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Robert Pirsig: Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance

C

charlie hodge

New Member
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance audio?

Hey folks!

I'm looking to take the easy way out of finishing this book. I've been trying to get through it for over a month now and every time I pick it up, my brain gets fried and I need to go do something else very quickly. I really want to finish this book but feel at this rate I my head might explode if I try to carry on.

Anyway, I've had a quick look on the net to try and find an audio version of the book but haven't had much luck. Does anyone know where i could pick up a copy?

Your help is greatly appreciated.


:confused: :confused: :( :confused:
 
Quite simply, I've heard so many good things about this book. A friend told me that it was a struggle but well worth it. I have about 120 pages to go and feel that at many points during this book, my mind may have wondered somewhere else(Trying to cram as much as you can in a lunch hour at your desk may not be the best place to read this book)and I may have missed some crucial stuff.
 
Yeah, that's right...but I wasn't sure if it was yours...OH! Hello, there...

I have just finished reading this fine, fine book and wanted to know what anyone else who has read it thought about it...

At first I found it rather dull, but around half-way through it really gets interesting...

I loved all the bits concerning 'Phaedrus' - yes, I understand that he and the principle character are one in the same, but a lot of the actual 'journey' part was rather dull..."O, look, Chris...a slug...blah, blah, blah...". For me, the best parts were the ones concerning his search for a definition of Quality and his interactions with the other professors and students...they gave the book an almost magical quality, like 'Phaedrus' was some sort of wild and crazy prophet...

If you haven't read it or have tried reading it but gave up, have another go and once you get through the blah-blah-blah you get to the good-good-good...

Anyway, enough about moi...how about you? What are your thoughts and feelings concerning this book...?
 
I didn't finish it because I thought robert pirsig had a distorted perception of what zen is, because he didn't connect to it at all, he just made a lot of references to ancient philosophy. I preferred way of the peaceful warrior by dan millman and freedom from the known by krishnamurti, myself. a lot of people think zen is philosophy, but there is a difference. philosophy is something you remember. zen is not. zen is awareness of yourself. robert pirsig turned something that is so simple into something so dense. I didn't like that.
 
I reccently purchased the book, but haven't actually started reading it yet. :rolleyes:

My english teacher had assigned us at the begining of the year to write an essay on 'What is Quality in Thought and Statement'? We all looked at him like he was insane, and I don't think I have ever struggled with a paper as much as I did that one... how can one define quality?!

The next day, after we turned in our paper, he handed out an excerpt from the book....fantastic stuff. So, I bought the book last week, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. :cool:
 
Love4OneAnother said:
My english teacher had assigned us at the begining of the year to write an essay on 'What is Quality in Thought and Statement'? ...
Click to expand...

But the topic sounds really interesting! :)
 
bobbyburns said:
I didn't finish it because I thought robert pirsig had a distorted perception of what zen is, because he didn't connect to it at all, he just made a lot of references to ancient philosophy.
Click to expand...

I think the idea is that his thoughts and references are illustrative of his medatative state - re. his 'chatauque' (can't remember how to spell) - and therefore can be seen in a self-contemplative 'Zen' manner...

All the references to ancient philosophy are in relation to his inner and external journey that comes to a relative conclusion at the end of the book...If I was you I'd give it another chance...
 
I might eventually, but it takes something else to get me to pick up a book and read it nowadays. I have to find something about it that interests me. where I'm at right now, it seems krishnamurti had this way of explaining zen that is deeper and more penetrating than that of anyone else.
 
I've read it a couple of times and really enjoyed it - though Pirsig/Phaedrus never quite comes up with the big/profound idea that you think he is onto earlier on in the book.

The most interesting thing in the book for me was where he was exploring how people react in different ways to technology. The particular example I remember was the guy from the couple Pirsig and his son were travelling with in the beginning of the book was shocked and indignant when Pirsig suggested fixing the guys loose handlebars on his BMW with a shim made out of a strip from a coke can.

Mark
 
mgarratty said:
Pirsig/Phaedrus never quite comes up with the big/profound idea that you think he is onto earlier on in the book.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I agree...during the lectures at the uni and especially during the class he sits in on with the professor, you think something profound is going to be touched upon...but he never really reaches it...perhaps the underlying message of the fable is that true understanding lies with knowing the people you love...This would explain the conclusion regarding Chris...
 
Yes to both since I'm not sure which you are referring to.

Zen in the Art of Archery can easily be read in one sitting, but could probably be reread many times before picking up everything entailed in it.
 
True@1stLight said:
If someone is looking for an actual introduction to an art of Zen, Zen in the Art of Archery is much closer to that realm.
Click to expand...

Well, seeing as the title of this thread is 'Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance' and not 'looking for an actual introduction to an art of Zen?', it would appear that your postulating is positively peculiar.
 
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