[books 2010] Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maitenance

[inulro]

14. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig

This month's Bibliogoths book.

I first read this in 1990 when I came across it in the library & it seemed like more fun than studying Latin. I came to it with zero expectations and absolutely loved it.

20 years on (eek!), I still love it.

This is not so much a book that changed my life as one that affirmed beliefs I already had - this is the book that taught me it's OK to be good at both art & science subjects, and that it's OK, or even good, to care about things and care about how things are done, that it's OK to choose how to live my life.

I'm officially Too Stupid for Philosophy (Seriously. I'm having trouble with Watchmen and Philosophy which really is Philosophy for Dummies), which would have been a problem in both incarnations of grad school if this book didn't explain it in ways I could understand. Everything I know about the history of Western philosophy I blagged from this book.

Plus it's about a road trip - anything that provides me with vicarious travel experience is a plus in my books.

Re-reading it provided a good kick up the backside - I've become sloppy and slack and careless. Which is easy to make excuses about but harder to correct.

Shortly after I read it the sequel came out, and I'm feeling the need to re-read that too.


February reading round-up

I finished 7 books in February, of which

Non-fiction: 2 (I'm sorta cheating & counting Zen as non-fiction)

Library books: 3
Borrowed from friends: 1

Number that came off my to-read pile: 2 (about 5 cm worth). I am still sucking in that regard, and am staying away from the library this month.

Comments

[lil-m-moses.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reminding me that I want to read that! It was always sitting on my mom's bookshelf growing up, but I never read it. It also made me incredulous that "zen" is still not considered a real word by most Scrabble sources.

[liz-lowlife.livejournal.com]

Not read it. Perhaps I should! I saw the words "road trip" and my brain honed in. :o)

[zenithed.livejournal.com]

Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance really did change my life - I used to skip school and go and read it in the park when I was seventeen. Glad to hear it still holds up.

[books 2010] Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maitenance

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

oo - when's the next bookclub meeting? If this is the book, I might try to pull my finger out on both counts ;)

Re: [books 2010] Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maitenance

[inulro.livejournal.com]

The meeting was last Sunday (I don't say much about the book online unless we've already discussed it). Next one is The City and The City by China Mieville. Let me know if you want to know the date - I think the second Sunday in April but I'm too tired to go downstairs & find my diary.

Re: [books 2010] Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maitenance

[cybermule.livejournal.com]

Makes sense now you mention it :) I'll try ad make the next one (I've pencilled it in). Zen and the Art of Motorcycle maintenance now sounds very appealing, so I'll read that too :)

[meltie.livejournal.com]

Damnit. You've made me buy it.