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)

#207: Primal Endurance - Become a Fat-Burning Beast

#207: Primal Endurance - Become a Fat-Burning Beast

Are you an endurance athlete unhappy with your stalled performance? Are you constantly battling aches and pains? Are you running 30 or 40 miles a week, but still can’t get rid of your spare tire aroun...

6 Kesä 201647min

#206: Extreme Ownership - Leadership Lessons from a Navy SEAL

#206: Extreme Ownership - Leadership Lessons from a Navy SEAL

We live in a time of uncertainty and complexity. Things are always changing; whether it's business, politics, or life in general, you're having to constantly adapt and make decisions, even when you do...

3 Kesä 201651min

#205: Seven Brothers, the Merchant Marine, and the War Against Hitler's U-boats

#205: Seven Brothers, the Merchant Marine, and the War Against Hitler's U-boats

You've probably heard of the great battles fought in Europe and the Pacific during WWII, but did you know that part of WWII was fought just miles off the coast of the United States? And that the men t...

30 Touko 201644min

#204: How to Be Miserable

#204: How to Be Miserable

There are tons of books about how to be happier, how to improve yourself, how to be less angry, etc. These books often tout things you should add to your life to get to where you want. But sometimes t...

26 Touko 201638min

#203: The Real Life Most Interesting Man in the World

#203: The Real Life Most Interesting Man in the World

You've probably all seen the Dos Equis 'Most Interesting Man in the World' commercials. He goes on great adventures, has tremendous stories to tell, is friends with the rich and famous, etc.The Dos Eq...

23 Touko 201649min

#202: How Bad Do You Want It?

#202: How Bad Do You Want It?

If you're an endurance athlete, you probably experience the wall - that moment in the race when you're pushing yourself really hard and your body just tells you, "Enough. You can't go on." The same ca...

20 Touko 201655min

#201: Rules for Your Newborn Daughter

#201: Rules for Your Newborn Daughter

If you're a dad, or plan on being one someday, you probably have some advice or principles that you'd like to pass on to your children so that they can grow up to be well-adjusted adults. My guest tod...

16 Touko 201655min

#200: The Virgin Vote - Masculinity & Politics in the 19th Century

#200: The Virgin Vote - Masculinity & Politics in the 19th Century

We're in the middle of a presidential campaign here in the U.S., and once again commentators, politicians, and reporters are bemoaning the apathy and disengagement of young Americans, but there was a ...

12 Touko 201644min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

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