I have already given kudos to another one of my favorite authors; Ayn Rand. It is time now to go deeper into my reading roots and acknowledge another author that gave me pause to stop and reflect. Robert M. Pirsig. I am not even sure how my hands came to rest on the book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but I am thankful that they did. In my late twenties I was reading various books on Philosophy and new age perspectives. I had an appetite to explore ideas and beliefs. I drifted through a number of books that I cannot recall their title. Pirsig’s work struck a chord with me. I guess I developed a kinship to the central character and the narrative of the motorcycle adventure was well presented and quite engaging.

There were some heady moments in the book, but Pirsig always managed to tie things together so they made perfect sense. The more I read, the more I enjoyed the book. It gave me cause to stop and ponder a number of things. I like books that make we reflect and question my own views on the world.

I attribute Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as being the first of the influential books and I have encountered. Years later, I read his second book “Lila” and think that it is a great accompaniment to the first book.

Pirsig is certainly a man that has walked a different path. He is on my short list of most interesting people I would like to meet. I think I am due for a re-read of his two books. This blog entry has rekindled a desire to travel the high countries of the mind.

Metaphysics is a restaurant where they give you a thirty thousand page menu, and no food. ~ Robert M Pirsig