, and after a while you will downright like him. There is nobody more hospitable and helpful that he. One thing is for sure: They broke the mold right after him

:histerica

[dandiver]

If you liked Zen and the ....... then read "Travels with Charlie" by John Steinbeck, if you can find it. Great travel book. Nothing to do with bikes but a great on the road book.