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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
This book is really three different stories rolled into one; the first being a narrative that follows the main character and his young son, Chris, as they embark on a 17-day motorcycle trip from Minnesota to Northern California. This tale is oddly appealing to me; odd in the sense that the journey that Pirsig actually describes includes hours of monotonous traveling across flat and featureless land in unfavorable weather and having frustrating conversations with his son.
Not that there aren’t highlights along the way, he tells of beautiful scenery that can’t be captured by photos, helpful and hospitable people, and he even occasionally details proper techniques of motorcycle maintenance. But these moments are separated by long passages describing the otherwise mundane journey. Pirsig not only describes the differences in the country and climate, but also in the people and how they perceive and relate to others.
The book proceeds to go a bit deeper into the mind and character of Robert Pirsig as a person. Even though the first paragraph in the book states that many of the events within the book are based on factual occurrences, I didn’t realize to what extent that was true. The narrator tells a backstory of what happened to him some years ago, when he underwent electroconvulsive therapy to rid himself of an alternate personality named Phaedrus (a character from Plato). After I finished reading the book, I checked out the Wikipedia article on the author and found that he underwent something similar:
The Phaedrus character delves into deep discussions of his thoughts on “Quality”, which is the third branch of this tale. This seems to be the area that causes the book to be scrutinized on the idea it tries to promote, and why I’ve found it filed under the Philosophy section at a local bookstore. Some of the character’s philosophizing does tend to ramble on, even incoherently at times, but I did enjoy hearing how he went about making his arguments, even if I ultimately didn’t agree with them.
To me, this was a memorable book and one I’d like to read again sometime in the future. Since I listened to the audiobook format, I’d like to read it again as a physical book. It was oddly inspiring and thought provoking. And I someday hope to be fortunate enough to write a similar tale of fabulous travels with loved ones.
Not that there aren’t highlights along the way, he tells of beautiful scenery that can’t be captured by photos, helpful and hospitable people, and he even occasionally details proper techniques of motorcycle maintenance. But these moments are separated by long passages describing the otherwise mundane journey. Pirsig not only describes the differences in the country and climate, but also in the people and how they perceive and relate to others.
The book proceeds to go a bit deeper into the mind and character of Robert Pirsig as a person. Even though the first paragraph in the book states that many of the events within the book are based on factual occurrences, I didn’t realize to what extent that was true. The narrator tells a backstory of what happened to him some years ago, when he underwent electroconvulsive therapy to rid himself of an alternate personality named Phaedrus (a character from Plato). After I finished reading the book, I checked out the Wikipedia article on the author and found that he underwent something similar:
Pirsig suffered a nervous breakdown and spent time in and out of psychiatric hospitals between 1961 and 1963. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and clinical depression as a result of an evaluation conducted by psychoanalysts, and was treated with electroconvulsive therapy on numerous occasions, a treatment he discusses in his novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
The Phaedrus character delves into deep discussions of his thoughts on “Quality”, which is the third branch of this tale. This seems to be the area that causes the book to be scrutinized on the idea it tries to promote, and why I’ve found it filed under the Philosophy section at a local bookstore. Some of the character’s philosophizing does tend to ramble on, even incoherently at times, but I did enjoy hearing how he went about making his arguments, even if I ultimately didn’t agree with them.
To me, this was a memorable book and one I’d like to read again sometime in the future. Since I listened to the audiobook format, I’d like to read it again as a physical book. It was oddly inspiring and thought provoking. And I someday hope to be fortunate enough to write a similar tale of fabulous travels with loved ones.
A roadtrip with a narcissistic a-hole who is rude to everyone who politely puts up with him. Studded by monologues of what It all means. Bleurgh.
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is actually a re-read though I might as well be a new read since I recalled only the barest details of the book as I started in. It had me using brain power I'd not touched since my college days, as a good portion is of the text is philosophical. Pirsig also makes some interesting narrator/narrative choices that I wish were given more time in the text.
An interesting memoir.
The stitching of story and philosophy makes for a very pleasant, informative, and thought provoking read. The book focuses on two main things, the search for the definition of quality and a father-son cross country motorcycle trip.
Two of the biggest things I appreciated where the idea of looking at machine components in terms of their function instead of their outward appearance and the concept of quality as inherently known but indefinable.
The stitching of story and philosophy makes for a very pleasant, informative, and thought provoking read. The book focuses on two main things, the search for the definition of quality and a father-son cross country motorcycle trip.
Two of the biggest things I appreciated where the idea of looking at machine components in terms of their function instead of their outward appearance and the concept of quality as inherently known but indefinable.
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
One of my favorite books ever. Of course you should know it's not about Zen or motorcycles, however it is a good read that will get you thinking.
I considered rating this a 2/5 instead of a 3. In a word, I was disappointed. There is some wisdom in this book, and there are certainly things to think about, but many times the book simply lost me, and I had to keep going back and re-reading. I wouldn't have minded this, but there was just no payoff, no reward for trying to wrap my brain around the ideas being presented. I thought that by the end of the book things would wrap up in a way that made some sense, but it really didn't. Not for me, anyway.
All that said, there were points that I did enjoy, which is what prompted the 3rd star.
All that said, there were points that I did enjoy, which is what prompted the 3rd star.
I have read this book again after 15 years and I still love it.
It the going after or under the skin of things to see how it works, to get a better understanding, to get a better appreciation, to value the intelligence used, to see the 'quality'.
To apply that going after the better understanding to do a 'quality' job for oneself!
To chase after the - 'quality'. What a rush! What a thrill! Addictive.
Apologies - I was talking about life rather than the book.
The book just brings it home.
It the going after or under the skin of things to see how it works, to get a better understanding, to get a better appreciation, to value the intelligence used, to see the 'quality'.
To apply that going after the better understanding to do a 'quality' job for oneself!
To chase after the - 'quality'. What a rush! What a thrill! Addictive.
Apologies - I was talking about life rather than the book.
The book just brings it home.