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Jason Koivu's Reviews > Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values (Phaedrus, #1)
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The author went insane and nearly took me with him! After years of putting this one off, I finally recently read it and was floored by how it was almost nothing like what I expected: motorcycle talk and philosophy. I did not expect the contemplations of a depressing, crazy person. But that's no reason to hate on a book, and I don't hate Zen..., I'm just not in love with it. I was close to giving it only 3 stars mainly for its inability to move. I mean, for a roadtrip book it certainly seems to languish in the doldrums far too often. I gave it the extra star because I have a soft spot for philosophy in the form of rational evaluations and minute dissections of the mind, which this has in spades. The writing itself is good. In fact at times I thought I was reading very well-written fictional characters. The author's son's whiney desperation irritated, but for the right reasons, because it felt so real. My recommendation is to read this if you like philosophical contemplations, but don't read it if you're only interested in the motorcycle aspect.
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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
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Reading Progress
July 29, 2010
–
Started Reading
July 29, 2010
– Shelved
August 11, 2010
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Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-7 of 7 (7 new)
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Richard
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Feb 05, 2012 09:19PM
I have always been curious about this, as it was usually described as an inspirational book in the same category as Jonathan Livingston Seagull. You know, one of these free-spirited new-agey things full of quotable quotes. Well, I think I had somewhat the same reaction to the seagull as you did to the motorcycle dude.
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being often, in the past, surrounded by motorcycle people, i got to watch many of that clan attempt to read this, expecting the same thing you did, having similar reactions. well, actually, maybe more violent reactions. the one complaint i heard the most was the lack of actual road trip in this road trip book. so you are definitely not alone.
My dad, a big Harley enthusiast and a life-long mechanic, told me he started reading this. I never did find out if he finished it, but I'd be mighty surprised.
Biker Philosophy. This does pique my curiosity.
Curmudgeon wrote: "Biker Philosophy. This does pique my curiosity."I'd be leery of going into it thinking "biker philosophy". The author was a professor who happened to be touring on a bike with his kid. It's not the ruminations of a Hell's Angel, so if that's what you're hoping for, steer clear.
It is a shame you didn't like this book, though I must admit it was the philosophical ramblings that really caught me, as well as the way he left it hanging in that I still don't know if it was true or not.
David wrote: "It is a shame you didn't like this book..."It too harsh to say I didn't like it. I did give it 4 stars after all. Yes, there were points about it I didn't like, but overall it was good/enjoyable. My review is, admittedly, negative though. I should rework this one some day.
