"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig - Book Review

Summary

"Few books transform a generation and then establish themselves as touchstones for the generations that follow. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one such book. This modern epic of a man's search for meaning became an instant bestseller on publication in 1974, acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters. It continues to inspire millions.

A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance becomes a personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions on how to live. The narrator's relationship with his son leads to a powerful self-reckoning; the craft of motorcycle maintenance leads to an austerely beautiful process for reconciling science, religion, and humanism. Resonant with the confusions of existence, this classic is a touching and transcendent book of life.

This new edition contains an interview with Pirsig and letters and documents detailing how this extraordinary book came to be."

Review

A friend of mine gave me this book a few months ago. I was already familiar with its title, when it was written, and its core idea, but I read it largely without any prior knowledge. This made for an unusual experience. The book is a philosophical treatise conveyed through a narrative that follows a father and son on a motorcycle trip across the United States. The stream of consciousness alternates between the present and the thoughts of the main character's alter ego, a philosophy student in search of the essential aspect of life, which he calls Quality. Although it was sometimes a bit confusing for a blind reader like me, I found the reading enjoyable. The book presents great ideas related to the zeitgeist of the 1970s, including technological fear and the futility of materialism, while also offering valuable psychological insights into the relationship between the main character and his son.

Key Takeaways

  • Although it can be confusing, it is a pleasurable read with valuable philosophical insights
  • It provides a great exposition of personality fragmentation
  • Captures the philosophical zeitgeist of the 1970s.

Who Should Read This

Readers interested in philosophical narratives, mature streams of consciousness, and the philosophical ideas of the 1970s.

Favourite Quotes

"When you’re stuck together like this, I figure small differences in temperament are bound to show up."

"At first this difference seemed fairly minor, but then it grew…and grew…and grew…until I began to see why I missed it. Some things you miss because they’re so tiny you overlook them. But some things you don’t see because they’re so huge. We were both looking at the same thing, seeing the same thing, talking about the same thing, thinking about the same thing, except he was looking, seeing, talking and thinking from a completely different dimension."

"We keep passing unseen through little moments of other people’s lives."

The real cycle you’re working on is a cycle called yourself. The machine that appears to be “out there” and the person that appears to be “in here” are not two separate things.

Rating

⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5 stars)

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