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)

#408: The Incredible Forgotten Story of WWII's Ed Dyess

#408: The Incredible Forgotten Story of WWII's Ed Dyess

Ed Dyess was a smart, talented, athletic kid from Texas who had a passion for flying, movie star good looks, and a flare for acting. Thanks to a chance encounter on a highway in the middle of nowhere,...

25 Touko 201847min

#407: How to Overcome Nice Guy Syndrome

#407: How to Overcome Nice Guy Syndrome

We’ve been told since we were little kids to “Be nice.”But what if being nice isn’t really that good and it’s making you and those around you miserable?That’s the provocative argument my guest today m...

22 Touko 201851min

#406: Why You Need to Embrace Small Talk

#406: Why You Need to Embrace Small Talk

If you’re like a lot of people, engaging in small talk can feel awkward and tedious. Consequently, you avoid it as much you can. But my guest today argues that if you want to get ahead both personally...

17 Touko 201848min

#405: The Power of Team Captains

#405: The Power of Team Captains

What makes a great sports dynasty a great sports dynasty? We typically think it’s the result of amazing talent or coaching.But my guest today argues that it all comes down to the often quiet, understa...

15 Touko 201842min

#404: What Men Can Learn From Wolves

#404: What Men Can Learn From Wolves

Between 1991 and 1996, Jim and Jamie Dutcher lived with and filmed a pack of wolves in Idaho. From this intensive field work came the award-winning documentary, "Wolves at Our Door." The husband and w...

10 Touko 201838min

#403: A Better Way to Network

#403: A Better Way to Network

Networking. You’re told it’s something you need to do to advance your professional life, but the tactics most “networking professionals” suggest either don’t work or make you feel icky and awkward. My...

8 Touko 201841min

#402: Why Honor Matters

#402: Why Honor Matters

In today's world, honor is typically thought of in terms of integrity -- doing the right thing when no one is looking. But traditionally, honor meant having a reputation worthy of the respect of other...

3 Touko 20181h 5min

#401: Everything You Need to Know About Diet & Fat Loss

#401: Everything You Need to Know About Diet & Fat Loss

When it comes to fitness and nutrition, the nutrition part can cause a lot of confusion. There’s so much information out there about the best diet to follow and often the advice is contradictory. My g...

1 Touko 20181h 21min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

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