Rating: 
Summary: IDM (but in book form)
Review: Whenever I look into a new book I always read the reviews. But I don't read the reviews that give a book a good standing. I like to read the ones of the people who just didn't like it for whatever reason. I find if they can give me a difinitive argument on why the book isn't worth the paper it's printed on then they most likely have taken the time to think about it. However, in this case I believe in my own mind that people miss the point of this book. Most people read this book expecting to get some deep philosophical insight or just to impress their peers. I did enjoy the fair amount of philosophical discussion that occured but the best thing that I found when I read this book was that it gave me emotional response. Sometimes I would say, "I can understand exactly where Pirsig is coming from." but other times I would just totally disagree with Pirsig's approach to a situation. So in the end this book did have an impact on the way I think and act. It gave me insight into the mind of someone else.
Rating:
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: Zen and the Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance is a long, tough read. Although it may be long and difficult it is a must read for any person who condsiders himself/herself an avid reader. Even for those who do not read on a regular basis it is a must read. I enjoyed the book; it made me think of things out of the ordinary. For example: Do you have definition of Quality? You may think you do, but ponder the definition of Quality for a matter of seconds and you will immediately find out that you cannot define Quality. If any type of philosphy interest you, this book is a must read. The author, Robert Pirsig, is a very smart indiviual and has had a difficult past. The book reflects his thoughts pertaining to ALL aspects of life. I think you'll find that you either strongly agree, or strongly disagree with the author. Even if you don't like the book, you'll be glad that you've read it. As far as the book is concerned, it is about a cross-country motorcycle trip involving Pirsig and his son Chris. The trip will terach you about, values, humanity, humility, family, and most of all your inner-self. The book will lead you into the depths of your human soul. Sometimes, the book is hard to take, but you must keep on reading because it will teach you something. I loved this book and recommend it to all who read.
Rating: 
Summary: Zen- I would never read this book again
Review: This book is about a man's journey on a motorcycle. He goes through his past experiences and many of his obstacles. Many of these obstacles are questions he has about different theories, philosophies, and underlying forms. This book to me was something if had the choice, I never would have read.
One of the most common thoughts Pirsig wrote on and on and on about was quality. Seems pretty simple of a thought doesn't it? Not to him. He analyzed this thought so much that it couldn't make sense to anyone. After all this examining he then decides to tell us that everything he has said about quality is wrong and should be forgotten. This especially made me mad thinking why did he right a book and make others go through that too when it was all nonsense anyways.
This book takes you through Pirsig's sad life. He doesn't feel and he doesn't do anything but try to analyze different things. Maybe if he would step back for a second, he would see the real answer. Maybe he would actually start to enjoy life.
Rating: 
Summary: Quality? I think not.
Review: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is about a guy, Robert Persig, that goes on a motorcycle trip with his son, Chris. The purpose of the trip was for Robert to discover himself, to find out more about his past before he went insane. I had a very hard time reading this book, and I didn't really enjoy it either. This book was the hardest book I have ever had to read. This was because of Persig's rambling on of stupid, random thoughts and philosophies. Through out his trip he talks about many philosophies that will bore you to death. His great quest to find the meaning of Quality is unbelievably confusing and just plain stupid. After reading this book every time someone mentions the word Quality you will want to punch him/her in the face. He goes into such great detail about so many random thoughts and ideas that the book seems to never end. I am very proud of myself for actually reading this book in its entirety. I had such a hard time focusing and trying to understand this book and Persig's random thoughts that I dreaded having to even look at this book. I suggest reading through this horrible book so that from then on it will make you appreciate every other book that you read.
Rating: 
Summary: Spectacular
Review: This is probably one of my favorite books. An autobiographical cross country journey with philosophical insights thrown in. I was skeptical at first, but after receiving this book as a gift, I was hooked. I've hooked other friends as well. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Book should be burned
Review: Dear Mr. Pisig, I do not see how critics can continually refer to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as a classic or any thing remotely considered a classic. Your book is actually number 73 on the Modern Library Association's Reader List. Guess who occupies the number one and two spots respectively? Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.
But, this is America, and there are free speech laws that prohibit me from burning and banning all of your books. But according to the AMERICAN CAPITALIST SYSTEM, I can buy out your publishing rights and make sure copies of your horrible story do not corrupt indelible minds.
It's quite obvious to me your plan, ROBERT. First, you try and emulate Ayn Rand by integrating a philosophy into a novel.
However, you fail to symbolize your philosophy into the characters and so you must rely on a more doggerel approach.
Your lack of transitioning from plot to philosophy really annoys me. I can not stand your 300 pages of poorly executed junk. On the other hand, I can read Rand's thirty page speeches because they actually flow. Maybe you should go back to school and learn English Composition 101.
Next, you realize that the slag you slap together just will not hold sales and make a fat enough check to pay all your bills. So in order to continue your lazy bum attitude of doing nothing but riding motorcycles in the country side, you decide to join the Welfare Capital of the World™ Sweden.
Heck, you are not even creative enough to come up with our own philosophy like Rand has. You piece together some incoherent rant about philosophies that you read in college, and you think it's the greatest thing since Ayn Rand. You take an entire chapter to define what gumption is. I can do that in six words with my trusty Random House Dictionary: 2. courage; spunk; guts. 3. common sense; shrewdness.
Even if you do ride a Honda motorcycle, you never mention it by name. Perhaps you are ashamed of the way that Soichiro Honda conquered the automotive world with nothing but introspection of his mistakes. Wait, thats something you advocate in your book. But wait, you're a socialist, I forget. I'm sorry.
Let me tell you something sonny, you are not Ayn Rand and will never amount to her greatness.
Rating:
Summary: Why Not to Read This Book
Review: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a perfect example of how not to write a book that is supposed to make the reader think. I felt as if the story that this book had to tell could have been told in 200 pages, maybe. I'm not sure why the book had to drag on for so long. I'll grant this to the people who think that this book is the greatest thing since sliced bread: the discussion of Quality was a good thing that Pirsig brought up, but it went on for far too long. Before long, I was so sick of Quality that I would probably have burned the book after Quality was next mentioned. After the discussion of Quality finally came to a close (the end of the book), I was so confused by what Quality actually was that I now start to wonder what Quality actually is. The rest of the book also proved confusing. I won't try to blind myself to the fact that this was a tough read. I consider myself a very intelligent person, and I had to read and re-read passages and then re-read them again before I could really understand what in the world Pirsig was trying to say. Maybe this would have been a better book if Pirsig had used a slightly less complicated vocabulary and tried to better explain Quality, but Pirsig didn't do this. The main reason not to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is because Pirsig does too much to confuse the readers.
Rating:
Summary: Voyage in the Depths of the Soul's Eyes
Review: Who knows what good and quality is after weeks on a complex Chautauqua with Pirsig in his widely recognized creative biography, Zen and the Art of Vehicle Maintenance. This voyage into the fundamentals of classicism, romanticism, technology, anti-technology, Zen, quality, values, history, and relationships is definitely worth the experience despite times of ambiguity, brusqueness, inconsistency, and boredom. Pirsig is an intellectual man, and he provides challenges and has expectations of at least a certain mental caliber for his readers. I believe that few can truthfully claim that they completely enjoyed this book, but many of us are mature enough to understand that this book is certainly positively unique and rare to the literature genres and styles provided today. Certainly, a book as rejected by editors prior to its publishing and as ironically internationally recognized and distinguished as ZATAOVM is today should be read with careful expecations and should be respected even by those readers who do not meet the par of its depths, complexities, and intellectual curiosity (and therefore, do not like the book). Even though I had fairly enjoyed the book, I found one thing very bothersome. A major irony and drawback of this book is the central focus of relationship. Till the end of the story, Pirsig convinces the reader that the voyage is a self-exploration (finding the self) through the filtering of unconscious memories prior to the conscious memories. Phaedrus, an obsessive ghost, is in search of what is the ultimate fundamental right way of perceiving all things, how should we determine and prioritize our values, and what are the most important things in life. It is he who reveals the answers to Pirsig and us, which concludes with a transitional focus back to Pirsig's relationship with his son, Chris. Pirsig confuses the reader whether if his intention is to lecture on philosophy, connect the reader back to their old selves, or connect us back to those who can help us find ourselves. By the way, does he have any intention, emphasis, or purpose at all? Or is intentionally providing us the freedom to extract according to our own capabilities and differences? Pirsig would probably not make a good filmmaker, but he is a wise man worth at least hearing about once in this lifetime. It can be guaranteed that everyone who reads this book, whether if it is completely or half-way, will pick up not one but at least two beautiful wisdoms! But again, everything is determined by mentality (perspective). ZATAOVM is a masterpiece if you chose to see it that way, and it is trash if you chose to blind yourself that way. Pirsig does not determine that but you. You have the natural right of establishing and controlling your own reality, truth, and life purpose. You can follow the crowd amidst your eyes, or be like Phaedrus - create a third way to seeing things that are typically "black or white."
Rating:
Summary: Pirsigs' eye opener
Review: After reading this novel I found myself intrigued by the way that Pirsig thinks and expresses his thoughts through the main character. I also found it very interesting that he was able to tie together three seemingly different stories to creat a wonderful book. The only negative thing that I have to say about this book is that it was very difficult to grasp some of the concepts that he introduced and I had to re-read some of the pages several times before I understood what he was saying. Other than that I found it to be one of the best books I've ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Is the book worth reading? Yes.
Review: Is the book worth reading? Yes. Would I have read it if not required to? No. How much did I learn? A lot. Would I recommend it? Absolutely.
The book is long; there is not doubt about that. Someone asked me that if I saw Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on the shelf, would I pick it up? No, I wouldn't pick up the book and read it. Because I was required to read it, I was forced to look beyond my pre-conceived notions to realize there are some merits to the book. The book gives insight into the values of one very confused man. The great part about it is that as he works through his past, you work through it as well. It can be frustrating to try and understand the jumbled thoughts, but read it with the realization that it all works out in the end.
There is one quote in Chapter One that stuck with me throughout the book: "Now the stream of our common consciousness seems to be obliterating its own banks, losing its central direction and purpose, flooding the lowlands, disconnecting and isolating the highlands and to no particular purpose other than the wasteful fulfillment of its own internal momentum. Some channel deepening seems called for." That is what the book is about, deepening Robert's understanding of himself and his relationship with his son. If you're open-minded enough, you can learn a little about yourself as well. Even if all I got were new ways of looking at things and gaining appreciation of different aspects of my life, it was worth it.
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