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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
I enjoyed the many meanderings of thought on philosophy and motorcycle repair, mixed with a mystery on the history and mental state of the narrator. I do feel like a lot of it went over my head, but the parts I understood helped slide some things in place in my own mind that I hadn’t realized were out of place.
I listened to the audio format, which I thought made this book much more approachable. It sounds comforting; like a campfire story. I could see the same language in print being more work and maybe not as satisfying.
I listened to the audio format, which I thought made this book much more approachable. It sounds comforting; like a campfire story. I could see the same language in print being more work and maybe not as satisfying.
After recommending this book to a friend, I decided it was time to reread it, more that 20 years after the last time I read it, to see if it still resonated with me the same way it did before. I found that, for the most part, it did. There was some sense that is was dated, having been written in the 1970s before the explosion of the Internet, but the comments about how we relate to technology still felt right. The arc of the story, as the narrator reconnects with the part of him that he had buried in order to be considered sane, was moving. The search for Quality goes on.
Robert Pirsig blends the classic road story with interpersonal and intrapersonal drama as well as philosophical explorations, and the result is a highly informative and deeply intelligent journey through the vast landscapes of both the Pacific coast and the human mind. It's a book that demands your full attention, but it's definitely worth the effort.
I may try again but this book was nearly a DNF for me.
Desperately want to read this again; I am convinced that my pubescent mind was too young to fully grasp its philosophical genius.
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was assigned this book in college for a psych class I took... way more years ago than I'd like to think. I never read it. Having finished it now, I realize my younger self would not have fully appreciated this amazing book. The first half was tough to get through as Pirsig sets out the framework for all that comes after, but the interludes describing the motorcycle trip from Minnesota to California provides a respite from the heavy parts. Clearly I'll need to read this one again. Maybe the second time I will get a better handle on what his alter-ego Phaedrus was pursuing. The second half of the book is much more accessible, with sections that blew me away. Pirsig was a genius and his exploration of the concept of Quality is one that, though written in 1974, still rings true, especially in our times of isolation and hostility.
Other than the one passage of misogyny that felt like a friendly dog had just turned and savaged me, this book was everything I'd expected from its reputation. It was simultaneously confusing and enlightening, and as a result I think it will continue to reverberate in my life. Well worth the time I spent. (Also, I highly recommend the audio version I "read," which was narrated by Michael Kramer.)
I found this book hard to get through. There were moments when I felt that Robert Pirsig made an observation about culture that was dead on and relatable for me personally. When the book went into a more philosophical direction, I admittedly got a little lost as this is most definitely not an area that I have much background or interest in.
Not sure what to say about the book - it give me a few insights, its written well, but somehow I just could not connect to it. Only maybe a little bit towards the end. Generally, it is a good book, but it didn't really give me any new things to think about, apart from mental illness treatments - i suppose i should have read it when i was younger!
still, im glad it's out there, the ideas Pirsig presents are important.
still, im glad it's out there, the ideas Pirsig presents are important.