Rating: 
Summary: It is a beautiful book, but it is not a novel.
Review: This a favourite book of mine, and I want to say
that it is not a novel, but a very straightforward
and honest account of Pirsig's life, a new philosophical
system he had created, and a journey he made with his son and friends.
Rating:
Summary: 20th Century Sophism, or Greatest Metaphysical Philosophy?
Review: As a philosopher, Pirsig has gained very little recognition, even though his book has been around for 23 years. You will not find his name or his work anywhere within philosophical encyclopedias, or any other kind of encyclopedia for that matter. I've wondered for many years why that is the case. It is true that the Metaphysics of Quality is not very compatible with most of the great Western philosophies, but nonetheless, I've found it incredible in scope, vision and depth. It is a book which contains principles applicable to almost anyone, anywhere, anytime here on earth, and its applicability owes much to the fact that it is very simple to read, though the ideas it explores - especially when dealing with Kant and Poincare - can become mind-boggling; fortunately this is not the case when it discusses Quality. It is true that Pirsig can sound rather sophistic at times, everyone, even the revered Socrates and Plato, are guilty of that. What really matters is that on the whole, Pirsig can hardly fail to deeply affect anyone who reads him with an open mind. Love it or hate it, this is definitely one of the most important books of the century, if not of all civilization
Rating:
Summary: Pirsig's life-changing literary masterpiece 'ZMM'
Review: This book has the power to change lives...whether you believe Pirsig's philsophy or not. 'Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' is one of the most true books ever written. It is slopping over with brutally honest insight into the human frailties of mind and spirit. By the time you close the cover, you will have learned a little about Western philosophy, Eastern mysticism and yourself. An extraordinary effort
Rating:
Summary: Book of a lifetime...
Review: I don't usually recommend stuff lightly...Neither do I write to urge people to spend money... Zen and the art of motorcyckle maintanance is not a book that is easily reviewed.
If you are looking for thrilling action, you should look for another title, this book might not please you at this time in life.
But it is , by far, the most comprehensive book of living ever written. Everyone should take the time to read it at least once in a lifetime.
It might take a while to grasp all the "consepts" of the author. But they are worth pondering, over and over again!
I have read it half a dozen times...And I will read it again!
I am a teacher for grades one through seven , from Pitea in Sweden. We have had many discussions about "quality" and "what is important in life" , based on the contents of this book among my colleagues.
If you ever wondered about why things are the way they are, or what REALLY matters, or why your neighbor wont wear anything but name brand-
clothing...Try reading Zen and the art of motorcycle maintanance...It's not easily read, But I can't recommend it enough //JOUNI
Rating:
Summary: One of the three books that guide my daily life.
Review: The impact of this book on the reader is incredible. Pirsig
is like a weaver who combines philsophy and keen insight into
a wonderful tapestry depicting modern American culture and a
new way to go. A must have on any bookshelf.
Rating:
Summary: Your education is not complete until you have read it.
Review: Autobiographical narrative of the author's inquiry into the nature of reality, distinctions, and sanity. Starts like a travelogue, but takes a sharp turn into the philosophical in Chapter 6.
--Richard Brodie, author, Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Mem
Rating:
Summary: Most thought-provoking book I have read to date.
Review: Pirsig is a master at controlling vocabulary and making his reader visualize each situation in the book. He has taught me more about what underlies words and concepts than any professor I have ever had. Wonderful work
Rating:
Summary: Extremely High on Real Quality
Review: A story about a man, his son, and his past. It will
Keep you in stitches while making you cry and teaching you
something about yourself and the world around you. A MUST
READ for anyone who speaks or ever even thought about speaking English
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful journey of philsophy, family and meaning of life.
Review: If you want to have a greater understanding of the world, the people in it, and why you spend time reading books, read this one
Rating: 
Summary: A Readable and Enchanting Novel Invoking Philosophical Ideas
Review: A Japanese biologist wrote about this book in a Japanese magazine as
follows: Many years ago when she was studying in England and going to
buy a motorcycle, one of her colleagues recommended her to read this
book, but it was not really a book on motorcycle maintenance but a
book that taught philosophy in a simple manner. She liked this book
and read it repeatedly. Reading this story and finding that the
twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this book was published in
paperback, I bought a copy and began to read it by expecting to learn
something about philosophy or the history of philosophy. To some
extent, this expectation made me read the book quickly in an effort to
get to possible chapters where the teaching of philosophy might be
fully given. Even without such a motivation, however, one could read
this book speedily, because the story magically enchants the reader
and because the style of Pirsig's writing is very readable even to the
non-native speaker of English who, like me, has read only a small
number of novels in English. Surely, descriptions of classical
philosophies and contemporary philosophical problems are given in
parallel with the story of motorcycle traveling, I have found that
this is essentially a novel, which invokes ideas about the
reunification of art and technology and about the quality of life. The
great point of the book is that it can also be enjoyed as a book
on philosophy, though descriptions of ancient Greek philosophies in
later chapters are not very understandable. In the last chapters the
story of a relation between a father and his son reaches a moving
climax.
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