Rating: 
Summary: Quality Is as Quality Does...
Review: Being the beneficiary (??) of a Great Books liberal arts education, yes, the same one that Pirsig writes about at his time at U of Chicago, one would think I'd be very dissapointed in his work. Not so. Reading this brings to light many of the questions and concerns I've had over the years. It's a shame I wasn't reading this at the time that I was in college, because I was searching along the same paths he was (although I wasn't involved with bikes at the time, more along the lines of dance parties and the occasional search/rescue mission). For those that are entrenched in the classical science vs art dichotomy, Pirsig will shake you up some. But at the same time, he does bring a big revelation to bear: there is Art within Science, and Science within Art. And when we realize that we can indulge in both, we might be able to get back some of that pride in craftmanship that is so lacking in today's world.
Rating: 
Summary: so far...
Review: I've read about a third to a half of this book, and... 1. The author/narrator is very grandiose. Always looking for what's 'wrong' with this or that, and having no answers. The problem is that his 'what's wrongs' are pretty sophomoric. 2. Add to that that he is a very meticulous/rhetorical guy, and you get a lot of droning. 3. Throw in sappy storytelling of the kind... 'well this is where my pen landed, it has to be included'... and you may just find yourself annoyed fairly often. What's good? So far his classic/romantic constructs are pretty interesting. But there's a lot of times he's flaking out in his way and it's not fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Review: Prospective readers of this book be warned: Robert Pirsig is a total douche. I couldn't go any further than 150 pages. He is arrogant, myopic, and a complete bore. It surrounded my days with feelings of anger at him and everyone who has ever decided that they like this book and what it says. It tells very little of what we need to know, or what we'd like to know. And more over, I feel that those who reveal any enjoyment or, worse yet, adoration for this book unfailingly end up coming across as nothing short of total morons. Pirsig is.
Rating: 
Summary: An Epiphany Waiting to Happen
Review: Pirsig's book is pure genius. Even from the standpoint of my Christian ideology I agreed with the bulk of the argument in this book. Moreover, I felt that it was beneficial to my own spiritual life, to my relationship with God, and to my ability to evaluate my Christian walk as I live it on a daily basis. Well-written, captivating, perhaps even "breath-taking" would be an acceptable term, this work has permanently changed the way I look at life. Read it. It's for you. Email me with questions.
Rating:
Summary: A book of great thought, and a true story
Review: This book in many ways helped me to piece together many ideas that I have had for some time. One is that the "quality" that Pirsig talks about is the same as Thelema. The key to it all is the realization of the Greek "Arete" which means excellence.
The core of this book is excellence of self, and how to acheive that. Some people may not have gotten that aspect, but that is what it is all about. I would recomend this book to anyone. If you enjoy this book, then you might consider reading anything by Aleister Crowley.
Rating:
Summary: One Of The Most Thoughtful Books I've Ever Read
Review: After all these years as an active reader, I still consider Robert Pirsig's incredible tour-de-force in this book to be the intellectual adventure of a lifetime, one that still makes me shake my head in wonder after a number of readings of it. I was introduced to "Zen" by my brother in law, who promised me that I would enjoy it. Wow, what an understatement! By now I must admit to now having several short quotes from it framed under glass at various spots in the house, because I was so taken by the gravity of what he has to say, and the disarmingly simple way he usually chooses to say it. Pirsig is a man with a lot to say, and a lot of wisdom in what he has to offer. Although I must admit that I do not agree with certain key aspects of his argument regarding the way the ancient bifurcation between what he calls romantic and classic perceptive orientations can at last be repaired and restored to cognitive and intellectual unity, I stand in utter awe at the quality of mind any human being must have to marshal such a breath-taking effort as this, at the accomplishment of conceiving and articulating the philosophical treatise described in such loving and painstaking detail here. His grasp of such eclectic, obscure and philosophically central notions truly is a feat quite the equal of the ascent of Everest in terms of the levels of concentration, mental endurance, and simple cognitive acumen necessary to muster this kind of argument. The book works on two levels that both assist and complement each other. First, the story narrative, which he uses both to illustrate ideas he is talking about and to introduce ideas he wants to discuss, also acts to bring us back to "normal everyday reality' after spinning high in the thin cold air of his theorizing. Second, the philosophical story becomes a kind of sophisticated detective story for curious intellectuals, as Pirsig's alter ego, Phaedrus, searches deeper and deeper into the mysteries that once led him into insanity because of the sheer intensity of his efforts to solve the riddle of the difference between the two seemingly irreconcilable aspects of reality (the romantic and the classic). The book is an awe-inspiring trip into a discovery of the nature of reality, contemporary society, and yourself. It has led to study groups, study guides, and a whole cult of Pirsig watchers who consider him the functional equivalent of the wise seer. The wildly best-selling book also led Pirsig deeper into a life of isolation, eschewing publicity and seeking greater introspection. There is a sequel, called "Lila", which also enjoyed a best-selling run on the charts in the early 1990s. This is a book that is quite unlike anything else you have ever read, and is something you have to experience to understand in its full impact. It is also a book I can recommend with a smile, knowing with confidence you will be glad you finally decided to buy it and read it. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: The Joy of Engagement!
Review: Before reviewing Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, let me mention that most people will either love or hate the book. Few will be indifferent. Those who will love the book will include those who enjoy philosophy, especially those who are well read in that subject; people who ride and maintain their own motorcycles; readers who are interested in psychology, particularly in terms of the mass hypnosis of social concepts; individuals who are curious about the line we draw between sanity and insanity; and people who want to think about how to deal with troubling personal situations, especially as a parent. As someone who has all of these interests and perspectives, the book fit my needs very well. Those who will dislike the book are people who like lots of action in their novels, dislike the subjects described above, and who want easy reading. This book is very thick with concepts, ideas, metaphors, and layering which reward careful reading and thought. Most text books are considerably easier to read and understand. Few modern novels are any more difficult to read from an intellectual and emotional perspective. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has several story lines that intertwine to create a synthesis of thought and experience: - a father and young son take a motorcycle trip from the Midwest to California
- the father has an internal dialogue with himself about what he observes about the people around him and their engagement with life and technology
- the father attempts to reconstruct the ideas and perspective he had before being treated as a mental patient (which treatment destroyed and distorted his memory and personality)
- the father looks at the great philosophers of western and eastern civilization and attempts to integrate their thoughts into an aesthetic built around our ability to know quality when we see and experience it
- the father deals with the incipient signs of mental instability in his son and himself. The book is almost impossible to characterize, but let me try anyway. Perhaps the closest book to this one is Hermann Hesse's Siddharta. At the same time, there is also a strong flavor of Zen and the Art of Archery. On the Road by Jack Kerouac covers some of the same intellectual and emotional territory. John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men considers some of the same questions of personal perspective. In terms of challenging the constrictions of society, there is also an element of The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit here. What is most remarkable about the book is the way that it pinpoints the spiritual vacuum in the pursuit of more and shinier personal items. Unlike many books from this time, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance upholds a concept of nobility and worth connected to pursuing material progress in ways that reflect eliminating low quality and replacing it with high quality. Think of this as being like the joy of craftsmanship, compared to the dullness of the assembly line. By setting high standards, expanding those standards, sharing those standards with others, and inspiring people to experience life more fully, we can move forward spiritually as well as intellectually. The motorcycle maintenance details connect these abstractions back to the practical issues of every day, as we roll along across country with the author and his son dealing with the realities of keeping our bike running where the repair and parts options are very limited. The book's afterward is particularly interesting, in which Mr. Pirsig opines about why this book has had such great and lasting appeal and tells you what happened after the book ends. Ultimately, I felt uplifted by the high respect that Mr. Pirsig has for his readers. He takes us very seriously, thinks we are intelligent, and pays us the compliment of believing that we can learn to fundamentally change all of our perspectives and experiences. After you finish this book (if you decide to read it), I suggest that you think about where you disengaged from the challenges, tasks, and people around you. Then, pick out one area and get deeply involved. As you master that one, take on another. And so on. Soon, you will have new and greater respect for yourself . . . and more rewarding relationships. Get your hands dirty!
Rating:
Summary: A real challenge.
Review: I read this book years ago when it first came out and have continued to mull over the meaning that I found in the story. The more I face life and my internal thoughts, the more I reflect on this philosophical book.
Rating:
Summary: Good book, one flaw
Review: An enjoyable book. A good read, and Pirsig has some very good points.
But still: the author sets out to define "quality". It is the whole purpose of the book and the journey. And he ends up saying that it can't be defined! Quality is not that hard to define. It is simply "how well something works according to its purpose".
Rating:
Summary: Discover the Meaning of Life with Motorcycle Oil
Review: Robert M. Pirsig's semi-autobiographical, philosophical-fiction novel is in several places brilliant. It will give you reason to pause and view life a little differently. Contrary to it's namesake, it is not a book about the ins and outs of Motorcycle mechanics. It is about an approach to life that embraces quality as a virtue and grasping things we don't understand and living with those around us even in a state of turmoil. It's more about life than motorcycles. Sure, Pirsig's tale centers around a motorcycle journey and he definitely has a love for locomoters of the two-wheel street variety, but at it's heart "Zen and Motorcycles" is a high approach to philosophy and ultimately how that philosophy is turned around to care and love for those close to us...our family and friends and how that relationship is to develop even in times of trouble or when family member's face things and problems larger than themselves. Pirsig's alter ego is a character Phaedrus that is waiting darkly in the wings to enter in and wreak havoc. Pirsig as well as his emotionally-challenged son Chris, must deal with this on a motorcycle trip across the states. The afterword provides us with Chris' tragic outcome and the author finds solace in the journey they had together and loved ones that remain. The book may by a little too deep of a trip for a casual read and may not be complete enough for the philosophical gestalt-expectant, but it's worthwhile putting humanity into deep thoughts. Read it. You won't be sorry.
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