Pirsig Robert M. Bücher

THE CLASSIC BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED MILLIONS A penetrating examination of how we live and how to live better Few books transform a generation and then establish themselves as touchstones for the generations that follow. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one such book. This modern epic of a man's search for meaning became an instant bestseller on publication in 1974, acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters. It continues to inspire millions. A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance becomes a personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions on how to live. The narrator's relationship with his son leads to a powerful self-reckoning; the craft of motorcycle maintenance leads to an austerely beautiful process for reconciling science, religion, and humanism. Resonant with the confusions of existence, this classic is a touching and transcendent book of life. This new edition contains an interview with Pirsig and letters and documents detailing how this extraordinary book came to be.

From the author of the multi-million-copy-selling classic, this original collection features Robert Pirsig's writings on the central theme of his thought—"quality"—including never-before-seen selections from his unpublished works. Pirsig penned the line, "The ultimate goal in the pursuit of excellence is enlightenment," in 1962 while hospitalized as a psychiatric patient. Even before his famous book's release, he had identified the core idea of "Quality," akin to "excellence" or "rightness," linked to Buddhist concepts like "Dharma" or the "Tao." He famously stated, "Quality is Buddha." Though he became a revered figure, Pirsig published only two books and rarely engaged in public appearances. Nevertheless, he continued to refine his "Metaphysics of Quality" until his death in 2017. For the first time, readers can explore five decades of Pirsig's personal writings in this posthumous collection, which sheds light on his thought process. Edited and introduced by his wife, Wendy Pirsig, it includes unpublished texts, speeches, letters, and notes from his time in the mental hospital, alongside key excerpts from his renowned works. Since its 1974 publication, the classic has transformed generations and remains a significant touchstone in popular philosophy. This collection is a remarkable addition to the literary and philosophical canon from one of the most influential thinkers of our time.

»Das Buch erschien zu einer Zeit kultureller Umwälzungen in der Frage materiellen Erfolgs. Die Hippies wollten nichts davon wissen. Die Konservativen verstanden die Welt nicht mehr. Materieller Erfolg war der amerikanische Traum. Millionen europäischer Tagelöhner hatten sich ihr Leben lang danach gesehnt und waren nach Amerika gekommen, weil sie ihn hier zu finden hofften – in einer Welt, in der sie und ihre Nachkommen endlich genug zum Leben haben würden. Und nun warfen ihre verwöhnten Nachkommen ihnen diesen ganzen Traum vor die Füße, ließen kein gutes Haar daran. Was wollten sie?Dieses Buch bietet eine andere, ernsthaftere Alternative zum materiellen Erfolg an. Das heißt, es ist eigentlich weniger eine Alternative als vielmehr eine Ausweitung der Bedeutung von ›Erfolg‹ auf etwas Größeres als das bloße Bemühen, eine gute Stellung zu finden und sich nichts zuschulden kommen zu lassen. Und auch etwas Größeres als bloße Freiheit. Es setzt ein positives Ziel, auf das man hinarbeiten kann, das einen aber nicht einengt. Das, so scheint mir, ist der Hauptgrund für den Erfolg des Buches. Es traf sich, daß die ganze Kultur genau nach dem auf der Suche war, was dieses Buch anzubieten hat. In diesem Sinne ist es ein Kulturträger.« Robert M.. Pirsig