gugie 

From Wikipedia, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance:

"In the book, the Narrator describes the "Romantic" approach to life of his friend, John Sutherland, who chooses not to learn how to maintain his expensive new motorcycle. John simply hopes for the best with his bike, and when problems do occur he often becomes frustrated, and is forced to rely on professional mechanics to repair it. In contrast, the "classical" Narrator has an older motorcycle which he is usually able to diagnose and repair himself through the use of rational problem solving skills."

Sound familiar?

jonwvara 

As I like to point out to motorcyclists, motorcycles are just highly specialized bicycles.

RobbieTunes

We're cooler, or so we tell ourselves.

Velognome 

Great book

eschlwc

i give it two thumbs down. way too heavy handed. so preachy, it would dissuade one from learning anything mechanical.

i did, though, like the relationship with the young boy. it was the only part worth reading.

Aubergine 

Excellent!

I actually bought my first motorcycle because my knees didn't want to work. I missed going around curves at an angle.

AND to keep things on topic, I have never read Zen ataomm, or had any interest in it.

Dave Cutter

If you can't fix it... you don't own it... you're just renting it from the repairman.

John E

Why would it dissuade someone from learning things mechanical?

thinktubes 

Watch out for "gumption traps"!

markk900

One of my all time favorite books. Philosophy, social commentary (at the time it was intended to be a narrative about "modern" use of electroshock in treating mental illness), mechanics, math, motorcycles, all rolled into a neat package. The subtext on the search for Quality has stayed with me for many decades, and I used the practical advice about beer can shims with pride to repair a spun trailer bearing in the middle of Nowheresville, Minnesota.

@RobbieTunes: coolest of all are those with both motorcycles and bicycles.....

iab

I'd rather ride a bike.

But is this thread a pissing match about what's better, fixing a bike or paying a guy to fix a bike?

If that is the case, I'll wait for a few more posts and side with the underdogs.

eschlwc

egotistical heavy handedness

great title for a book though

rootboy 

I remember enjoying the book.
What I remember of it.
That was a long time ago.

Velognome 

I thought the book was an exploration of the idea of "quality" and from a theological perspective I found the story both exciting and sad. I felt the discussions on repair to be symbolic of the search. Preachy? Didn't get that impression at all. Oh well, to each his own.

m3rle

Great book for an impetuous 20 something. Showed me how to slow down and enjoy the process. I'm still influenced by that book decades later refurbishing an old bicycle. That was when I read Peaceful Warrior, Carlos Castaneda and Kerouac. Next came Henry Miller and Charles Bukowski which turned everything on it's head.

Rcrxjlb

1. Learn how to fix/service your own bike

2. Buy tools as needed

3. Piss off the LBS

rhm

I remember reading and being kinda amazed and kinda thrilled by it... probably my first introduction to philosophy. This was 1978, maybe? I don't remember finishing it. I suspect I got bogged down somewhere and moved on to lighter fare.

eschlwc

i spent about an hour today reading online reviews. it certainly has its fans. and i obviously missed some things.

Lascauxcaveman 

I must admit I enjoyed it a lot more at 18 than I did at 28. But I could say the same for Catcher in the Rye, The Fan Man, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas too, and those are all classics.

old's'cool

As an engineering student (reading for pleasure on my own time), ZATAOMM resonated with me. Gave me some deeper things to think about besides F=ma, etc. I particularly enjoyed the motorcycle travelogue through Montana and Yellowstone Park, which I had recently (i.e. long ago, before reading the book, also long ago) done myself on approximately the same route.
I like to think that the message about Quality took root and has been a reference point throughout my career.
The sub-theme about being "stuck" and getting unstuck was also inspirational.
Anyone read Pirsig's follow up novel, Lila?

markk900

Yes, I read Lila as well. Same guy, different approach, and not as compelling but still interesting. A part of Lila was RMP describing his writing process so that was very cool; he was also dealing with the aftermath of ZAAOMM on multiple levels.

gugie 

Sometimes I think I got back on the engineering track because of this book. Other takeaways:

Shims. Used that one more than once to fix something or make it better.

Quality - All of the damn quality experts at work often measure the wrong thing. Motorola famously pushed their six sigma quality system - where are they now?

The best roads to ride are the squiggly lines on the map. Every bike trip I've taken since reading the book I've taken that approach.

OldsCOOL

We can do this.

Velognome 

Thanks Rcrxjlb,made me smile. That scene in my home is an hour after getting the new bike home. One of my boys would call out from the garage "Dad". Then I would come to see the new bike dissected, lifeless on the floor, the boy with a spring in his hand, "I can't get it back on the derailleur".......Ah, the joy of parenthood.

simmonsgc

Given the original subject of the thread, I'll offer a mention of this book, which *really* resonated with me-- Shop Class as Soulcraft, by Matthew Crawford. And while we're at it, the "Fixer's Manifesto" is also something I find I identify with.

I see these ideas commonly espoused and evidenced here in the C&V forum, which I suppose is why I like this community so much.