Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance

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Robert M. Pirsig: Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance (1974, Bantam Books)

406 pages

Langue : English

Publié 13 août 1974 par Bantam Books.

Numéro OCLC :
22014811

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4 étoiles (1 critique)

The novel, published in 1974, uses a long motorcycle trip to frame a prolonged exploration of the world of ideas, about life and how best to live it. It references perspectives from Western and Eastern Civilizations as it explores the central question of the how to pursue technology so that human life is enriched rather than degraded. Narrated in the first person, it incorporates a parallel presentation of trip details and an ongoing retrospective concerning dramatic events from the Narrator's past, creating rich symbolism and including numerous analogies reinforcing the overall theme of coming to terms with the mysteries of why we exist and how best to live.

45 éditions

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (3rd re-read)

4 étoiles

This is the third time I've re-read this book, and I liked it the least this time. This book has a few important points, some of which I haven't found other books that talk about — in particular, the ideas about the tautological nature of "rationality" and "science" are important and unique, and the ideas about the nuances of what about the relationship of people to technology causes unhappiness and strife is well-considered. Unfortunately, much of the book is discussion of the novel philosophical concept that the author calls "Quality", a concept which I think is ill-considered and ill-argued. Frustrating, since the disagreements the author assumes a reader might have with his arguments are not the ones that I have.

I still do love this book, and I certainly would still recommend it in many circumstances, but I was sad to return to it and find it not quite as …

Sujets

  • Philosophy and civilization
  • Zen Buddhism and science
  • Essentialism (Philosophy)
  • Self
  • Travel
  • Fathers and sons

Lieux

  • United States