Posted on 04/24/2017 5:19:16 PM PDT by ameribbean expat
Published in 1974 after being rejected by more than 100 other publishers, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, was the father-son story of a motorcycle trip across the western United States. Loosely autobiographical, it also contained flashbacks to a period in which the author was diagnosed as schizophrenic.
The book quickly became a best-seller. Pirsig said its protagonist “set out to resolve the conflict between classic values that create machinery, such as a motorcycle, and romantic values, such as experiencing the beauty of a country road”.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Wonder where I put my copy?
ahhh...now in a box in the hayloft. (no hay)
Heh heh — you will like Polanyi I think. I got turned onto him by someone here on FR a few years back, probably on a thread like this. His critique of the scientific method is fantastic. That’s what got me hooked in. If you’re someone who’s done creative work in technical areas you will realize that he is correct when it comes to how science really works. And then from there he opens up some interesting lines of attack on materialism and the left. It’s all very perceptive and innovative. I put him up near guys like Hayek in my personal pantheon and am surprised he’s not more well known. There’s a book called Everyman Revived by Drusilla Scott that’s a nice quick primer on Polanyi, btw.
I read that book way back when and read it over a couple of times. I still have a copy. I will probably look at it once again.
I drove nothing but MCs for about 30 years and did border to border and coast more than once. The best I ever got out of a bike was 70k miles on a 920 Virago. I drove that for a weekly 320 mile (one way) commute.
Reading this thread puts me in mind of an old-timer mechanic who might like to read ZMM
I read it four times. A good read when your life goes thru a transition. New job, new town, marriage, kids etc.
Helps you sort thru what is important to you. Quality is what it means to you and your value system. Fiat Soyder. Some people don’t like because they are un dependable. Others love the body style.
As my Dad said, can’t please everybody, so make sure you are proud of it and be content.
I had a 1970 Positano Yellow Fiat Spyder. Fun little car, but a mechanic I knew made fun of the “oil cooled” spark plugs.
I bought it new just before I got out of the Navy. Paid for with poker winnings on a WESTPAC cruise.
Had it a couple years, then basically lost it in a long weekend poker game in Lake Elsinore. I no longer play poker. :)
I've often thought it would be among a short list of books I'd take with me if I knew I was to be stranded in isolation for a long period of time.
Pirsig tried to do a lot.
He tried to unite Western and Eastern philosophy.
He tried to show the world that we should all be good.
He was fighting with the big issues.
A brilliant man with a brilliant mind who ran from his soul.
BFL. After reading through this thread, I’ve got a new book or two to add to my “to read” stack.
Those who liked ZMM might also like “Shop Class as Soulcraft.
An inquiry into the value of work” by Matthew B Crawford.
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