5 Responses to “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values”

• By Whenindoubt on Mar 11, 2010

  Yeah: it all makes sense when you get to the part about the author getting shock treatments.
  Rating: 1 / 5
• By Anonymous on Mar 11, 2010

  My dad encouraged me to read this book, and he had a free copy so I thought what the hell. I had a job at a coffee shop at the time and during down time I would read a few pages. Man, everyone has heard of this book. You don’t know how many people came into the store and saw it sitting there and mentioned what a great book it was, I asked everyone of them if they personally read it and I can remember them all saying “Uh, well I heard it was good from a friend”. Anyway, save your hard earned cash and buy a motorcycle manual or something this is the most boring book I’ve ever read. There’s not a hint of inspired writing or insight here, then again I should have known better my dad reads books on playing chess.
  Rating: 1 / 5
• By Kevin Dawson on Mar 11, 2010

  Pirsig leads us on hundreds of pages in a self-indulgent quest for the definition of “quality,” in an East meets West context. Note to author: Webster defines quality in many ways. Among them are 1.) Character (as in attribute) 2.) Comparative rank (for the relativists out there) 3.) Superior rank (as a contrast to #2). It’s really that simple, Mr. Pirsig. Get over it.

  Oh, and by the way, next time you criticize the “Church of Reason,” be aware that your rhetoric is actually a reasoned argument against reason. This alone should be “reason” enough to avoid your convoluted ideology.
  Rating: 1 / 5
• By Book Lover on Mar 11, 2010

  He is insane, and in fact, receives electroshock treatments for his illness. Being forced to receive the treatments renders him powerfully resentful, and his entire book is an attempt to say he wasn’t sick. This mess of a book should convince you he was sick.
  Rating: 1 / 5
• By markle on Mar 11, 2010

  That review by “Woodchuck” helped clarify what I wanted to say.

  I read it years ago, and “knew” that the author was unbalanced, but also that he held an enormous attraction to many, many people. I couldn’t reconcile the two.

  I’ve never known anyone who was schizophrenic, but Pirsig’s belief system echoes exactly what the reviewer was saying; something I would have catagorized as “grandiosity,” with no small amount of paranoia thrown into the mix.

  In any case — should you decide to pursue this book — know that the text is rambling and simplistic.

  I’ve read many of the reviews, and those people who were lost or somewhat depressed (or even mentally disturbed — I’m not quite sure) seem to really enjoy the book. Those people who are basically happy with their lives and mentally “sound” are dismayed and (somewhat) disgusted with the book.

  I’m not disgusted with the book, but with people who recommend it blindly to others.
  Rating: 1 / 5

Name (*)

E-mail (*)

Url

CAPTCHA Code *

Spam Protection by WP-SpamFree

Message