Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values (Phaedrus, #1)

by Robert M. Pirsig

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Answered Questions (14)

Where is the quote The only zen you will find on the top of the mountain is the zen is you take with you?

Simon Nikolas Page 246 in the HarperPerennial edition. Chapter 20.

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"...There seems little doubt that he was insane, but much of his writing at the time indicates that what was driving him insane was this hostile opinion of him. Unusual behaviour tends to produce estrangement in others which tends to further the unusual behaviour and thus the estrangement in self stoking cycles...." (Robert Pirsig). Surely there is a word for this?ï»�

Jeanne Everything about the book made me think he was the on the autism spectrum. He sounded to me like he had Aspergers. He is definitely obsessive compulsiâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðEverything about the book made me think he was the on the autism spectrum. He sounded to me like he had Aspergers. He is definitely obsessive compulsive (machining his own motorcycle parts? Really?) More than a little paranoid (everybody looks at him funny. Motorcycle repairmen are not to be trusted. College administrators are out to get him. It seemed like everybody was out to get him). I see this as the "unusual behavior." People on the spectrum behave oddly but don't realize it.(less)

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Has anyone else read this book when the were young and at the time thought it was one of the best books in the entire universe, that it had a message that you might not have quite grasped but it moved you. AND THEN come back 20-30 years later to read it again and realize that the protagonist is little more than a blowhard, full of himself who thinks that he is just a little (or a lot) better that the rest of us?

Patrick Stirling I first read ZAMM in college at the age of 21, in the late 70s, and it was revelatory, sparkling a lifelong interest in philosophy. I just read it forâ€¦m´Ç°ù±ðI first read ZAMM in college at the age of 21, in the late 70s, and it was revelatory, sparkling a lifelong interest in philosophy. I just read it for a second time at the age of 61, and fully agree with LB's comment. I was impressed at how well it stood up, and how relevant it still is, nearly 45 years after it was written.(less)

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So far I am hating this book beyond belief, but I am not far in. The narrators condescension towards his friend makes me totally irate. Has anyone else had the same feeling at the beginning? Did it improve further on?

Jenny

This answer contains spoilersâ€� (view spoiler)

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Is there any movie or video adaptation of 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance'?

Johnny As of 2022, no, it doesn't look like 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' has been adapted into a movie. Not yet, at least.â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðAs of 2022, no, it doesn't look like 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' has been adapted into a movie. Not yet, at least.(less)

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Unanswered Questions (2)

Can anyone explain the linkage this book has with Fahrenheit 451? It seems like it is a riff off of the oddest passage from that book: "Number one: Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. It has features. This book can go under the microscope...."

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