Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

I like to read. When taking my trips, especially by myself, I always have a book to read. While looking around for a new book, I was intrigued by some of the reviews. After reading a bit more about the book, I figured it was not about motorcycle maintenance but more about a man and his son (and friends) on a trip together. I should have done my homework since this book is really heavy into philosophy. Sure they were on a trip but man, I got way more than I bargained for.

Before I get into it, I have tried to read this thing at least 10 times and failed each and every time. Nope, still have not finished it. In fact, I have not gotten 1/4 into the book before I put it down. It is as dry as Jehovah’s Witness’ birthday party.

I will admit, some parts of it were very interesting - the trip with his son but when he started to go off on a tangent, it would lose me. To me it sounded more like a drug induced rant but in the end, it just did not interest me so I would put the book down (again). Many talk about how transformative it is. I guess I am too simple minded and just could not wrap my head around what he was trying to say.

For those not familiar with the book, it was published in 1974. The book is narrated by the author while he takes a trip from the Midwest to Montana to California with his 11 year old son and some friends (on other bikes). When the narrator was about the trip with his son, the book was quite interesting. I also liked the parts when he talked about issues with his motorcycle on the trip (and how to fix it). Where he started to lose me was when he would talk in the third person as Phaedrus. It would start a never ending ramble that, well, bored me to death.

Overall I just found this book to be very dull. I am not saying it is a bad book just not a book that interests me. I would read it, get bored, and it would sit in a drawer. About 2-3 weeks later, I would pull it out, start at the beginning and give it another try. I did notice that with each subsequent try, I would read less pages. This is the first book in quite some time that I really just did not enjoy (there was an autobiography of a certain rock band I also found boring). That is too bad since so many folks rant and rave about how good it is. After trying to read it multiple times, I begin to doubt if they really read it...LOL. But then again, I always fall asleep watching Easy Rider.

I think this book may actually be an autobiography about the author for the first half of his life. It is a combination of philosophy and relationships and maybe some mental issues too. Again, I am not the best to understand and review this book as I did not finish and just did not like it. I do know that the author, Pirsig, was a philosopher.

In summary, I cannot recommend this book. Not that it is bad but mainly because I did not finish it. It you are heavy into philosophy, you may LOVE this book. It is just not my thing.