Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[Dochunt]

Just finished rereading it after having first read it 25 years ago.
Much better understanding now.
Who has read it?  What do you think?

If you haven't read it then you should.

[S21FOLGORE]

I have. The first time I read that book was, probably about 15 years ago. And every 2 - 3 years, I come back and read that book again .
I think, before recommending this book to any “motorcyclist”, especially on online forum, I should clarify that this book is not  just about motorcycle maintenance and looking at it philosophically.

It is a story of a man who’s running away from a ghost of his former self, which he can not remember (except for fragments of scattered memories) because of the effect of the electroshock therapy. (His former self was diagnosed as “mentally ill”, so, in order to “cure” him, they did the shock therapy.)
And slowly, but steadily, this former self is coming back and taking over his consciousness.

It is also about rationality and irrationality. Rhetoric vs reality. Father and son. (the son is too young to understand the fact that the father is NOT the same person (mentally) as he used to be (due to the electroshock therapy), although he is physically the same person.

It is a philosophy book after all, and NOT a motorcycle maintenance book.  Motorcycle trip and motorcycle maintenance was used as a tool, a metaphor, which may or may not interest “motorcyclist” today.

So, if you are (somewhat) into philosophy, a deep thinker, and believe your motorcycle is something more than just an object made out of metal and plastic and some rubber, then, you may find it interesting.

[RichD]

It isn't about motorcycles much (as has been mentioned),
But it is a good read when I'm in a thoughtful mood.

Motorcycle Diaries is also not much about motorcycles,
But is complete trash...


My review of Motorcycle Diaries:

Two college kids, completely unprepared and with little skill and inadequate equipment, set off across South America.  They beg, lie, fake and forge their way up the contenent, mooching off others when they can't find time to hovel with comunists, or make the beast with two backs the wives of the people who are trying to help them.  The antagonist whines and mopes about possibly losing the girl ...who leaves him because he's a whiney loser.  The aformentioned "Motorcycle" the "diaries" were supposed to be about gets abandoned 1/3 into the film... which keeps going on... and on...    

I own a copy of this trash.
It gets played when I'm sad.
When I see those two losers I feel so much better about myself I start to shit kittens  
(which are then boiled and turned into sausage)

Side note: The scenery in the film is very nice.  
Like a Jessica Simpson video: Best viewed with the volume OFF  

[ungeheuer]

I have. The first time I read that book was, probably about 15 years ago. And every 2 - 3 years, I come back and read that book again .
I think, before recommending this book to any “motorcyclist”, especially on online forum, I should clarify that this book is not  just about motorcycle maintenance and looking at it philosophically.

It is a story of a man who’s running away from a ghost of his former self, which he can not remember (except for fragments of scattered memories) because of the effect of the electroshock therapy. (His former self was diagnosed as “mentally ill”, so, in order to “cure” him, they did the shock therapy.)
And slowly, but steadily, this former self is coming back and taking over his consciousness.

It is also about rationality and irrationality. Rhetoric vs reality. Father and son. (the son is too young to understand the fact that the father is NOT the same person (mentally) as he used to be (due to the electroshock therapy), although he is physically the same person.

It is a philosophy book after all, and NOT a motorcycle maintenance book.  Motorcycle trip and motorcycle maintenance was used as a tool, a metaphor, which may or may not interest “motorcyclist” today.

So, if you are (somewhat) into philosophy, a deep thinker, and believe your motorcycle is something more than just an object made out of metal and plastic and some rubber, then, you may find it interesting.

Very nice assessment 

It's a book I keep on coming back to too.

[Dochunt]

I think it is a fantastic book.
IMO it should be required reading in school.
I have suggested it to many younger people I come across.
Yes it doesn't have much to do with motorcycle maintenance but you can see the same passion expressed by him in the first few chapters that many of us have.

[ducatiz]

If you like VWs and want more of a gearhead take, pick up a copy of How to Keep your VW Alive.

It is the mirror of Zen.  Mostly a shop manual for air cooled VWs written by a guy who taught himself how to repair it using duck tape and whatever he had handy, with a lot of philosophy and advice in between. 

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/howtokeyovwa.html?cmp=googleproducts&kw=howtokeyovwa&gclid=CMPvqeWiisYCFVcUHwodFCAAcg

[ungeheuer]

If you like VWs and want more of a gearhead take, pick up a copy of How to Keep your VW Alive.

It is the mirror of Zen.  Mostly a shop manual for air cooled VWs written by a guy who taught himself how to repair it using duck tape and whatever he had handy, with a lot of philosophy and advice in between. 

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/howtokeyovwa.html?cmp=googleproducts&kw=howtokeyovwa&gclid=CMPvqeWiisYCFVcUHwodFCAAcg

Duck tape Izzy?? 

[Dochunt]

Great.
I'll get on Amazon and order it.
My dad's first car was an 64 Karman Ghia.
I have great Memories of that car.
One day I will find one and try to restore it.

[ducatiz]

Duck tape Izzy?? 

http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html

[Dochunt]

Is the Helicopter Tape used in car racing particularly F1 the same thing?

[ungeheuer]

http://www.octanecreative.com/ducttape/duckvsduct.html

Bull 

Duct tape.

[ducatiz]

Bull 

Duct tape.

'struth!  That's it.  DUCK tape, muther-flapper!

[S21FOLGORE]

Motorcycle related reading material that I can recommend.

[Dochunt]

Gear-head literature and comics 

[Johnny OrganDonor]

The metaphysics of Quality.

ZAMM is a particularly good antidote for friends that just read anything by Ayn Rand.