Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
The book is a philosophical novel that explores the protagonist's journey across the United States on a motorcycle with his son, during which he delves into questions about life, philosophy, and the nature of "Quality". The narrative is interspersed with flashbacks to the protagonist's life before the journey, including his time as a university professor and his struggle with mental illness. The book aims to reconcile the dichotomy between classical and romantic understandings of the world, ultimately arguing for a holistic approach that integrates both perspectives.
The 395th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 64th on Big Read (Bulgarian) (Bulgaria)
- 68th on Waterstone's Books of the Century (LibraryThing)
- 79th on My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read (Australian Big Read)
- 100 Major Works of Modern Creative Nonfiction (ThoughtCo)
- 50 Best Cult Books (Telegraph)
- A Century of Reading (Lithub)
- 110 Best Books: The Perfect Library (The Telegraph)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 (nextavenue)
- Select 100 (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)