Robert Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. This is a strange book, even for a bestseller. It's not a book about motorcycle maintenance or zen, but a mixture of a father-son story and a travelogue. The narration is also difficult to follow. It's the type of book that people buy, begin, and then drop without finishing.
Mark Richardson was initially in that situation. He is an automotive journalist and author who was born in Britain but has spent most of his adult life in Canada. Mark Richardson was inspired to take Pirsig's motorcycle journey after reading the book. Mark tells his story in Zen and Now. The book interweaves stories about his road trip and Pirsig's famous book.
Mark will give you an overview of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Pirsig's thoughts on quality, our relationship with technology and his attempt to merge Eastern and Western philosophy into one unified philosophy are discussed. Mark also explains why he wanted to recreate Pirsig’s road trip. We discuss the joys and challenges of motorcycle travel, as well as what Mark learned.
Podcast Resources
Guidebook to Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Ron Di Santo & Tom SteeleShop class as soulcraft: An inquiry into the value of work by Matthew CrawfordHonda Super HawkThe Robert Pirsig AssociationMark Richardson: Connect with him
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