Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance : an inquiry into values [READING DISCUSSION BOOKS

One of the most important and influential books written in the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful, moving, and penetrating examination of how we live . . . and a breathtaking meditation on how to live better. Here is the book that transformed a generation: an unforgettable narration of a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, undertaken by a father and his young son. A story of love and fear -- of growth, discovery, and acceptance -- that becomes a profound personal and philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions, this uniquely exhilarating modern classic is both touching and transcendent, resonant with the myriad confusions of existence . . . and the small, essential triumphs that propel us forward.

acclaimed As One Of The Most Exciting Books In The History Of American Letters, This Modern Epic Became An Instant Bestseller Upon Publication In 1974, Transforming A Generation And Continuing To Inspire Millions. This 25th Anniversary Quill Edition Features A New Introduction By The Author; Important Typographical Changes; And A Reader's Guide That Includes Discussion Topics, An Interview With The Author, And Letters And Documents Detailing How This Extraordinary Book Came To Be. A Narration Of A Summer Motorcycle Trip Undertaken By A Father And His Son, The Book Becomes A Personal And Philosophical Odyssey Into Fundamental Questions Of 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, zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance Is A Touching And Transcendent Book Of Life.

the New Yorker

“the Book Is Inspired, Original. . . . The Analogies With Moby-dick Are Patent.”

THE CLASSIC BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED MILLIONS A penetrating examination of how we live and how to live better 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. The novel, originally published in 1974, uses a long motorcycle trip to frame a prolonged exploration of the world of ideas, about life and how best to live it. It references perspectives from Western and Eastern Civilizations as it explores the central question of the how to pursue technology so that human life is enriched rather than degraded. Narrated in the first person, it incorporates a parallel presentation of trip details and an ongoing retrospective concerning dramatic events from the Narrator's past, creating rich symbolism and including numerous analogies reinforcing the overall theme of coming to terms with the mysteries of why we exist and how best to live "The real cycle you're working on is a cycle called 'yourself.'"One of the most important and influential books of the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful, moving, and penetrating examination of how we live and a meditation on how to live better. The narrative of a father on a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest with his young son, it becomes a profound personal and philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions. A true modern classic, it remains at once touching and transcendent, resonant with the myriad confusions of existence and the small, essential triumphs that propel us forward. A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, this book 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.--From publisher description

this Lyrical, Evocative, Thought-provoking Journal Of A Man's Quest For Truth—and For Himself—was An Instant Classic, Now Available Unabridged On Cd

village Voice

it's A Miracle.. Sparkles Like An Electric Dream. Freshnessoriginality... That Seduces You Into Loving Motorcyclesas Tender In Their Pistons As The Petals In The Buddah's Dawn Lotus.

The author and his young son take a motorcycle trip across America. Their experiences become the springboard from which Robert Pirsig dives into his brilliant, often beautiful meditations on the concept of value.and finally, on the author's own troubled past Robert M. Pirsig's Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an examination of how we live, a meditation on how to live better set around the narration of a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, undertaken by a father & his young son. I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning.