Customer Reviews

Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Additional background material, both philosophical and historical, really illuminates the original Pirsig book. The bonus is sometimes startling insights, and new questions (often unanswered for the reader to work out). Think of it as an informal but well-written textbook by teachers who care both about the material and the student. It lures the reader into further self-study in epistemology, metaphysics, aesthetics, and ethics. Contains valuable passages that were edited out of the original Pirsig book.

For fans of ZMM, this is an incredible book that summarizes various aspects of the ZMM book. First and foremost, it gives you the necessary background on philosophy to get a better understanding of where the Pirsig is coming from.

Secondly, it is great studying material for those of us who're interested in getting deeper into the issues that Pirsig gets to in the ZMM. Particularly, I liked the section in this book that relates Quality with Taoist principles.

A must have!

It can be read without reading ZMM, BTW.

The inclusion of edited material from ZAMM was welcome. I found I was distracted when I was actually reading ZAMM andreferencing the guidebook. My suggestion - read ZAMM completely then refer to the guidebook to explore a section more deeply. The reviews of ZAMM were of passing interest, from the early reviews published after the book's release to later ones and their criticism.
I'm not a deeply devout person of any given persuasion, so the religious comparisons and references were of lesser importance. I think they would be helpful if one were looking to delve deeper into Buddhism or other philosophy. This Guidebook DID ADD to my overall understanding and enjoyment of ZAMM.

For fans of ZMM, this is an incredible book that summarizes various aspects of the ZMM book. First and foremost, it gives you the necessary background on philosophy to get a better understanding of where the Pirsig is coming from.

Secondly, it is great studying material for those of us who're interested in getting deeper into the issues that Pirsig gets to in the ZMM. Particularly, I liked the section in this book that relates Quality with Taoist principles.

A must have!

It can be read without reading ZMM, BTW.

This book opens up a lot of insights that were in ZMM. It gave me a fuller understanding of what ZMM was all about. Like another reviewer said, I'd read ZMM first, then read this book. It further explains the Eastern religions and Western philosophies that Pirsig talks about, or alluded to.

Fans of ZMM will not be disappointed with this book.

I love the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. It was one of those books that I tried to read years ago but was simply not ready for it. After a recent conversation with a friend that mentioned the book, I decided to pick up a copy and read it. This time I was ready.

After my second reading Of ZMM, I decided to purchase Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. My hope was to deepen my understanding.

I gave up on reading Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance about half way through Section 8 (Critical Reviews). This book seems obviously written by intellectuals for intellectuals. Maybe it will be one of those books I will pick up again when I'm ready. For now, I'm not ready.

Very profound. Not many books make you think like "Zen ..." does. Heightens the pleasure of reading by adding the dimension of thought to it. 'Phaedrus' leaps off the pages of the book to stay with you for the rest of your life...and perhaps beyond too. Keeps up to its own high quality values. If you liked "Zen ..." I would recommend "LILA" by Robert Pirsig which is another masterpiece.

I am a young fan of the power of freedom motos can offer us, even without driving one, anyway, Pirsig's travels along America have all a sense of epic and total democracy of mind, in the sense that each men and women are looking for their good path in this World, and here we have a solution of a man with his son totally ready to face the misterious magic of the open road, plus the force given by oriental zen and inner peace! Incredible America, once more!!! FABRI atiber@tin.it