Zen and the Art...

[ballast]

I just finished reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (an inquiry into values)" by Robert M. Pirsig. I have had this book laying around for quite a while and had no idea what to expect. If you are a reader, a thinker and a motorcyclist you should give it a go.

[skeeter]

e-mail the prologue to me if you can

[AlabamaNomadRider]

What if think I'm a motorcyclist and sometimes read?

Just funning give us a little clue as to what the book is about Charlie.

[tombstone]

Lots of motorcyclists treat that book as revered wisdom. I read it...well, almost, I got near the end and just couldn't stand it anymore. Put it down and never finished it.

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by tombstone

Lots of motorcyclists treat that book as revered wisdom. I read it...well, almost, I got near the end and just couldn't stand it anymore. Put it down and never finished it.

Your not the first person that has had the same feeling about that book.

[ballast]

Originally Posted by skeeter

e-mail the prologue to me if you can

Send me an address and I'll send you the book.

[ballast]

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

What if think I'm a motorcyclist and sometimes read?

Just funning give us a little clue as to what the book is about Charlie.

A man and his boy on a bike trip from mid west to CA in the early 70's. Story goes between the trip and discussions of his life in academia and how he ended up in a nut farm. Long discussions about "quality" as a concept. Plato, Socrates, the usual barroom suspects.

"The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called 'yourself.'"

"The study of the art of motorcycle maintenance is really a miniature study of the art of rationality itself. Working on a motorcycle, working well, caring, is to become part of a process, to achieve an inner peace of mind. The motorcycle is primarily a mental phenomenon."
-Robert M. Pirsig

[bobhamlin]

A life-altering book for me. It connected philosophy to practicality.

It gave me the courage to attempt tearing down and re-building a 68 Triumph 650 and a VW bus--successfully.

I still consciously apply "Motorcycle Maintenance" personally and professionally: The person or thing that I am studying is always showing/telling me its symptoms. It is my task to overcome anything that is preventing me from accurately hearing/seeing/feeling/interpreting those symptoms.

The barriers to understanding are usually within me, and the book helped me recognize in a very practical way how they interfere.

I read the book three times during the first year it came out ,not sure if I finished it three times. If you have no background in classic philosophy you may need some prep reading before you start reading this one. Maybe something like this book here.


http://www.amazon.com/Guidebook-Zen-Art-....6140670&sr=8- 3

This book is classic bait and switch. It draws a biker dude into the book with the promise of a narrative about a cross country trip and then puts you to sleep with endless whining using terminology and naming names from classic philosophy.

Highly recommended for insomniacs but Nytol or counting sheep are probably better alternatives.

[skeeter]

Thanks but no. I like to read in the same way I ride.... where I don't have to over analyze or justify anything.

[elvis]

Originally Posted by ballast

I just finished reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (an inquiry into values)" by Robert M. Pirsig. I have had this book laying around for quite a while and had no idea what to expect. If you are a reader, a thinker and a motorcyclist you should give it a go.

Ballast, now is the time to read Zen and Now by Mark Richardson:

http://www.zenandnow.org/

Enjoy,

Elvis

[elvis]

Originally Posted by AlabamaNomadRider

What if think I'm a motorcyclist and sometimes read?

Just funning give us a little clue as to what the book is about Charlie.

A pdf of the book is at http://web.archive.org/web/200708182...pirsig/zen.pdf

Enjoy,

E.

[ballast]

Originally Posted by elvis

Ballast, now is the time to read Zen and Now by Mark Richardson:

http://www.zenandnow.org/

Enjoy,

Elvis

Thanks. This looks interesting. I will definetly check it out.

[coacha]

A book I am finishing up is Shopcraft as Soulcraft, a good read for sure. http://www.amazon.com/Shop-Class-Soulcra....6409034&sr= 8-1

Read Zen last year...it was good and made me think but as some have said, gets a little boring at times.