Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

Amazon.com

Arguably one of the most profoundly important essays ever written on the nature and significance of "quality" and definitely a necessary anodyne to the consequences of a modern world pathologically obsessed with quantity. Although set as a story of a cross-country trip on a motorcycle by a father and son, it is more nearly a journey through 2,000 years of Western philosophy. For some people, this has been a truly life-changing book.

Book Description

One of the most important and influential books written in the past half-century, Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a powerful, moving, and penetrating examination of how we live . . . and a breathtaking meditation on how to live better. Here is the book that transformed a generation: an unforgettable narration of a summer motorcycle trip across America's Northwest, undertaken by a father and his young son. A story of love and fear -- of growth, discovery, and acceptance -- that becomes a profound personal and philosophical odyssey into life's fundamental questions, this uniquely exhilarating modern classic is both touching and transcendent, resonant with the myriad confusions of existence . . . and the small, essential triumphs that propel us forward.

Customer Reviews:

Giving 'Quality' a new depth........2007-10-15

I read this book first when I was interested in the Quality movement in the early 1990's, and then again much later when I was more interested in philosophy. And that gave my feelings about quality a depth that I reckon has influenced greatly my approach to performance measurement today.

Plus I like motorcycles, even if only the off-road kind, and have spent many hours grazing my knuckles and bruising my shins as I've maintained them too (this will make more sense when you've read the part in the book that introduces Gumption Traps)!

Read under the author's name. . . .......2007-09-24

I had heard of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig long before I read it. But when someone compared some of my emails on Postfix mail servers to this book, I had to read it. I am glad I did.

The one mistake people make with this book is thinking it has to deal with zen and motorcycle maintenance. It has little to do with either, but under the author's name, in the sub title, the truth is exposed.

Pirsig's work is not some giant philosophical leap forward. In fact, there are many earlier works that cover the same material as Pirsig's with far more detail and accuracy! But where they fail to make things digestible to a layman, Pirsig succeeds.

That is perhaps the one bad thing in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." He has made some mistaken quotes by simple mis-remembering, and hands them out as accurate information. But even this is not terrible when you look at the overall goal of the book, to inspire people to examine quality in their lives.

I think that this book should be required reading in every high school. There is a lot in there that people coming of age need to learn, and so rarely do. The allegorical examination of quality through the tools of Zen and Motorcycles is very wonderfully written. And with a teacher to correct the few misquotes, even the down side can be eliminated.

Now while I feel that Pirsig's viewpoint is somewhat polarized, I do not find that hinders the learning process or enjoyment involved in reading this book.

So please, read this book, even if you are interested in philosophy, zen, motorcycles, or quality. You may be surprised about the other parts of your life that it touches on.

How..... Zen........2007-09-01

This is one of those books I always thought I should read and when I finally got around to it I was blown away. I am reminded of catcher in the rye and one... cuckoos nest. This book was not what I expected. It is not about motorcycles or philosophy, it is about people. The story is skillfully woven between these elements. This is not a book you read once. This is not a book though, to escape from thinking. If that's what you need try Matthew Riley.

Quality without six sigma.......2007-08-24

I have probably purchased over 25 copies if Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance for friends, family and customers. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZAMM) is about finding quality through "being the job" instead of 25 pages of process documentation for a 55 second operation.

Implied in this is identifying yourself with the job and finding satisfaction in a job well done. Being the job.

Like it.......2007-07-28

I love it that I can find used books at a great price, fair shipping price, plus they show up in a timely manner in wonderful shape! Thanks!

Average customer rating:

A Must for McQueen Fans
The Real Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen: The Last Mile
Fantastic!
BITCH"EN

Steve McQueen The Last Mile
Barbara McQueen , and Marshall Terrill
Manufacturer: Dalton Watson Fine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1854432265

Product Description

This is a Signed - Limited Edition book which comes with a 45 minute CD of Steve McQueen reviewing his scripts for the movie Tom Horn. This book covers Steve McQueen's final 3 1/2 years up to and including his untimely death from Cancer. Includes around 400 Color and Black & White Photos taken by Barbara McQueen.

Customer Reviews:

A Must for McQueen Fans.......2007-03-10

Wow, the photographs are beautiful and highly personal. It's like seeing a private photo album from this marriage. Plus the text is informative and revealing. I'm so glad this part of Steve's life is now so well documented.

It goes perfectly on my coffee table.

The Real Steve McQueen.......2007-03-10

Intimate, touching, insightful, sometimes hilarious passages into the life of The King of Cool, Steve McQueen. We live in such a visual, media oriented world that we tend to get preconceived notions of who movie stars are, based on what we see. The world saw Steve McQueen as the ultimate man- handsome, macho, cool, someone they could spend their hard-earned bucks on back in the day and get their money's worth at the theater. Barbara McQueen, his widow, saw the real Steve McQueen. She got to know Steve, the family man; Steve, the man who loved the great outdoors and his morning constitutional; Steve, the great mashed potato guru, airplane and motorcycle enthusiast. "The Last Mile" shows how little we all knew of his kindness and philanthropy; how little we knew of his yearning for happiness and how he ultimately found it. The photos in this book will enchant you, leave you wanting more. One of my favorites is one where Barbara embraces Steve from behind. That photo alone is worth the book to me. Beautiful model, handsome superstar, real people worn out from what life has dealt them. You can see it in their faces. It makes me sigh everytime I see it because there's not one person I know who hasn't been to that point and had nothing left but an embrace. You will love this book and you will want more. I guarantee you.

Steve McQueen: The Last Mile.......2007-03-10

This book takes you into the very intimate and private world of Steve McQueen between 1977 and 1980.

Consisting of approximately 150 color photos (most of which were taken by his wife Barbara McQueen) and accompanied by Barbara's recollections of their time together.

Unlike some other photobooks where you sense you are watching the star pose, this book shows you the absolutely unguarded and relaxed side of the man as he goes about his daily life, talking to friends, tinkering on his bikes, dozing in an armchair or washing down the pavement outside his airplane hanger.

These are the sort of photos you would usually never see of a movie star - Steve in the morning before he has showered, looking drowsily over a hot mug of coffee, househunting in Montana with Barbara, or lying asleep on the living room floor with his pet dog lying on top of him.

You really feel like you have stepped into Steve and Barbara's house, it is that personal.

The text accompaniment is also very entertaining and educational as Barbara shares her memories of how Steve wooed her, the initial problems he had to overcome in winning her parents approval of the relationship, his personal lessons to her on how to dismantle and rebuild a motorcycle (sadly unsuccessful) or a gun (successful), how he came to propose, and many other intimate and fun moments. Overall it takes you through their entire relationship and serves as something of an autobiography in itself.

All these photos are beautifully presented in a high gloss large coffee table book format.

Released with the first limited edition run of the book is a 45 minute audio CD of Steve verbally working through the script of the film "Tom Horn". It is fascinating to hear him talk about his vision of the film, rework the script and plan his character. You get a real sense of the epic film he wanted Tom Horn to be (but was denied due to the studio slashing the budget), and you realise just how insightful he was with film and acting. The amount of thought he puts into his role should forever dispel the notion that he just played himself on film.

Steve McQueen - The Last Mile is a very special book and no fans collection will be complete without it.

Fantastic!.......2007-03-10

A fantastic book on the last years of legend Steve McQueen! Great job by Barbara McQueen and Marshall Terrill! Touching moments! Great photos!

BITCH"EN.......2007-03-08

Just recieved "the Last Mile" in the mail. The photos and text are outstanding !! The book could have been twice as big. Great job Barbara and Marshall!!

Scientific Design of Exhaust & Intake Systems (Engineering and Performance)

Average customer rating:

Excellent book
Excellent book
In desperate need of updating!
highly recommended if you...
Stuck in the '60's

Scientific Design of Exhaust & Intake Systems (Engineering and Performance)
Philip H. Smith , and John C. Morrison
Manufacturer: Bentley Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Internal Combustion Engine in Theory and Practice: Vol. 1 - 2nd Edition, Revised: Thermodynamics, Fluid Flow, Performance
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How to Choose Camshafts and Time Them for Maximum Power (Speedpro Series)
Maximum Boost: Designing, Testing, and Installing Turbocharger Systems (Engineering and Performance)

ASIN: 0837603099

Book Description

This is one of the best-selling technical books in its field. For years, engineers, engine designers, high-performance tuners and racers have depended on this book to help maximize their engines' potential. Dr. John C. Morrison is one of the foremost authorities on the analysis of the induction and exhaust processes of high-speed engines. Together with Philip Smith, he gives a thorough explanation of the physics that govern the behavior of gases as they pass through an engine, and the theories and practical research methods used in designing more efficient induction manifolds and exhaust systems, for both competition and street use. An outstanding, authoritative book.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book.......2007-04-05

This book is an excellent read, but keep in mind it was written by mechanical engineers, I am a an electrical engineer and never got heavy into fluid flows so this book did me great justice. Someone mentioned that it does not mention forced induction in the text. With forced induction you are not particularly concerned about intake side, for exhaust side all you have to do is adjust the pressures to how ever many bar you are running, or as this book writes it into lbs/in squared, these equations are based off of perfect afr so figuring out the exhaust output pressure is not all that tough.
All in all I gave this a book a 4 because it is exactly what it says it is, but supplemental reading on fluid flows is a really good idea, if not a must... this book is more of highlights the fluids theories in intake and exhaust systems for you.

Excellent book.......2004-02-26

The information in this book is just as relavant now as it was when it was written back in 1972. Physics is physics, after all. The book gave me a much clearer understanding of header theory. My only complaint is that Smith and Morrison obviously wrote this book for engineers, and I'm not one. I had to struggle to understand some of the concepts, particularly on tri-y header design; but in the end, it was definitely worth it. The exhaust concepts are equally applicable to carbs and fuel injection. The only things lacking were crossovers and merge collectors, but I guess those things weren't invented in 1972. This book will give you a basic grounding in header design theory, and will enable you to discern a set of well-designed headers from a useless tangle of pipes. If you plan on building a set of custom headers, this book is definitely required reading.

In desperate need of updating!.......2003-07-27

Very outdated. I regret not having read the reviews here prior to purchasing this book. The last time this book was updated was 1972! There is nothing in the way of forced induction. Turbochargers are not mentioned and there is a single reference to superchargers on page 17! "Fuel Injector" is mentioned once. I am definitely sending this one back. Not the first time I have been disappointed with Bentley Publishing. FYI, 1972 was the year Pong came out. As I said, the book desperately needs to be updated.

highly recommended if you..........2000-05-09

I have designed race cars for years and I definitely recommend this book. I found information in this book that I have not seen published anywhere else. It explains how tri-y headers work. It explains the theory behind pulse tuning of exhaust and intakes. The intake pulse tuning is the basis of why Porsche created intake manifolds that effectively change between several intake runner lengths. These theories are even backed up by proven test results performed by engineers. There are even simple equations that are directly applicable to designing an intake or exhaust. This book is "old" but then so is the 4-stroke engine and although today's engines may seem "new" they are fundamentally the same as the "old" ones which makes the material in this book very worthwhile. If you want to know more than what intake or exhaust you should *buy* and are possibly thinking about creating your own intake or exhaust system, definitely buy this book. If you are looking for a book like this but even more technical, I suggest the 2 volumes titled "The Internal Combustion Engine in Theory and Practice" by Charles Fayette Taylor.

Stuck in the '60's.......1999-11-23

I read the book cover to cover. My impression is that this book contains exhaust and intake design information that was current in the 50's and '60s. Very little information for modern 4 or 5 valve per cylinder engines, and fuel injection tuned intake systems. No information on practical design of V8 performance exhaust system for street emmissions legal exhaust. Needs updated.

Orange County Choppers (TM): The Tale of the Teutuls

Average customer rating:

American Chopper
I love American Chopper
stupid mistakes mar enjoyable book
Orange County Choppers
The audio production brings their tale to life.

Orange County Choppers (TM): The Tale of the Teutuls
Paul Teutul , Paul M. Teutul , Michael Teutul , Keith And Kent Zimmerman , Keith Zimmerman , and Kent Zimmerman
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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American Chopper At Full Throttle
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ASIN: 0446528013

Book Description

Each week, millions of viewers tune into The Discovery Channelto watch their favorite dysfunctional American family, the Teutuls. The hitTV show American Chopper features Paul Teutul, Sr., and his sons Paul, Jr.and Mikey, along with a supporting cast of mechanics and friends. Together,they create some of the most incredible and outrageous motorcycles in theworld. Now, in ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS, the Teutuls combine family historywith a behind-the-scenes tour of their renowned motorcycle shop--and theirnew lives as household names. Hilarious and heartwarming, fans of the showand newcomers alike will delight in this truly authentic America successstory.

Customer Reviews:

American Chopper.......2007-09-28

After watching the show since it was first on. It's safe to say that I love American Chopper and the Teutels. This book is a great look into the history of this family, and it's workers. If you like the show, you'll like the book.

I love American Chopper.......2007-09-07

I think a normal down to Hearth family you will not find after reading this book.
I love the dysfunctional family and that at the end what remains is their love for each other and the creativity on their motorcycles.

stupid mistakes mar enjoyable book.......2007-06-15

It's disappointing and disturbing that three Teutuls plus two Zimmermans and an additional army of fact checkers and editors at Warner Books could let obvious errors get printed.

On page 11, Paul Senior talks about his parents charging people to park in their driveway on Cooper Street in Yonkers, to watch horse races in Yonkers Raceway or baseball games in Yankee stadium, which were within "walking distance."

While the track is just a few blocks away, the stadium is about 8.5 miles south. The 17 mile round trip is not "walking distance" for most people. I hope he calculates more precisely while building bikes.

Twice on page 15, Senior mentions his house in "Muncie", New York. Muncie is in Indiana. The Teutuls lived in MONSEY (which is pronounced like Muncie).

There are probably more errors, but I just started reading the book.

Orange County Choppers.......2007-05-12

Eveything you wanted to know about Paul Sr, Jr. Mikey and the rest of the boys at OCC. Great pictures of the bikes and how they built them and facts and information about the rest of the guys that work there. Love the book.

The audio production brings their tale to life........2007-04-11

Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Teutul and Michael Teutul work with Keith and Kent Zimmerman in ORANGE COUNTY CHOPPERS, follows a dysfunctional family's family endeavors of producing artistic and striking 'choppers' in their shop, and receives the familiar and famous voice of Todd McLaren as it examines the Teutul's life story. You needn't have familiarity with the TV show to appreciate this autobiography of family members in conflict; but what does help is an affection and appreciation for 'chopper' bikes and family interactions, which spices the appealing story of a 'wild family' which comes together to produce outstanding bikes. The audio production brings their tale to life.

Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance

Average customer rating:

Not bad
A great intro to mountain bike maintenance
Clear, well writen and with good schemes and graphics
Search the internet, its cheaper
great textbook

Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance
Lennard Zinn
Manufacturer: VeloPress
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 193138259X

Amazon.com

Lennard Zinn explains that it doesn't take special skills to learn how to care for one's bike, only "a passion for spreading new grease on old parts." Clearly, his ambition is to share with newcomers the Zen-like joy of bike maintenance. But it's seasoned bike mechanics that should be tripping over each other for a copy of this comprehensive and ambitious manual. Zinn differs from other how-to books by guiding readers--with plain-speaking text--through almost every imaginable repair on almost every imaginable part. He covers everything from rebuilding hubs, to loosening seized stems, to installing six different types of bottom brackets. He even risks cycling blasphemy by walking mere mortals through the art of wheel building--an intimidating task that can take years to perfect. Although best suited for the old pros, his guide is user- friendly, funny, and essential to anyone willing to love their bike. --Ben Tiffany

Book Description

The most concise, well-organized, and clearly illustrated reference available, Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance gently guides the reader — regardless of mountain bike experience or mechanical prowess — through every aspect of maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting in a succinct and easy-to-read format and presents the latest technological advances and equipment in mountain bike components. Detailed diagrams and simple instructions explain everything from repairing a flat tire to building a wheel. The instructions are useful for anyone interested in mountain bikes, yet concise and complete enough to cover every state-of-the art technical concern facing today's mountain biker. This timely revision offers updated information on shock pump adaptors, master links, V-brakes, cleat mounting and pedal overhaul, oversize handlebars, carbon steering tubes, tubeless rims, and much more. Repairs are rated for degree of difficulty while line drawings illustrate how parts fit together and show the tools needed to keep bikes in top shape and pedaling smoothly both on and off the trail.

Customer Reviews:

Not bad.......2007-10-18

Not a bad book.... good pictures and explanations. could be a little more specific for newbies. overall a good buy.

A great intro to mountain bike maintenance.......2007-10-09

What can I add that hasn't already been said earlier?

If you can get the book and the dvd. This has been a great introduction for myself as I wanted to learn how to best maintain my mountain bike. It has proven to be very accessible for even a beginner like myself and yet not feel like I'm being talked down to by the author.

I only recently bought this and already some of the maintenance & repairs I've done have saved some serious cash. Now as I walk into the local bicycle shop I know what I need for the tasks at hand.

For the maintenance and repairs I do now I save myself money and also I spare the time of the local bicycle mechanics by not taking it in for maintenance jobs I can now do. They have noted this and do appreciate it.

Clear, well writen and with good schemes and graphics.......2007-08-03

I found that this was exactly what I was looking for. Clear, simple when it can be simple and not oversimplified when the things are complicated. If you are like me a MTB enthusiast with inclinations to understand, maintain and even repair ocasionally your bike, this is the book for you. Not that it covers only basic material, but it is friendly to newcomers that will, I believe, enjoy putting their hands on the bike.

Search the internet, its cheaper.......2007-07-09

Good book, easy to read and understand.

Yet I still feel the internet is a much greater resource which the ability to search for specific problems, rather than browsing problems, and ability to talk with people (such as on forums).

Great if you want a book though.

great textbook.......2007-05-21

This is a nicely written and very informative book--a must for anyone who wants to do his/her own maintenence on a mountain bike. For long-time and experienced mechanics, much will be review, but there are always those little things that you haven't done before, or have changed with new equipment. This book gives you the proper approach in a clear, no-nonsense fashion.

Advanced Tattoo Art (How-To Secrets from the Masters)

Average customer rating:

???
Advanced Tattoo Art (How-To Secrets from the Masters)
Skip it
DO NOT BUY THIS WASTE OF TREES
Tattoo art

Advanced Tattoo Art (How-To Secrets from the Masters)
Doug Mitchel
Manufacturer: Wolfgang Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1929133332

Book Description

No longer the domain of bikers and sailors, tattoos can now be found decorating the skin of soccer moms and white-collar executives. Tattoo art has emerged from the garage to the parlor, from the local bar to the board room. With interest in tattoos at an all-time high, the time is right for a detailed look at the art and artists who create the elaborate designs. Advanced Tattoo Art takes the reader inside the shops of ten well-known and very experienced artists spread across the country. Detailed photo sequences follow each artist through one project, from the customer's concept to the finished and colorful design. Both a how-to book and a photo-intense look at the world or tattoos, Advanced Tattoo Art includes interviews with the artists that explain not only how they do what they do, but why they create the designs.

Customer Reviews:

???.......2007-09-03

this book is terrible....shows some ok tattoos...i really only like the rat fink and the joe capobianco pieces myself..but the point is the book teaches nothing at all.

Advanced Tattoo Art (How-To Secrets from the Masters).......2007-08-31

For the amature tattoo artist this is a helpful insight on techniques advanced tattoo artists use.

Skip it.......2007-07-17

No real technical info is given here. Your better off purchasing the three tattoo mags you could have bought instead of this. Nice sequential pictures though.

DO NOT BUY THIS WASTE OF TREES.......2007-07-06

First of all I chose one star because there is no option for 0 or even negative stars... This so-called-book is the biggest lie of any book I have ever read. The saying "never judge a book by its cover" is dead on with this one - in a very negative sense. Advanced Tattoo Art - How-to Secrets from the Masters... A few of the pictures of the tattoos are of more-or-less advanced tattoos; however, there are NO secrets in this book and they are definately no words from the mouths of any of the artists that were observed in the so-called-book. A few pages in I knew this book was a waste of money... "Having learned about eight tattoos ago not to ask questions of why something was being done, it was amazing to see Larry work his magic using only shades of black." - Direct quote p.15... "With this tattoo being the first I had ever experienced in-process, the level of art made my head hurt." - Direct quote p.30... WOW - not only is this author a complete lier when it comes to what he says the book encompases, but he had never even watched a tattoo being done before he set out to waste trees and attempt to make money doing so. And this last quote I leave you with is exactly the tone of the entire waste of trees that someone has mistakenly called a book... "Part of the technique used in applying tattoos is selecting the proper voltage from the power supply. The level of power needs to be adjusted to meet with the section of skin in question, as well as the customer's own special conditions. Thinner areas of flesh require lower voltage than thicker segments, and so on. TO KNOW THIS AND BE ABLE TO PROPERLY APPLY THE CORRESPONDING NUMBERS IS ALL PART OF THE CRAFT." - Direct quote p.34... And where that quote ends is at the end of a paragraph - and the next paragraph starts to talk about how only the artists in the "black art" know how to apply the right amount of pressure. I truly despise this so-called-book and wish I would have taken the time to read the reviews that say the same exact thing I am saying... DO NOT BUY THIS WASTE OF TREES...

Tattoo art.......2007-06-16

This book is great very detailed, i enjoyed it.

Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Average customer rating:

Helpful
An essential bring-along for the ZMM
An essential bring-along for the ZMM
Highly recommended companion to Pirsig's book
The best. Ever.

Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Ron Di Santo , and Tom Steele
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values
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The Tao of the Ride: Motorcycles and the Mechanics of the Soul
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ASIN: 0688060692
Release Date: 1990-11-19

Book Description

When Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was first published in 1974, it caused a literary sensation. An entire generation was profoundly affected by the story of the narrator, his son, Chris, and their month-long motorcycle odyssey from Minnesota to California. A combination of philosophical speculation and psychological tension, the book is a complex story of relationships, values, madness, and, eventually, enlightenment.

Ronald DiSanto and Thomas Steele have spent years investigating the background and underlying symbolism of Pirsig's work. Together, and with the approval of Robert Pirsig, they have written a fascinating reference/companion to the original

Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance serves as a metaphorical backpack of supplies for the reader's journey through the original work. With the background material, insights, and perspectives the authors provide, Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is destined to become required reading for new fans of the book as well as those who have returned to it over the years.

Customer Reviews:

Helpful.......2003-01-26

The inclusion of edited material from ZAMM was welcome. I found I was distracted when I was actually reading ZAMM andreferencing the guidebook. My suggestion - read ZAMM completely then refer to the guidebook to explore a section more deeply. The reviews of ZAMM were of passing interest, from the early reviews published after the book's release to later ones and their criticism.
I'm not a deeply devout person of any given persuasion, so the religious comparisons and references were of lesser importance. I think they would be helpful if one were looking to delve deeper into Buddhism or other philosophy. This Guidebook DID ADD to my overall understanding and enjoyment of ZAMM.

An essential bring-along for the ZMM.......2000-11-29

For fans of ZMM, this is an incredible book that summarizes various aspects of the ZMM book. First and foremost, it gives you the necessary background on philosophy to get a better understanding of where the Pirsig is coming from.

Secondly, it is great studying material for those of us who're interested in getting deeper into the issues that Pirsig gets to in the ZMM. Particularly, I liked the section in this book that relates Quality with Taoist principles.

A must have!

It can be read without reading ZMM, BTW.

An essential bring-along for the ZMM.......2000-11-29

A must have!

It can be read without reading ZMM, BTW.

Highly recommended companion to Pirsig's book.......1999-06-22

Additional background material, both philosophical and historical, really illuminates the original Pirsig book. The bonus is sometimes startling insights, and new questions (often unanswered for the reader to work out). Think of it as an informal but well-written textbook by teachers who care both about the material and the student. It lures the reader into further self-study in epistemology, metaphysics, aesthetics, and ethics. Contains valuable passages that were edited out of the original Pirsig book.

The best. Ever........1998-08-03

Very profound. Not many books make you think like "Zen ..." does. Heightens the pleasure of reading by adding the dimension of thought to it. 'Phaedrus' leaps off the pages of the book to stay with you for the rest of your life...and perhaps beyond too. Keeps up to its own high quality values. If you liked "Zen ..." I would recommend "LILA" by Robert Pirsig which is another masterpiece.

Long Way Round: The Illustrated Edition: Chasing Shadows Across the World

Average customer rating:

Awesome !
A vicarious adventure
Save your money
A joke: Rich boys followed around the world by BCC
Beautiful story, beautiful photos

Long Way Round: The Illustrated Edition: Chasing Shadows Across the World
Ewan McGregor , and Charley Boorman
Manufacturer: Time Warner Books UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Long Way Round
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Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, 5th: Worldwide Motorcycling Route & Planning Guide (Trailblazer)

ASIN: 0316731706

Book Description

Poring over a map one day, Ewan McGregor—film star and bike nut—noticed it was possible to ride all the way around the world, with just one short hop across the Bering Strait. So he called Charley Boorman, his best friend, fellow actor, and bike nut. From London to New York, Ewan and Charley rode their BMWs through Europe, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Russia, across the Pacific to Alaska, then down through Canada and America. Exhaustion, injury, and accidents tested their strength, as did treacherous roads and weather. They were pursued by paparazzi in Kazakhstan, courted by men with guns in the Ukraine, and served bulls' testicles for supper by Mongolian nomads. Yet despite the many obstacles, they managed to ride over 20,000 miles in four months. As they traveled, they documented their trip, taking photos and writing diaries.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome !.......2006-12-15

What an awesome book, recording an awesome experience. As a biker myself, I was attracted to the book just to read about a trip that is beyond my means and abilities, but the book ended up meaning much more than that to me. It showed me, yet again, that wherever you go in the world (And I've travelled a fair bit of it myself in my work as a seafarer !) people everywhere are just people like you and I, when you get past the religious, political and economic differences that can so often divide us. It also highlights the fact that people who make a living in the film industry are not necessarily unapproachable, self centred and addicted to adulation. They can be warm, human and prone to the same joys, fears and desires as the rest of us. In short, they are human beings who just happen to have a good job. This is not just a good read about a motor bike trip of a lifetime, it is a book that rekindles hope that the world, and its varied people, is a beautiful place after all, and not half as dangerous as some would have us believe. Whether you're a biker, an armchair traveller or just someone looking for an exciting and inspiring read, then this book is for you. I can't praise it highly enough.

A vicarious adventure.......2006-11-11

Long Way Round chronicles the around-the-world motorcycle adventure of Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor. It's unlikely I'll ever do anything like that in my life, but the book gave me an idea of what it's like. Both of them are entertaining writers and it was a really inspiring book. A great tale of taking an adventure and making it a dream come true; of friendship; and of overcoming obstacles. A great companion to the dvd set.

Save your money.......2006-05-26

I couldn't wait to get this book. It sounded like a great story of adventure across several continents. After the first chapter I deeply regreted my purchase. What had great potential turned out to be two guys boasting about their popularity and how it was going to be difficult being celebrities. Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't know them at all, despite their numerous references to the movies they've been in. I thought I was getting a book about the challenges of travel abroad and pictures of these places. What I got was a book with too many pictures of the authors, weak stories of the places they stayed in and the food they ate.

A joke: Rich boys followed around the world by BCC.......2006-05-20

This adventure pales beside the great round the world books on motorcyle like One Man Caravan by Robert Edison Fulton or Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon. There is little sense of real adventure with this banal travel chronology. A major support team follows closely on the tails of these guys who over packed, offer little insight to local cultures, and the worse challenge they face is eating food that they don't normally eat. Surely, the BCC could afford to have the book ghost written for them to improve the interest.

Beautiful story, beautiful photos.......2006-04-13

This is the illustrated version of the amazing story of two friends traveling around the world together. It is a demonstration of the will of individuals to make it to their goal. More importantly it is also an illustration of the generosity, the kindness, the sadness, the humor and the beauty they found along the way. You don't have to be interested in motorcycles, you don't even have to care who Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman are! Its just a great tale of two people and an adventure.

As wonderful as it is to read the story, you must also get the dvd. It is as close as most of us will ever get to these amazing locations, and you couldn't ask for better guides!

Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza

Average customer rating:

Maybe for Sanford and Son
Great book for the hobbiest!
Informative, but dissapointing
Great book, super step by step instructions.
bicycle builders dream book

Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza
Brad Graham , and Kathy McGowan
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071422676

Book Description

* Provides detailed, step-by-step instruction showing how to build your own customized bicyles on a shoe-string budget

* Thoroughly illustrated--includes 50 blueprints and 200 photos

* Includes ideas, techniques, advice, and practical tips for the creative builder

* One of the author's creations will be included in the Guinness Book of World Records for the tallest bicycle

Customer Reviews:

Maybe for Sanford and Son.......2007-10-05

It's a fun book but I had higher expectations hoping it would bring bicycling to the level of Jesse James and choppers. But it's nothing more than welding scrap (crap) together.

Great book for the hobbiest!.......2007-06-04

Fantastic book!! It has a permenent home on the coffie table. I'm already collecting enough old bikes to urk the misses! The book is realy worth the money and you'll read it all the way through in the first sitting, I did!I hope there's a second edition in the works too!!!

Informative, but dissapointing.......2007-02-09

This has a lot of cool ideas but isn't as cool as it looks.

Great book, super step by step instructions........2007-01-20

Just finished reading Atomic Zombie's Bicycle Builder's Bonanza, and loved it. I can't wait for warmer weather to start skoping out bikes to start working on. My boys are reading it and already have their "wish list" of favorites that they want to build.

Brad did a good job of including all info needed to build the bikes shown. Learning from his experience and mistakes is going to make all it the more enjoyable putting together that first custom bike.

Now I want to see a followup book that gives even more plans.

bicycle builders dream book.......2007-01-12

This book is a lot of fun and shows what can be done with a lot of imagination and a little daring. I really enjoyed the pictures and all the different ideas and projects. A really great book for people who like to try something a little different.
thank you,
Robert W Logsdon

Average customer rating:

Beautiful photos, great design, lots of info...
Bobber?

Art of the Bobber
Spencer Drate , and Judith Salavetz
Manufacturer: Motorbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0760325316

Book Description

Before choppers, there was the bobber. As these lean, mean machines come roaring back onto the scene in a big way, this book offers a look at where the bobber came from, where its going, and what its about. With over 200 exclusive photographs of the most cutting-edge bobbers, biographies of the men and women who build them, and inside stories on top shops like Zero Engineering, Chica Custom Cycles, and Von Dutch Kustoms, this book captures the rebel spirit of the ultimate custom bike as never before.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful photos, great design, lots of info..........2007-03-03

This book has a ton of beauty shots of amazing bikes. The last reviewer was disappointed there weren't a lot of "old school" traditional bobbers, but that's not the point of the book really. There are a number of old school bobbers, a number of modern looking designs, but overall if you're a fan of awesome custom motorcycles, you'll dig this book.

Bobber?.......2006-11-08

Ok, Some books should be judged by their cover. This is one of them. By the books own definition, bobbers are "a machine that had things cut or bobbed off." It then goes on to explain using a stock machine as a starting point. The bike on the cover, like about 80% of the bikes in this book, does not use a stock frame or front end as a starting point. Many of them are aftermarket raked and stretched frames using overlength front ends and mag wheels. Clearly not bobbers. This book should be called Art of the Custom Motorcycle. It is a decent book about modern custom bikes, but if I had the opportunity of browse the book prior to purchasing, I wold not have purchased it. I would categorize this book as a book written by people who are taking advantage of the recent bobber craze without knowing the true definition of the term. On the flip side, the book is a good value for what Amazon charges and if you are into custom bikes perhaps you should consider it. But don't expect to see traditional bobbers.

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