Description: There few titles available that describe particular philosophies in an informal manner. Such descriptions would be easily digested, even if they were not really agreed with. This is because at the very least the informal approach or in fact the story line would serve as an area of interest in itself.

In Pirsigs’ ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’, one is compelled to read through the whole presentation, and this is because of the fact that the story line is brilliantly present; it helps expose the value of objects in relation to the human mind. In fact, the story line that is about a father and son biking together, is very well linked up with the concept of quality and appreciation for objects; the object and subjective value that is exposed is interesting as it is thought provoking.

One tends to analyze his or her own view of things in nature in this way. Indeed, it must be asserted that Pirsig’s view of things in nature is exposed; this being a self-analysis of his own mind and view of nature is the thought-provoking part. However, it may be asserted that Pirsig appears to have a single train of though that establishes a relation between himself and the motorcycle. This is opposed to the idea of a multi-purpose an object may have.

In Pirsig’s view, it is the quality of the motorcycle that matters to him; the manner in which he and his son experience the wide open country rode, riding into the sunset is described as an experience that is totally different from sitting in a car. The manner in which his mind and motorcycle are free as each other on an open road is emphasized on. This in a manner of speaking is the writer’s view of life; it is another view, in fact, a whole different view. It is symbolic in the sense that a human being is in search for quality in life, and behind each mind is the search for quality in living.

The motorcycle and Pirsig himself are relative to anything that one believes in or sets one free. What Pirsig describes might be referred to as rambling. However, it is this apparent rambling that has a hidden message; he undoubtedly seems abstract and illogical, but the truth behind it all is that Pirsig tries to in a very odd way expose the fact that quality in life matters to every individual, and it is also relative. This is why the journey, the motorcycle, etc. are all significant though relative to Pirsig; for other individuals it could be any other object.

Critique:

In his book ‘Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’, Pirsig emphasizes on his view that quality is relative to the individual. However, there may be generalizations to the search for quality. This is because he asserts that “Every step's an effort, both physically and spiritually, because he imagines his goal to be external and distant” (Part 17). However, each individual still strives in spite of how difficult or distant this goal is.

No matter what action one takes s/he strives for a special quality in life. In order to strive, one must also imitate a particular trend or action of another. “If you don't imitate what the teacher wants you get a bad grade. Here, in college, it was more sophisticated, of course; you were supposed to imitate the teacher in such a way as to convince the teacher you were not imitating, but taking the essence of the instruction and going ahead with it on your own” (Part 16). This is what should make the difference between a teacher’s ideas and a student’s.

The transcendence is what one has to be aware of though, as it is the ugliness in a creation by one that can linger on into an imitation. “The real ugliness lies in the relationship between the people who produce the technology and the things they produce, which results in a similar relationship between the people who use the technology and the things they use”(Part 25).

‘Ugliness’ here may easily refer to the essence of one’s ideas as well as the creations that are tangible; if a material is believed to be ugly then it is ugly because of the creator or the eye that views it. However, in view of the train of thought that Pirsig has in his novel, it might be asserted that the material put in use is appreciated for its qualities only because the user sees its advantages. In the case of Pirsig and his motorcycle, it must be asserted that it is his motorcycle that sets him free. Hence, the quality of the motorcycle is grand for him.

Though the motorcycle may not take him to his ultimate goal, Pirsig still asserts that “To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow” (Part 17). In other words, Pirsig believes that it is not only the goal that is important. As in living a full life and reaching the end of one’s days is not the important thing; it is important to enjoy the trip there as well, to go along and appreciate what one has, as Pirsig has appreciated the motorcycle.

In order to reinforce his words, Pirsig also adds his definition of Zen. He asserts, “Zen is the "spirit of the valley," not the mountain. The only Zen you find on the tops of moutains is the Zen you bring up there” (Part 20). Hence, the motorcycle carries significance as it is his entertainment and angle through which he sees a richer world. It might be noted here that this is entirely opposed to traveling down a long road in a car in which the driver is not as in touch with the road as s/he might be on a bike.