Rating: 
Summary: I'd give it NO stars, if possible.
Review: Nothing to do with Zen. Almost nothing to do with motorcycles. And contains more ancient philosophy than a college text.Some say ZaMM was autobiographical. I hope to God that it wasn't. I read it over 15 years ago and HATE-HATE-HATED the book!!! Between the seemingly endless volumes of philosophy, that lead character was so haunted by Phraedus and his quest for "good" and "truth" and "beauty" that he never opened his eyes to appreciate the world that motorcycling or life in general was bringing to him. In the first night or two of camping, his son complained of stomach problems. He ignored the kid, "Go take care of it, son" and then casually mentioned to the other couple that "His doctors say it's psychological." No wonder the other couple took off on their own way. The guy was a total A$$ and a BAD FATHER! It was a classic example of how his madness made his entire family dysfunctional, and small wonder he wasn't liked by friends that he tried to make. I slammed that book down several dozen times because I was so angry with him. (But I was determined to finish it.) I won't spoil the end for you, but no wonder THAT happens! And I'm sure the lesson he learned was only temporary... As you can see, he still makes my blood boil. On a sad note: Robert Pirsig's son, Chris, was stabbed to death in SF, coming out of a Zen temple in 1979. I wish with all my heart that he played a more important role in his father's real life than he did in his book.
Rating: 
Summary: saved the best for last
Review: At first, I picked up this novel because i was curious as to what it was about. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance practices the zen it professes. It was reading for one of my classes, but the professor decided to teach another book instead. For this I am highly grateful. It definately wouldn't have had the impact it has had on me if I were required to read it. I wouldn't have paid as much attention to what it had to say. It is a book that must read itself. You can't pick it up and force yourself to read it. It should be savored like a moist piece of tiramisu. I found that at some points I had a hard time reading some of the philosophy, and that was when i needed to put the book down and get a fresh start on it the next day. Pirsig does a fantastic job at building up the plot and the theory until it all finally lets loose on the second to last page (before the afterward). I say that if you begin reading it and don't like it, put it down, give it some time, pick up where you left off, and you might get something out of it.
Rating: 
Summary: oddball book
Review: "Zen and the Art.." is certainly a different kind of book. Personally, I couldn't get thru the entire novel. At pg 248, I just gave up. Phaedrus' rants about "Quality" are just horrible. It does give some good insights, no doubt about that; however, the author seems to take odd paths and use the novel with some propaganda means as well. (for ex. Sylvia and John need technology but can't work with it/understand it). This novel is different from others I have read, but a good read if you're up to the challenge. I would say give it a try up to 150 pgs. if you don't like it after that, then quit because you're not going to like the rest of the novel at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not accurate
Review: This book is certainly a good book that engages one at many levels. And i'll agree with the other reviews of it generally, but i would just like to point out that the view he puts forth of what Zen is, of what the Phaedrus (by Plato) is about and who the sophists were is completely off base. His ideas are good but where he says he gets the ideas from is just poor study of the sources.
Rating:
Summary: What a high Quality book....
Review: This is a brilliant piece of work. Although the book teaches a new way to look at reality, is not however new to the Eastern mind. Pirsig's notion of Quality is what Lao Tzu talked about 2600 years ago in the Tao Te Ching. Pirsig does mention this, however, later on a lot of the theories he comes up with, which are derived from Quality/the Tao, can be found in the Chuang Tzu, which is obvious that he hadn't read when he wrote ZATAOMM. How can this book change the way you see the world? It can surely expand your mind. Religions tend to tell people that if you don't believe in X then you go to hell. And atheists think that all this God stuff is a figment of man's mind. What the Taoists and Pirsig argue is that Mythos, becomes reality when it is embedded in a society's "a priori" notions. The concept of "a priori" intellectualization means that we are all programmed (over time) to interpret a certain relative reality...and therefore the Christians and an African tribe that worships the sun, are BOTH living in a 100% real (relative to them) reality. No one is right or wrong. If we live and understand Quality/Tao, the undefined/pre-intellectual underlying reality, from which all diverse myriad realities come from, we can respect all religions, nations, ideas, opinions, and creatures. Who says are reality is more real that an ameba's? We can also finally join the hands of scientists (the classics) and the artists (the romantics) - and melt the object and subject into one entity. It is too bad Pirsig never wrote an academic book, because even though this is studied in Universities, it is still classified as an autobiographical novel. Get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Eyes open
Review: Dear All, As is always helpful I have read the book a couple of times now. I have also read the highly mixed reviews varying from coffee-shop boredom and a philosophy teachers irritation to some people who have genuinely loved this book. I must say that I can sympathise in part with both views. Indeed, if you have already formed some views on philosophy (and you may not be aware that you have) then be prepared, for you may be in for a few irritating moments. However, as is demonstrated by so many who have read and reviewed this book it has been a source of immense enjoyment and for many it seems to have changed their lives for the better. I am not going to bore anyone with the rigours of whether his philosophy is consistent or not but I will say that I am glad that he offers some healthy scepticism to many of todays accepted views. If you want philosophy, do read the book but remember that many of the views are contentious. In other words read with your eyes open and make your own minds up. As some of the less than happy readers have pointed out, there are many good books on philosophy so don't forget about those. As for whether you will be bored or not I think that it is quite clear from the reviews, varying from 5 star to 1 star, that you will just have to read it to find out. I hope you do not find the experience to be a waste.
Rating:
Summary: zen and the art of motorcycle maintence
Review: The gumption traps caught me. An honest book. A true book. A mysterious book only because it is not so much fiction as it is Pirsig's life. Caring and paying attention while life goes awry... or vice versa. The only book I have ever read two times and felt perhaps a third reading would be in order. Not your average normal sort of book. Wise. Honest. True.
Rating:
Summary: Quality...
Review: Book with great undertones for anybody searching the real meaning of quality, in our lives, our children's lives and our work.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but neither fiction nor philosophy...
Review: I read this book for my English class in high school, and I have to admit, the book was surprisingly engrossing for all its technical difficulties. It was indeed an interesting read. However, as a novel, the book contained too much philosophical lecturing to feel like a novel, but too little real philosophy to feel be enlightening. Some of his adventures (however metaphysical) were interesting, though. The author does present an interesting objection to our common senses. Still, almost all the arguments in this book were from sources that I already knew, and there was no real new insight being revealed. I guess the most accurate way to describe my response would be to just classify as an ocassionally thought-provoking book.
Rating:
Summary: Not about Zen, Motorcycle Maintenance or Values
Review: I had to read this book for my Advanced Creative Writing Class all the way back in 1992. To attend this class you had to have an 800 score on the English section of your SATs, so obviously I and my classmates were more than capable of appreciating this book. We ALL hated it! Even the one student who was into Zen and had actually went to Tibet to study it couldn't stand it. She said it was not about Zen at all. Personally, I found it long, boring, and the author to be haughty and self-absorbed. I was interested to know what his relationship with his wife and two kids were like, and how being put into a mental hospital affected him, but he never addressed these issues. He just spends pages upon pages 'philosophizing'. I regret having to spend the five dollars to buy it, though I didn't have too much of a choice at the time. If anyone does have a choice though, don't buy it, and if you hate long dull books, don't read it.
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