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cecile87's review against another edition
5.0
Although at times a tedious read, I loved it. I enjoyed his efforts to apply philosophical theory to daily life issues. I find the strong reactions against the book amusing. I work at a college. I've seen philosophy profs in action. I am not impressed. They are so caught up in showing how smart they are they remind of of silly cats chasing their own tales. But Pirsig tried to make thinking about thinking a process that could benefit one's life.
Bottomline, I wish everyone had the capacity to self reflect and have awareness of how they are "slicing" life. Perhaps we'd have fewer people caught up in values rigidity and ego-driven gumption traps.
As a black person, I think about Pirsig's early question about where scientific hypotheses come from, the implication being they are rather arbitrary, tentative, and certainly values driven, for good or bad.
This especially hits home when I consider the work white scientists have done to try and prove white superiority.
Their hubris kept them from questioning the very nature of their research. Who do you think would want to prove white superiority...duh. Some self awareness (or perhaps scientists engaged in such behavior to feather their own nests by attempting to ensure the status quo in politics and economics) and loosening of values rigidity would have been more humane in that line of work.
Better questions about race and human performance could have been asked so that racial territoriality and personal agendas were questioned. Maybe they should study why some white people need to feel superior. After all, as long as we are all on the same planet, it would be better to help everyone achieve..duh.
What about hypotheses that avoid dehumanization, for example-- What interventions/strategies in society would allow for maximum achievement of all people in this country so that we all benefit? I'm showing, of course, my social equity bias.
I found the writing meditative, not dull. I cannot say that he was egotistical, as some have sliced it. Having dealt with a nervous breakdown doesn't diminish his work. He could have been an murdering asshole. Instead, he shared what he had learned from his break.
He reminded me, as many books I have read, that meditation is something I need to add into my daily life. So, I will start with meditating every day for two minutes. Hopefully, I will be able to expand from there.
I'm thinking I can use some of his metaphors at work, especially about gumption and gumption traps, in my intro to college courses. Students might like this turn of a phrase over the worn out words of "motivation" and "personal responsibility."
I'm impressed that so many who have read this book found value in it.
I plan to read the book about this book!
Bottomline, I wish everyone had the capacity to self reflect and have awareness of how they are "slicing" life. Perhaps we'd have fewer people caught up in values rigidity and ego-driven gumption traps.
As a black person, I think about Pirsig's early question about where scientific hypotheses come from, the implication being they are rather arbitrary, tentative, and certainly values driven, for good or bad.
This especially hits home when I consider the work white scientists have done to try and prove white superiority.
Their hubris kept them from questioning the very nature of their research. Who do you think would want to prove white superiority...duh. Some self awareness (or perhaps scientists engaged in such behavior to feather their own nests by attempting to ensure the status quo in politics and economics) and loosening of values rigidity would have been more humane in that line of work.
Better questions about race and human performance could have been asked so that racial territoriality and personal agendas were questioned. Maybe they should study why some white people need to feel superior. After all, as long as we are all on the same planet, it would be better to help everyone achieve..duh.
What about hypotheses that avoid dehumanization, for example-- What interventions/strategies in society would allow for maximum achievement of all people in this country so that we all benefit? I'm showing, of course, my social equity bias.
I found the writing meditative, not dull. I cannot say that he was egotistical, as some have sliced it. Having dealt with a nervous breakdown doesn't diminish his work. He could have been an murdering asshole. Instead, he shared what he had learned from his break.
He reminded me, as many books I have read, that meditation is something I need to add into my daily life. So, I will start with meditating every day for two minutes. Hopefully, I will be able to expand from there.
I'm thinking I can use some of his metaphors at work, especially about gumption and gumption traps, in my intro to college courses. Students might like this turn of a phrase over the worn out words of "motivation" and "personal responsibility."
I'm impressed that so many who have read this book found value in it.
I plan to read the book about this book!
platosdad's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bittersweet_symphony's review against another edition
3.0
While I am usually inclined towards things more cerebral and directly philosophical, I was hoping for something with more heart and narrative substance. This book, in essence is ironically a static plot with heavy mixes of philosophical treatises. The metaphysical presentations have worthwhile things to consider, but they tend to bog down the story.
In the end Pirsig accomplishes at least one great thing. He demonstrates the shortcomings of rationality, and analytic methods as a means of understanding the world and how we make sense of it. He shows how swimming in the world of ideas and the realm of logic can be circular and increasingly maddening. Wrestling too much with the metaphysical can pull you away from the important aspects of "reality", namely, our relationships with each other.
I would still recommend this to people, but with the qualifier that it is more philosophy than fiction, and more mind than heart. For others wanting an introduction to philosophy via the fiction route, I recommend "Sophie's World" instead.
In the end Pirsig accomplishes at least one great thing. He demonstrates the shortcomings of rationality, and analytic methods as a means of understanding the world and how we make sense of it. He shows how swimming in the world of ideas and the realm of logic can be circular and increasingly maddening. Wrestling too much with the metaphysical can pull you away from the important aspects of "reality", namely, our relationships with each other.
I would still recommend this to people, but with the qualifier that it is more philosophy than fiction, and more mind than heart. For others wanting an introduction to philosophy via the fiction route, I recommend "Sophie's World" instead.
alieneleni's review against another edition
I just cant do it. pretentious hippy bullshit. im tired. maybe ill get back to it someday but that day is not today.
annashiv's review against another edition
2.0
For me it is more like one and a half stars. I managed to get through it but only just. It's not something I would read for fun. I read it for a class and that is the only reason. I am fine with the idea that reading doesn't always have to be fun, but this was a little much. Maybe it's just because I'm a little too biased against anyone from the 70's. I could not handle any use of the word 'groovy.' other problems were the huge rhetorical passages that went on for 40 pages in order to get to any sort of conclusion about an idea. This would be okay if it made any logical sense, but often times it doesn't. The most enjoyable and interesting parts were about his insanity, but there isn't a lot about that. I would not recommend this to anyone who is only looking for fun reads. This is not a fun read. It's an exhausting one.
dracovulpini's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
idgey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
alghesny's review against another edition
5.0
Testament:
I believe I just met my favorite book of all time!
It’s everything I was looking for in a book, and the fact that the trip passed through Oregon by the end is equivalent to the cherry on top. Sigh, I loved it!! Hope the next book I pick up tops it and teach me many things just like this one did
I believe I just met my favorite book of all time!
It’s everything I was looking for in a book, and the fact that the trip passed through Oregon by the end is equivalent to the cherry on top. Sigh, I loved it!! Hope the next book I pick up tops it and teach me many things just like this one did
kaiare's review against another edition
4.25
A book like none I’ve read before, blending a philosophical essay into the exploration of quality and its role in metaphysics, the joy and simplicity of a motorcycle trip and the internal struggle of a psychological breakdown. It was dry and difficult to read at times, complex and demanding of your full attention. Tragic but uplifting, its capture of the dynamic between Chris and Robert was unique, beautiful but lugubrious. I loved the exploration of Greek philosophy. Fuck Aristotle.