| Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" is a | | | | inform one another. Whilst moments of natural |
| fantastically well conceived book by Robert M. | | | | beauty are often noted during the journey these |
| Pirsig, author of the subsequent work "Lila: An | | | | seem to supplement the complex philosophical |
| Inquiry into Morals". In Zen and the Art of | | | | discussions, and likewise the complex discussions |
| Motorcycle Maintenance he presents a part-fiction | | | | give a sense of greater meaning to the natural |
| part-fact account of a motorcycle journey | | | | observations. The concept of analytical thought is |
| through the back-roads of America during which | | | | frequently brought up and the sense one gets is |
| an array of philosophical issues are raised and | | | | that the natural observations come through an |
| discussed that question many of the notions | | | | underlying analytical thought process which sees |
| which we take for granted such as the | | | | beauty in the clever workings of systems rather |
| fundamental way in which we perceive the world, | | | | than the purely aesthetic beauty of, say, the sun |
| be it "romantically" or "classically". | | | | setting. |
| The journey unfolds gradually alongside the | | | | Perhaps one of the most enjoyable aspects of |
| philosophy with the two interspersing each other | | | | this philosophical novel is the characters |
| in order to keep the philosophy from getting too | | | | themselves who make the inquiries all the more |
| overbearing and the journey from becoming too | | | | interesting through their personalities. The main |
| tiresome. Although the book can be read by one | | | | character's son provides a childlike questioning |
| who is simply looking for a good travel story, it | | | | which brings out some of the finer nuances in the |
| best serves those who wish to read a little | | | | discussions whilst the other two riders provide |
| philosophy alongside a more traditional tale. | | | | opposing viewpoints for the main character to |
| The structure works excellently to keep the | | | | wrestle with. This results in a great deal of |
| novel fresh at all times, with the constant | | | | interesting dialogue between the various |
| breaking between narration and discussion making | | | | characters that mimics the classic philosophical |
| for a continually rewarding read. However, this | | | | dialogues of Berkeley and Plato amongst others. |
| alone does not account for what makes the novel | | | | Pirsig's achievement is the way in which he has |
| so fantastic. Although the structure does play a | | | | managed to make philosophy interesting to the |
| significant role in the readers' experience, it is the | | | | masses whilst adapting a traditional method of |
| manner in which Pirsig manages to present his | | | | philosophical writing and making it something |
| ideas and carry out his discussions and inquiries | | | | enjoyable to read. Philosophical dialogue has rarely |
| into philosophical dilemmas that really brings the | | | | been this good and neither has a novel been so |
| work to life. | | | | well structured as to captivate the reader this |
| There is a delightful contrast between scenes of | | | | thoroughly at all times. This is a must-read for |
| nature and discussions of philosophy which are | | | | anyone with an inquisitive mind or anybody who |
| somehow married together in such a way as to | | | | can appreciate a finely crafted piece of literature. |