Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert M. Pirsig pictured with his beloved motorcycle

Summary

“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig is a philosophical novel about traveling across the country via motorcycle while exploring the philosophical concept of "Quality". One of my father’s favorite books, this dense but entertaining story leaves you wanting more.

Throughout the book, the protagonist and his son journey across the United States, sharing descriptive landscapes spanning from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to San Francisco, California. The story follows their journey across the country, incorporating practical motorcycle maintenance tips while weaving in an introspective exploration of life and values. Pirsig meditates on the dichotomy between classical and romantic modes of understanding the world, offering the reader a synthesis of his perspective.

As Pirsig searches for the meaning of life, the reader is also left pondering the philosophical debates offered in this story. Part autobiography, philosophy, and firsthand accounts of traveling across the country, this book leaves you questioning the profundity of human existence and the meaning of life.