Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maitenance

5b Robert M. Pirsig. London: The Bodley Head, 1974. First UK Edition

Notes

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig is a philosophical memoir that blends a cross-country motorcycle journey with a deep exploration of ideas about quality, values, and the nature of reality. On the surface, it's a travel narrative about the narrator and his son, Chris, riding from Minnesota to California. But beneath that, it's a profound meditation on the conflict between classical and romantic worldviews—logic versus intuition, technology versus art—and how these perspectives shape human understanding and experience.

At the heart of the book is the narrator’s concept of “Quality,” an elusive but central force that transcends traditional dichotomies. Through philosophical digressions—many framed as a “Chautauqua,” or traveling talk—the book critiques modern rationality and emphasizes the importance of caring and attention, whether in maintaining a motorcycle or in living a meaningful life. It’s both a personal and intellectual journey, blending autobiography, philosophy, and psychological introspection, especially as it grapples with the narrator’s past mental breakdown and his relationship with his son.

Description

Brown cloth binding with gilt lettering to spine. Original dustwrapper.