The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: Zen and Now with Mark Richardson

When I was at school in the 1970s, I remember a book lying around in the sixth form common room. It had a curious cover with a flower and a spanner merged together on a blue background.  The book, entitled Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, had become a popular classic since its publication in 1974, was an instant bestseller, and has since become an American epic.

Now, I'm not sure if any of us at school actually read the book in full, as we weren't sure what to make of it. Was it about motorcycle maintenance? Was it about Zen and Eastern mysticism and philosophy? Or was it just the story of a basic American road trip? Well, here to discuss the book and to celebrate it's 50 year anniversary , I'm delighted to welcome Mark Richardson to the show.

Mark is a journalist and author and former automotive editor of the Toronto Star. Among his books is a book entitled Zen and Now, which retraces Robert Pirsig's original road trip. Mark's book has been critically acclaimed as a good primer for would be readers of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Mark's links;
https://markrichardson.ca/

Mark's Book: Zen and Now. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zen-Now-Motorcycle-Maintenance-Departures/dp/0307390691



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Intro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Robert J. Wells © 2020

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