Listening tips: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Robert M. Pirsig’s book “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values.” First published in 1974, this unusual book was an unexpected success: part autobiography, part philosophical treatise, Pirsig’s manuscript was famously rejected over a hundred times before William Morrow & Co. decided to give it a chance. Fifty years later, the book enjoys a cult status.

Difficult to define, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” is a strange mixture of genres. Despite its title, it’s neither about Zen Buddhism, nor about motorcycle maintenance (not directly, anyway). On surface, it’s Pirsig’s first-person account of a motorcycle journey he took with his son Chris in 1968. However, the actual content is very philosophical, as the narrator introduces and elaborates on a number of notions characteristic of his thought, among them Quality as part of his theory of reality, which he further developed in the 1991 novel “Lila: An Inquiry into Morals.”

Before you think this is something incredibly complex to understand, and best left to professional philosophers, I encourage you to give this fascinating book a chance. It will make you think and wonder, and it will teach you a thing or two about epistemology, among other things. (I should add that the book also addresses Pirsig’s struggles with mental health, so there’s a deep psychological vein to it, as well.) 

In case you need some help understanding the philosophical (and autobiographical) context to “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”, here’s my short list of useful podcasts and radio programmes.

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A Guide to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Episode 994 of The Art of Manliness podcast is a very illuminating interview with Mark Richardson, the author of the book “Zen and Now: On the Trail of Robert Pirsig and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” Richardson explains the major themes of the book, offers insights into Robert Pirsig’s complex relationship with his son Chris, and more. [Duration: 53 min]

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What is Quality: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

As mentioned earlier, the notion of “Quality” was one of Pirsig’s main philosophical interests. In this episode of the Made You Think podcast, the hosts delve right into it, reflecting on Pirsig’s book and discussing other related ideas put forward by the philosopher, such as “gumption traps” and “enthusiasm.” [Duration: 1 hr 12 min]

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Connie Goldman Interviews Robert Pirsig

Often it’s best to hear straight from the author. Soon after the publication of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”, NPR’s Connie Goldman interviewed the author, discussing his experience of writing. The recording is available as part of NPR’s Special Series. [Duration: 26 min]

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Turning Fifty: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Saving the best for last, this radio programme is a wonderfully produced tribute to Pirsig and his lasting legacy, featuring Robert’s widow Wendy Pirsig, Jim Landis – the editor of “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” and other contributors. It also includes excerpts from archive interviews with Robert Pirsig. Presented by Chris Harding and produced by Sam Peach and Luke Mulhall, Turning Fifty is currently available on the BBC Sounds platform, and on the BBC Radio 4 website. [Duration: 57 min]

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For many years now “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” has been one of my favourite books. If you’re not familiar with it, I hope this post and the listening tips will encourage you to explore Pirsig’s writings and philosophy.