How many riders have a copy of Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on their bookshelf? How many more, like me, have struggled with the text, the philosophy, and failed to make it to the end of the book? The pages turn easily for me when Pirsig describes the ride, the road and the people he encounters. But I bog down in his discussions of the metaphysics of quality. And I wouldn’t finish despite thinking it was a great book. Until now. Until I happened upon Mark Richardson’s book Zen and Now.
It felt good to read that Richardson struggled with Pirsig’s book just like I did. Many attempts at it, a bit farther through and then bogging down. Zen and Now is Richardson’s excellent riding story and interpretation of Pirsig’s book. After I finished reading it I picked up Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, read it from cover to cover, and got it. Knew what it meant and decided again what a great book it is.
Richardson decides to ride the same route, visit the same places as much as possible as Pirsig and his son did that summer in the summer of 1974. His book not only provides the kind of vicarious experience that a good writer and rider can produce it does an amazing job putting the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance in a context that means something to my life and riding. Many riding books and stories push me as a reader to the sidelines as the author plays out the story on a stage. Richardson does something different. He brings me onto the stage and I feel as if I am part of the trip.
I don’t often recommend books but this one is special. Check out Richardson’s Web site for more information or click the Amazon link below to buy it. (If you do I may make my first 25 cents from Scooter in the Sticks!)
How funny! I was finally able to finish “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” for the first time just a couple of weeks ago. I too have attempted it at other times and haven’t been able to see it through to the end.
For me, I think the combination of having been a scooter rider now for a year and being in the process of tackling some pretty convoluted emotional issue, primed me to finally be able to finish this book. I enjoyed the portions of it pertaining to the ride, but also was able to relate to his struggles regarding quality and the classical versus romantic understanding of it.
The book certainly found me again at an ideal time. I’ve been reluctant to reshelve it in the bookcas. It’s remained on the nightstand as reminder not only of its contents, but the feeling of accomplishment I have for finally finishing it.
I liked Zen the first time. It opened my eyes to the fact that every time a recalcitrant nut held up a project I wasn’t alone in cursing the universe. His second book, Lila, peripherally “about” sailing was a bugger to read. Pirsig didn’t improve with age but the older I get the more relevant his discussion of Quality becomes.
I agree with you on the Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. I loved when they talked about the bike and who they met but had a hard time getting through the philosophy. I probably would not have finished if not for the fact my wife was reading at the same time and she liked the philosophy so I finished it.
I picked up the original as a book on tape from the used bookstore and listened to “Zen and Now” on CD from the library. I’ll admit that some of the passages put me to sleep but I was able to rewind and relisten.
WaywardScooterGirl: It’s strange how some books just seem to become exactly what we need to hear at just the right time. My copy is still on the nightstand.
Conchscooter: I agree with you about the quality issues becoming more powerful with age. What was important to me the first time I read it in the 1980s is not the same thing that’s important today.
Bryan Edwards: Even in my latest reading of the book I still struggled through the philosophy though at least this time it made sense. Or at least as much sense as my brain is able to process of Quality.
My wife read the book years ago. Maybe I need to talk to her about us reading it together.
DenK: I don’t know what it is about books on tape but unless I am listening in the truck while driving they all put me to sleep. Five minutes and lights out. I have been listening to “When You Are Engulfed in Flames” by David Sedaris for weeks now. And even though he has me laughing out loud for a few moments I always pass out.
This is odd that you would post this, since I just did an entry on the zen of riding the scooter. A friend left that book recommendation in the comments. It’s next on the list of books to read.
Steve
I too read it. I struggled with the same issues. I thought it might relate to the fact that I am not a native English speaker, but also after reading the Dutch translation, the same matters remained difficult to grasp. I often dream about doing such a trip with one of my (still too young) sons, but at the same time I shiver by the thought of having a son (or being a dad…) who is slowly going mad. I have relatively new paperback covers and I did not know the old cover you displayed, thanks for that! In any case this was one the most impressive books I read in my youth and most probably also an important stimulus for me in getting my motorcycle license when I was eighteen. I read it again when I was a student, but have not touched it in over 15 years now, and it is still on my mind.
All the best! Ike
Just read this book recently also. Still processing it in my brain, may become a perpetual struggle to determine the meaning to me.
Sometimes when I read I have to be in a certain mood to enjoy or understand a book.
I think when I read it I was more in the mood to be entertained than to become involved in the metaphysical aspects. It is like 2 books in one. I thoroughly enjoyed the travel parts of the book and was able to get into and process the spiritual parts, but not with as much enthusiasm.
Thanks for the tip on the other book.
Maybe your quarter from me will show up someday.
I dunno, I don’t think the original book was hard to understand, it was just really overrated, and pretty boring. Don’t blame yourself (and drop another 20 bucks for another book) to make sense of it.
The “Zen” of the ride and the mental benefits of tinkering aren’t hard to understand, there’s no need to overanalyze it. Bikers (and scooterists) seem to need constant reaffirmation that they’re the chosen ones, or not as dumb as they look, or something, I don’t get it.
Steve, your writing is better and more relevant and useful, seriously.
My copy of said paperback is in worse shape than yours. Probably from riding in the tank bag on an yet unsold Goldwing. It is sort along the lines of Richard Bach’s writings, just as vague and just as difficult to comprehend. Maybe tht the problem…
When I was much younger comprehension was not something I could do, maybe that’s why I left the church of religions early in my life, I couldn’t connect with something I could neither imagine nor see.
And found Zen and Bach’s books to, all too much as fairy tales, of life.
Life is not a fairy tale, it is real and when it’s over, nothing is real.
Steve’s four-legged family member passes; Dan’s twenty year old member of the household passes, and we too we too shall all pass, hopefully much much later in our own comprehension of Zen and the Maintenance of our own motorcycle being.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing as I didn’t know this book existed. I’ve attempted 1 read of Zen and got 1/3 thru and lost interest. I will for sure try again and then if I fail I will read this book. Heck, I think I’ll read this book either way!
Cindy: I just checked your blog post on “The Zen of Scooter Riding”. Nice blue LX150!
Unitasking. That is exactly what it becomes on the back of a scooter. Wish I could find that place more often at work…
Ike: Reading your description of the book and it’s place in your life only reinforces my thought that the book has wide impact that has lasted decades. It is a complex story and certainly not for everyone but when it does click it is amazing.
cpa3485: Your idea of a perpetual struggle with the book certainly indicates some level of meaning at work—some sort of after reading echoing. It works that way with me at times. There are others like that for me. Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey comes to mind. Havasu comes to mind.
Bryan: Thanks for your kind words about my writing being relevant. I suppose all writing may resonate with a reader in the right circumstance. Pirsig’s “Zen” certainly has for many. I have attempted it so many times that I have had mixed feelings depending on who knows what.
But Richardson’s book, itself excellent, made the latest reading of Pirsig a joy. I got the idea of Quality and see how it might work in my own life.
Bryce: Stirring thoughts my friend. Life is not a fairy tale. In my youth if I considered it at all I thought the days were laid out ahead in a nearly endless manner. As my 55th birthday approaches I see those days differently and like you know that life is not a fairy tale. There are times it can feel that way but I see those moments as unusual gifts.
Riding has helped me see life as something real and now and the value of each day. Your post just sharpened that knowledge.
Thank you for sharing you thoughts on this.
Brian Clarke: Good luck with the book. Each time I picked it up I got something from it.
Steve, I “read” Pirsig’s book via an e-book during a period of work when I spent a lot of time in planes going to and from UAL locations. Like you, his more “deep thinking required” topics, were hard for me to grasp without repeated hearings but they are thought-provoking aren’t they? Took me the longest time to sort out (I think) who Phaedrus was in relation to Pirsig and vice versa…Zen and Now helps you in that regard for sure.
I did read “Zen and now” cover to cover and found it more enjoyable.
My thoughts don’t run in the depths of consciousness pursued by Pirsig but it is interesting what thoughts sometimes pop up while riding.
Thanks for the posting….
A very important book on so many levels.
There is an excellent site with all the information relevant to Pirsig and the book, by far the most interesting are the photos from the original journey.
http://venturearete.org/ResearchProjects/ProfessorGurr/Main/HomePage
peace and love
Thanks to “ScooterInTheSticks”, for a very nice WebSite!!
Especially like how readers like Robert Pirsig’s ZMM Book and also Mark Richardson’s Book “Zen and Now”
ATTENTION the link above is broken. Please go to the below
Sincerely Henry S Gurr ZMMQ Site Master
http://venturearete.org/ResearchProjects/ProfessorGurr/
Hello Henry,
It’s an honor to have a renowned scholar of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” comment on Scooter in the Sticks. I’m looking forward to working through the extensive ZMM content on your site. I’m ready to read ZMM again but will educate myself a bit before that happens.
I’ve updated the broken link in the comment.
Again, thanks so much for providing the new link.
Steve Williams
I read it many many years ago and I must admit that I was catched by the philosophy even before than by the riding, and this might be explained by telling that I wasn’t a rider at all, then.
I was a boy interested in logics and positively challenged by puzzles and philosophy.
This might have been an advantage.
Today I’m a rider and I can recall parts of that book in what can be considered an easier approach. Just lucky? Oh, no, just think about how many years of riding I missed!