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A review by mchester24
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig
3.0
I really bounced back and forth on how to rate this book— in the depths of the philosophical droning (IMO) it felt like a 2 star, simply because these type of meta-philosophy discussions definitely aren’t my cup of tea. But then when that was flipped to practical insights on things like religion, relationship, human-technology interactions, I felt energized and inspired. I know Pirsig intended these aspects to go hand in hand— can’t have one without the other— but the slow, dragging parts were really slow and really dragged. But I’ll settle on the three stars because I do feel I got some value out of it in the end.
I’ll note also that the later written intro and afterward that reflected on the book’s success over the half century since it was written definitely helped with context. In many ways, the esteem this book comes from the moment in cultural revolution it was written, a time I am too young to have seen. So criticizing or taking for granted much of what Pirsig was sharing about things like mental health and technology feels like calling the Beatles overrated because you weren’t around to experience how they changed things.
In the end, I think I’ll be happy to keep my copy on my shelf and May even revisit some of the particularly interesting and moving passages dedicated to the motorcycle trip and the gather-son relationship (god, I feel so sorry for Chris), but I can’t see myself slogging through it all again.
I’ll note also that the later written intro and afterward that reflected on the book’s success over the half century since it was written definitely helped with context. In many ways, the esteem this book comes from the moment in cultural revolution it was written, a time I am too young to have seen. So criticizing or taking for granted much of what Pirsig was sharing about things like mental health and technology feels like calling the Beatles overrated because you weren’t around to experience how they changed things.
In the end, I think I’ll be happy to keep my copy on my shelf and May even revisit some of the particularly interesting and moving passages dedicated to the motorcycle trip and the gather-son relationship (god, I feel so sorry for Chris), but I can’t see myself slogging through it all again.