A Guide to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

A Guide to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig. It's a peculiar book, especially for a bestseller. Not a lot of it is actually about zen or motorcycle maintenance, it combines a travelogue, a father/son story, and philosophical musings, and the structure of its narration makes it hard to follow. Thus, it's the kind of book people often buy, start, and then put down without finishing.

That's initially what happened to Mark Richardson, an author and automotive journalist who was born in the UK but has lived most of his life in Canada. But when the book finally clicked for Mark, he was so inspired by it that he actually undertook Pirsig's motorcycle pilgrimage himself. Mark shares that story in Zen and Now, which intersperses stories from his own road trip with an exploration of Pirsig's life and famous book.

If you've wanted to read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but haven't been able to get into it, today Mark will offer an introduction to what it's all about. We discuss Pirsig's ideas on the metaphysics of quality and our relationship to technology, and how he tried to combine the ethos of Eastern and Western thought into a unified philosophy of living. We also get into why Mark wanted to recreate Pirsig's road trip, the joys of traveling by motorcycle, and what Mark learned along the way.

Resources Related to the PodcastConnect With Mark Richardson

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(1158)

#247: The Pleasure of Limits, the Uses of Boredom, and the Antidote to Excessive Irony

#247: The Pleasure of Limits, the Uses of Boredom, and the Antidote to Excessive Irony

Thanks to digital technology, modern life often promises us a world full of limitless possibilities where you’ll never have to be bored again. But what if that promise of limitlessness and freedom act...

28 Loka 201659min

#246: How to Get Better at Taking Feedback

#246: How to Get Better at Taking Feedback

Knowing how to give and receive feedback is essential for our personal and professional growth. To remedy the discomfort we have with it, most books and articles focus on how the giver of feedback can...

25 Loka 201655min

#245: The Workout the World Forgot

#245: The Workout the World Forgot

Natural Movement, or MovNat, is a fitness system inspired by the physical training of ancient Greeks and Romans as well as the 19th century's physical culture pioneers. The philosophy behind MovNat is...

20 Loka 20161h 3min

#244: Ask Frances - Brain Farts, Braggarts, and Civil Political Discussion

#244: Ask Frances - Brain Farts, Braggarts, and Civil Political Discussion

#244: Ask Frances - Brain Farts, Braggarts, and Civil Political Discussion by The Art of ManlinessSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pri...

18 Loka 201631min

#243: Becoming a Barbarian

#243: Becoming a Barbarian

Seven years ago, my guest today published what has become an underground cult classic on masculinity. His name is Jack Donovan and that book was The Way of Men. I had him on the podcast a few years ag...

14 Loka 201659min

#242: The Forgotten Virtue of Reverence

#242: The Forgotten Virtue of Reverence

We typically think of reverence as connected with religion, but my guest today on the podcast argues that reverence is a virtue that extends past religious ceremony and is vital for the flourishing of...

11 Loka 201641min

#241: Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Style With Aaron Marino

#241: Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Style With Aaron Marino

Many of you have probably seen today's guest on YouTube. His name is Aaron Marino and he’s made a name for himself as a men’s style expert with his often zany videos geared towards helping men look an...

9 Loka 201644min

#240: The Making of Winston Churchill

#240: The Making of Winston Churchill

On today’s show Candice Millard and I discuss the supreme confidence Winston Churchill had as a young man that he was destined for greatness and how he intentionally sought after dangerous military mi...

5 Loka 201636min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
adhd-podi
rss-narsisti
rss-rahamania
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
psykologia
aamukahvilla
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rahapuhetta
rss-valo-minussa-2
kesken
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
mielipaivakirja
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
uskonnon-pitka-oppimaara
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-koira-haudattuna
rss-arkea-ja-aurinkoa-podcast-espanjasta