Antony's Book Club-Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[antony]

I tried reading this book a couple years ago, and was loving it. But I kinda fell out of it, and just picked it up again. This is the kinda book that needs the reader to talk over the pages with someone, because it is FUCKING DEEP. Anyone read this, or want to read with me?

I think most of the people here are intelligent enough to have read it or would like to help me out with this thing.
The author is Robert M. Pirsig

http://www.theonion.com/content/files/images/onion_imagearticle1749.article.jpg


edit: My friends don't pick up any publication unless it is rated XXX, thats why I'm using the board for help

[Opiyum]

WHY OH WHY does my mother watch oprah religiously? thats for another thread..

I've been reccomended this book a bunch and will take you up on the offer cause the books I have sitting next to me that I still have to read arent of any interest to me right now.
Now I must think of a way to obtain the book for free.

[antony]

you might find it online, for free, or the paperback is only 13 bucks. was reading it last night, and tried reading today at work, but I've got a heavy nod, because its slow as shit, and been dosing kinda high. And I can't pay attention when im passing out.

but let me know. Its about to get interesting

[Kallie]

Ant, my brother read that a long time ago... way back in college, and he really enjoyed it. He was a mechanical engineer major and read all sorts of philosophy, etc (Balzac, Voltaire, Nietzsche, Kiekegaard, Sartre... et al) and he loved The Doors' Jim Morrison and I remember some book he had called "The Acid Kool-aid Test," I think. Anyway, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance sort of combined all his likes....

I never read it, but I remember he really liked it....

Oh, and for used/new books there's a site called www.half.com that sells books and CDs really cheap (an extension of ebay, I think). I've bought lots of stuff and never had a bad experience.

[dissident]

i read most of this and loved it just kinda got bored with it, ive been wanting to try reading it again

[devilsdrug]

read it back in the big house , id read any thing , depending how desparate , even parts of bible cause thats all i had , from shitkicker louis lamore to steinbeck, hemingway, espioange favorites , i read a lot all of the good dr.ht and just for the hell of it i know many main characters in his HA

[devilsdrug]

read it back in the big house , id read any thing , depending how desparate , even parts of bible cause thats all i had , from shitkicker louis lamore to steinbeck, hemingway, espioange favorites , i read a lot all of the good dr.ht and just for the hell of it i know many main characters in his HA book even today, read manny classicix and a lot of junk too, 4 days was way long on a book for me DAMN HOW I DO THAT NEVER DONE BEFORE SORRY

[Opiyum]

read it back in the big house , id read any thing , depending how desparate , even parts of bible cause thats all i had , from shitkicker louis lamore to steinbeck, hemingway, espioange favorites , i read a lot all of the good dr.ht and just for the hell of it i know many main characters in his HA book even today, read manny classicix and a lot of junk too, 4 days was way long on a book for me DAMN HOW I DO THAT NEVER DONE BEFORE SORRY

Did you ever meet Chief Barger?

For some reason I wouldn't be suprised.

[devilsdrug]

that is definitly a ? i wont answer cause, but i guess i set myself up to be asked. i was born in oakland lived in the burbs and and ran the streets for many years workin , lyin , not too much stealin, mostly forgin it was easier then, tradin dope for stolen property, just plain ol husltin and most of time not pretty and not a safe place to be . hobnobed with all the n, cal heavies from timothy to wavy , jerry hell one of those keyboardist that died was in my senor class, lots of band members not gonna drop any nmore names just trust me i was there

[antigonemuse]

Electric Koolaid Acid Test... FYI

DD - I had a feeling

anyone ever come across a copy to Roadmaps to the Mind, Leary???

I have been looking for years

[antony]

It's nice that this book is pulling in some interest. I love to read, but my comprehension isn't that good, so when it comes to difficult reads like this, its nice to have a conversation about what I just read, so if anyone wants to go on this trip, lemme know

[siggy]

Yeah, the Electric Koo-Aid Acid Test - that was good. BE HERE NOW by Ram Dass is good too. For fiction, try to find a collection of short stories by Terry Southern called "Red Dirt Marijuana and other stories". What's name of the one about the bi-plane pilot, I think the author may be the same as Jonathon Lvingstone Seagull?

[Opiyum]

you might find it online, for free, or the paperback is only 13 bucks. was reading it last night, and tried reading today at work, but I've got a heavy nod, because its slow as shit, and been dosing kinda high. And I can't pay attention when im passing out.

but let me know. Its about to get interesting

Found it for free on the net as suggested. Tonight it begins.

I can see it not Ant you moderating a Book Club forum....Ill be the first to sign up. or am I dont know

[antony]

It seems you are the first, but, Im around the sixth chapter, right now, but im sure ill read some more tonight. I'll pause and wait for you to catch up if you want

[devilsdrug]

read the red dirt collection also

[antony]

read the red dirt collection also

whats that one? is it a series, or just a title?

Ant, my brother read that a long time ago... way back in college, and he really enjoyed it. He was a mechanical engineer major and read all sorts of philosophy, etc (Balzac, Voltaire, Nietzsche, Kiekegaard, Sartre... et al) and he loved The Doors' Jim Morrison and I remember some book he had called "The Acid Kool-aid Test," I think. Anyway, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance sort of combined all his likes....

I never read it, but I remember he really liked it....

Oh, and for used/new books there's a site called www.half.com that sells books and CDs really cheap (an extension of ebay, I think). I've bought lots of stuff and never had a bad experience.
why don't you pick it up also karen? it'd be a nice time

[devilsdrug]

no back there a few posts before mine it said terry southerns collection red dirt marijuana and other short stories give me a minute i just got home from work decided on 24oz 8.1 beer and half a oxy 40 for my evening oh ya parent teacher conf later ha what a riot

[antony]

be easy on those teachers DD, most of em are just trying to help:D

[Opiyum]

Dont worry bout waitin Im gonna have a lot of time on my hands here soon...thanks though

[Kallie]

why don't you pick it up also karen? it'd be a nice time

Thanks, Ant. I thought about it when you first posted... I read lots of stories (children's lit) to my little ones. We are up to 581 books for the year, since Sept! But, I might try. Thanks for the suggestion, and I'll try to pick it up, too (and see if I can squeeze out some time to read).

And DD, please do be easy on those teachers... and yourself.:)

I'll let you know how the Zen thing goes, Ant. Appreciate you thinking of me, though.

[HistoryofMadness]

Hey Ant I've been gone for a few days, trying to catch up. Is there room left on the reading list?

I've been telling myself to read that book since last summer and keep putting it off for other books.

I'm starting it tonight...

-H

[antony]

It's never too late to join Antony's book club, its just a one time membership payment of 49.95, and only 19.95 a month afterward!

j/k, the more the marrier, this book is intense, and I think the more people read this, the better we can all understand it.

Im on chapter 7 right now. the first few chapters are just about him riding, and his definitions of "classic, and romantic" ways of looking at the earth. He's just starting to tackle Phaedrus now.

[Opiyum]

Review of first five chapters by *r**n J *a*i*

Im liking this alot. His writing reminds me of Big Sur and The Dharma Bums its very simple
"we did this we did that" and out of that simplicity comes something very comforting. Like having an adult conversation with your "cool uncle"(dialogue you wouldn't have with a parent at least in my case) while still in your youth. Pre-Jaded.
I'm pretty sick and cant sleep but while reading it; my legs are completely out of my thoughts.
I'm on chapter six and it seems like the calm before the storm scenario which is great. The dialogue between father and son is puzzling at times. It's not that the dialogue isnt realistic it's just that the father, having read his thoughts, seems like and is a great guy but there's times when his behavior towards his son, Chris, seems a little off kilter.
A good kind of anxiety is in the air while I read this book.
Good selection Ant.

Can anyone clarify this Chatquua thing? Never heard of this before and dont understand the relivance to the story. Sometimes I miss the obvious if thats what it is.

[antony]

It's not that the dialogue isnt realistic it's just that the father, having read his thoughts, seems like and is a great guy but there's times when his behavior towards his son, Chris, seems a little off kilter.
A good kind of anxiety is in the air while I read this book.
Good selection Ant.

Can anyone clarify this Chatquua thing? Never heard of this before and dont understand the relivance to the story. Sometimes I miss the obvious if thats what it is.

"Chautauqua," I believe, (and I could be wrong) is the personal trip in his mind, searching for Phaedrus, and his understanding.

the relationship with his son I think is a microcosom of his relationship with himself. I think the main character is the one with the most mental problems and Phaedrus and himself are one. I think the father is upset that his son his gonna be just as tortured as he is. Im about as far as you opi, so im trying to figure it out myself.

[blahblahblah]

Great book and helps shed some meaning onto humanity, I havent read it since I was about 14 or so I guess its due that I dust of my copy and re-read it. I was just looking at it on my book shelf last night, and instead of picking that one out I grabbed: 'The Drug The Nurse The Patient, including Current Drug Handbook 1978-80'. Maybee Ill break it out and reread it again as I KNOW there is something there I didnt pick up 15 years ago.

[candyshop]

i 'm in-i read it about 10 years ago but could re-do ,and i am already in one book club -NOT f-in oprah
we do books by and about bitches -just did "reading lolita in tehran" (rocked balls!), "what fresh hell is this"(dorothy parker bio) and a book of poems by patti smith- i heart books-i think an opiate based book club would be huge fun

[Kallie]

Hi Ant, I went to the library (weekly run) and got the book, finally. I realize this may be "cheating," but there is also a book called, "Guidebood to Zen and the Art..." It is pretty good, synopsizes Eastern and Western philosophies, draws a "mystical map," has maps of the actual trip, etc. It's as thick as the book, maybe more, but I thought it might be helpful with any ?s or such. Public libraries are a real gem.

For anyone with children, we also got (among lots of others) one called "Daddy's Girl" and the author Garrison Keillor has a singing CD w/the book. It is sort of jazzy (nothing like a kiddie CD that I'd expected), and the little ones and I danced around their room with their hot pink and purple feather dress-up boas. Throwing them in the air, swirling around, and using them sorta like pom-poms to the beat. It was great! They begged me not to stop... so we danced an encore. I love doing silly stuff like that w/them and the music was a lot of fun. Anyway, you parents check it out if you like jazz... but you really need the feather boa.