Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one of the most personally influential books I've ever read. I found the story to be deeply immersive and the narrator's musing/theories about the nature of reality to be deep and relevant to me as well. Especially related to the role of analysis vs. experience and how cutting up reality with language ("Phaedrus knife") influences how you experience the world. The narrator's dual-mind makes the plot even more fascinating for me, and in some ways, I can relate to the author as I seek unity within my mind and past as well. Enough praise about Robert Pirsig's novel, what about the guidebook?I found 'Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance tremendously insightful. Hearing about the relevant religious and philosophical background behind Pirsig's ideas only deepened my understanding of the concepts and increased my passion for eastern philosophy and exploring consciousness. I showed parts of this book to my close friend Samson Tucker, who is was a philosophy major from Lipscomb University who really appreciates eastern philosophy and consciousness, and his comment was that some of these the ideas were "glorious" and perhaps this is the best way to describe it. Telling my mentor David Milliern about this book produced a response like "Holy cow! There is a guidebook!?" and in my opinion, for good reason.Fans of Pirsig's novel will likely deeply enjoy this follow-up, although you may want to read it slowly to immerse the ideas into your thought and being. These ideas are quite deep, after all... and you may want to think through them for yourself, especially as you explore how you relate to the world and the structure of your experience, as well as the role of analysis and ways to integrate religious concepts into rational living. The discussion on western/eastern approaches to philosophy is also quite insightful. Highly recommended!

This book was very helpful in understanding Robert Pirsig's book, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". The book looks at Pirsig's work from several perspectives. It starts with an introduction to both Eastern and Western philosophies and thematically attempts to explain each and how they are part of ZAAMM. It also walks you through the book chapter by chapter explaining how the topics covered relate to the philosophies explained. It also tells a lot about the author and how the book ZAAMM is sort of a fictional tale, but it is also biographical, so it's hard to determine if there really is much fiction in the book at all. I suppose some philosophies could be considered fictional, but it covers philosophical topics. I learned a lot from this guidebook and I think the authors did a commendable job in shedding new light on this classic work. I'm just trying to figure out how to make a movie out of ZAAMM.

I red the book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance some forty years ago. I was hoping I could re-read the book. I remember not havingmuch trouble understanding the book but do remember the book, Zen and the art of motorcycle Maintenance as being rather slow reading. OnceI got to College and learned more about aspects of Zen Buddist beliefs, the book made a lot more sense to me.

Provides some interesting insights into the Philosophy of the ZAMM. I wish there was more info concerning locations though. There is a map but its a two page map but you cannot view it properly due to book design. Would have been better to break map up and keep smaller portions on one page. Thankfully there are some really informative websites now dedicated to the book, as well as videos and podcasts. Google is your friend.

I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance years ago and forgot most of it. Now that I'm retired I thought I would revisit the book and found this companion. After re-reading Pursig's book I am amazed that it received the attention that it did. This book has some good insights but due to my feelings on the topic I did not read the whole thing.A later book 'Zen and Now' is a worthy read. That follows a guy who tries to recreate Pursig's journey. He talks with some folks who were in the original book and searches out the roads and locations of the original story.

Gift tir my sone who had some struggles. He was very thankful to receive it

A wonderful trip second read in 25 years

This book opens up a lot of insights that were in ZMM. It gave me a fuller understanding of what ZMM was all about. Like another reviewer said, I'd read ZMM first, then read this book. It further explains the Eastern religions and Western philosophies that Pirsig talks about, or alluded to.Fans of ZMM will not be disappointed with this book.

Extremely disappointing in view of the fact I thought I was buying the original book - not a guide to it, by a couple of unknown authors. I also hate and bemoan being bamboozled by subtle advertising

この書は"Zen an the Art of motorcycle maintenance"（邦訳『禅とオートバイ修理技術』）のガイドブックである。＜クオリティ＞の探求にかけたパイドロスの難解な「哲学紀行」をバックアップしてくれる最良の助っ人というべきか、実に頼りになるガイドブックである。ベストセラーになったとはいえ、やはり東西哲学の探究は一筋縄ではいかない。おそらく日本でこんな書物が出版されることはないのではないかと思うほど、微に入り細をうがつ素晴らしい「ガイドブック」である。地図は勿論、旅程も詳しく記述されているし、何より目を瞠ったのは『十牛図』が描かれていることである。それだけ「禅」を意識していると言うことだろう。ただ、学者の解説であるから、それなりの予備知識が必要になることは必定、過剰な期待は禁物である。だが、手許にあれば（英語が読めれば）貴重な一冊となることは間違いない。できれば、これも翻訳してほしいものだ。

Intellectually lightweight and full of Eastern mystical mum of jumbo.

good sections/some better than others!

fantastic brilliant amazing superb good