Customer Reviews

The Tao of the Ride: Motorcycles and the Mechanics of the Soul

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

If you didn't "get" Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, you may not understand this book, either... But if you've ever spent any time on a motorcycle, even if you aren't conversant in the principles of Taoism and Qi, you'll likely connect with the prose of The Tao of the Ride. This book was a big factor in getting me back on a bike after a 20-plus year hiatus after a bad encounter with an Oldsmobile on my 400-Twin. In my twenties, I loved bikes because they were fast, "dangerous" and cool; In my fifties, I have discovered an entirely new aspect of riding: I ride for the meditation, the feeling of balance, the sights, smells, and sounds as the countryside flys by. I also find that although I usually double my average travel time when riding, I get to my destination totally exhilarated and refreshed. Thanks for the insight and inspiration, Garri!

Tao of the Ride changed the way I look at motorcycling and the way I look at life. Garri Garripoli masterfully leads readers along a spiritual road toward what it is to live a more peaceful existence. The best book of its kind to come along since Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Tao of the Ride is a unique mix of eastern philosophy and western individualism. I found the book surprisingly entertaining to read, especially in how Garripoli manages to make sense out of two seemingly diametricaly opposed viewpoints -- that of Taoism and the leather-clad road warrior Harley motorcycle riders. I enjoyed Garripoli's conversational writing style, which made understanding the basic principles of Taoism possible for me, as well as cultivating a feeling for the call of the open road -- a feeling that I have not had for years. Although the book starts out a bit slow, Garri eventually comes across as a sincere writer with the welfare of his readers always at heart. After reading the book, I soon found myself at a local Harley dealer taking one of their bikes out for a test drive. Wow! I think I get it now, Garri. Thanks.

The way he connects motorcycling riding to eastern philosophy helps to illuminate both. The philosophical ideas he talks about with motorcycle riding I have experienced in other areas (tennis and developing software), but this book helps to put what I've experienced in a very useful context. The way he paints the motorcycle as a vehicle to explore larger ideas and better connect one with nature makes me want to try riding a motorcycle. If you like relating your life's experiences to a bigger picture or want to understand the deeper meaning of riding a motorcycle, you will enjoy this book.

After reading the other reviews, this book was a disappointing read. It would make an interesting magazine article, but I think that it drags on- even for a short (141 page) book. I found myself zoning out while reading, it didn't capture my attention past the first few pages.

I highly suggest that you read the sample pages, and imagine it being repeated about 50 times.

The message is good, I loved the stories from his friends, but expected a lot more.

To be fair, I only made it through about 25 pages of this book, but that is because it was such a tremendous disappointment to me. His connections between Taoism and motorcycles were weak at best, the book was incredibly repetitive, and was just not that informative on any topic, really. Maybe someday I will pick it up again and love it, but for now I have started Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and am in love with it. For the money, buy it instead.

I loved this book. This book contains the basic essence of what all of our lives are about. I think The Tao of the Ride is not about eastern philosophy, western thought or Caribbean talk. Rather, it is about the truly universal, essential concepts which if lived can make your trip on earth not only meaningful but an incredible exhilarating journey. It will energize you; it will empower you. Plus the book is just fun to read. Savor this book and if you are like me you will find yourself buying extra copies to give to your friends.

If you like words of wisdom like "my motorcycle is my monastery" then this book is for you. For the rest of us, just forget it.

The stories by other motorcyclists at the end of the book were generally interesting, but not worth the purchase of the book.

I'm not exactly an intellect - I ride a Harley, afterall. But this book kept me interested throughout. A unique way to approach the hobby of riding for the love of the machine. I recommend this book to all riders - and some of the proceeds go to charity too.

If you believe that the frequency of a Harley at idle is in tune with your alpha rythms and the rythm of the earth, if you can't stand words of more than 3 syllables, if you think Harley is a synonym for motorcycle, this book may be for you.

A narcissistic exploration of new age mysticism by a fellow who seems to know little about anything, including the bare rudiments of how to care for his bike. Fifteen years ago he would have posed in a leisure suit with gold chains. Now the cover photo shows an earnest searching looking fellow on the back of a Harley with the obligatory tatoos.

Lao Tzu must be rolling over in his grave!