He really explains well that the scientific method devises theories that attempt to match observations, but never can describe ultimate reality.
How Pirsig deals with his own insanity (if that’s what it was) in that book would be an incredible achievement all by itself. Young Chris was trapped on the back of a motorcycle on a cross-country trip, and due to the confines of the helmet saw very little but the back of the man who used to be his father and now, due to electroshock therapy, was somebody else. He got to discard the helmet, and he got his father back. Tremendous, metaphorical narrative.