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)

How Eisenhower Led — A Conversation with Ike's Granddaughter

How Eisenhower Led — A Conversation with Ike's Granddaughter

Editor's Note: This is a rebroadcast. It originally aired in September 2020.From guiding the Allies to victory in World War II as supreme commander, to steering the ship of state for eight years as on...

7 Maalis 20221h 2min

Developing Your Personal Uniform

Developing Your Personal Uniform

The personal uniform is a look that you've settled on as your regular get-up. Today on the show I talk to two style writers, David Coggins and Michael Williams, about all things concerning this stylis...

2 Maalis 202251min

Anxiety Is a Habit — Here's How to Break It

Anxiety Is a Habit — Here's How to Break It

You may think of anxiety as a reaction, a feeling, or a disorder. My guest today says that perhaps the best way to think about anxiety, especially if you want to treat it effectively, is as a habit.Hi...

28 Helmi 202237min

Beyond OODA — Developing the Orientation for Conflict and Violence

Beyond OODA — Developing the Orientation for Conflict and Violence

The OODA Loop — the OODA stands for Observe, Orient, Decide, Act — is a strategic tool designed to help people make better decisions when facing any kind of competitor or opponent.My guest today says ...

23 Helmi 20221h 3min

Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life

Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life

You want to declutter. You want to downsize. You want to live more simply. So what's been holding you back from getting closer to those ideals?My guest today sorts through both the psychological and p...

21 Helmi 202259min

The World of the Transcendentalists and the Rise of Modern Individualism

The World of the Transcendentalists and the Rise of Modern Individualism

The town of Concord, Massachusetts has been famous twice in history. First as the location of the "shot heard round the world" which kickstarted the American Revolution in the 18th century, and second...

16 Helmi 202258min

A Playbook for Modern Dating

A Playbook for Modern Dating

Dating is a relatively recent phenomenon in human history. Given that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that many people aren't sure of the best way to go about it, especially since the rise of modern ...

14 Helmi 202251min

Becoming a Hybrid Athlete

Becoming a Hybrid Athlete

When it comes to fitness, people tend to either focus on endurance or strength; they're runners or powerlifters. But wouldn't it be pretty cool to be able to deadlift 500 pounds and run a marathon? My...

9 Helmi 202248min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-narsisti
adhd-podi
rss-rahamania
psykologia
kesken
ihminen-tavattavissa-tommy-hellsten-instituutti
rss-valo-minussa-2
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
leikitaanko-laakaria
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
mielipaivakirja
rss-turun-yliopisto
rahapuhetta
rss-niinku-asia-on
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna