Topic: ZAMM

[gar]

Whenever I read a post from Jonesy I see a quote in his signature line from Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: "I don't think I'll ever sell it. No reason to, really. They're not like cars, with a body that rusts out in a few years. Keep them tuned and overhauled and they'll last as long as you do- probably longer. Quality. It's carried us so far without trouble."

I've been attempting to read the book since high school.  After twenty years and on my fourth attempt, I finished it last week.  While I liked the motorcycling aspects of it (being a motorcycle enthusiast) and a few of the´Chautauquas´ (such as "gumption trap") I found the book tedious.  Furthermore, I found the central meaning of Pirsig's book -- quality (as Pirsig and the greeks describe it), value,  dualism, and so forth -- boring.  I don't think I missed the point, as some argue.  In my perception there was no point.

AM I missing something?

[SteveD CB500F]

It is pretty heavy going I'll admit.

Did you know that his son (Chris) was murdered a few years later? 

I have a later print with a prologue where Pirsig talks about it.

[Klark Kent]

it has been six years since i read the book, so i may be talking out of a my misremembered ass, but...

i think the truth is like good editing and good sound design, you only notice its absence.  the truths pirsig dvelops namely a modern version of quality seem so simple as to not ned to be said, but if you look at the modern world you will notice the absence of these truths.  pirsig (and others) need to write about this way of thinking about and interacting with the world because our world has been led down a path that values productivity and the bottom line over quality and treating things according to their nature.  i am surprised that as someone who chooses to ride a thirty year old bike that was built by honda (one of the more quality-centric manufacturers of vehicles) you found no value in what pirsig said, it wouldnt surprise me if it was already so obvious to you you didnt need to read it.  that could make for a boring read.  i remember liking the book, but i also remember it being a quick read, so its possibe my enjoyment would have been less if it took me multiple times and twenty years to wade through it.  

hope this helps the conversation
-KK

[SteveD CB500F]

KK - that paragraph is almost as indigestible as the book!

[Klark Kent]

break it up into sentences.  understand one before you go onto the next.  this helps me with thick reading.  now thick people, i dont know how to make that pleasant.
-KK

[cafehonda]

For what it's worth, I've really enjoyed the book over and over again. It's like exercise to me; it's hard to get started but over time I feel like the work gets easier. Definitely not everybody's cup 'o tea though. Stories are like people, some you like, some you don't. If I may be so bold, may I suggest to anyone interested in aged machines to try the Dirk Pitt series of books by Clive Cussler. Not so much motorcycle based but interesting just the same.