I wasn't impressed by it. It was full of sophomoric philosophical ramblings. The writing was uninspired and oatmeal-bland. Nothing really fresh or mature. "The Perfect Vehicle" by Melissa Holbrook Pierson was a far more rewarding read.
BTW krzkevin (and others)... in case you're interested Harold Paige's GNF winning FZ750 is for sale in the WERA Vintage classifieds. He has a pickup truck load of spares too. Here's everyones chance to be on a sure thing for the 2003 season!
I've always really enjoyed it, read it a number of times over the last 20 years. It is slow-paced and highly introspective. Not a light read by any stretch, but there's a lot there. I work as a programmer, when we get straight out of college newbies or interns in the office it's one the the 3 books I recommend they read if they're serious about doing well.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance either speaks to the reader or not. When I read it, I was in graduate school and I found the question of what could be known very relevant. As a student of economics I would sometimes get frustrated with positivism so I also found Pirsig’s quest for quality refreshing. However, my wife is a prodigious reader but she has never made it through Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I guess you have to be at a certain place in your life to appreciate it. On a practical note, Pirsig’s description of the goings-on in a motorcycle repair shop has stuck with me. I have witnessed many of the behaviors that prompted him to ask how anyone could do a good job if they don’t really care about what they’re doing. Obviously, an important lesson for any serious motorcyclist -- either learn how to fix it yourself or seek out those rare individuals who truly care about doing quality work.
That book was required reading dring the summer before freshman year at Miami U. (Oxford), so naturally I just read the Cliff Notes......
I just ordered a copy from ebay. Guess I better give it a read and see what it has to say to me. I've always been a little off, so maybe I can identify.