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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Dramatised)
- Narrated by: James Purefoy, full cast
- Length: 1 hr and 40 mins
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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Dramatised)
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Publisher's Summary
An odyssey into life’s challenging questions during an unforgettable summer motorcycle trip
Acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters, Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance became an instant bestseller upon its publication in 1974. A powerful examination of how we live, as well as a breath-taking meditation on how to live better, it tells the epic story of a father and son’s motorcycle trip across America’s Northwest in the 1960s.
Pirsig’s modern classic transformed a generation and continues to inspire millions of readers today. Dramatised for radio for the first time by Peter Flannery (Our Friends in the North, George Gently, The Devil’s Whore), this fantastic full-cast production stars James Purefoy (Rome, Injustice, Ironclad) and adds a new and original dimension to an iconic work. Following a father and his young son on their cross-country summer adventure from Minnesota to California, it is a story of love, fear, growth, discovery and acceptance. Both personal and philosophical, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is also a compelling study of relationships, values, enlightenment and meaning.
The maintenance of the motorcycle throughout the journey illustrates how to unify the cold, rational realm of technology with the warm, imaginative realm of artistry. Resonating with the confusions and the wonders of existence, the narrator wrestles with some of the most important philosophical questions of the 20th century. His need to also reconcile his past and present selves drives him and his son forward, to a point where all is either lost or won on the Chautauqua spiritual journey.
This audio edition includes a bonus 10 minutes of material that was not broadcast on the radio.
NB: the recording contains strong language.
Production credits
Author: Robert M. Pirsig
Dramatist: Peter Flannery
Original music: Jon Nicholls
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Producer: Melanie Harris
A Sparklab production for BBC Radio 4.
What listeners say about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Dramatised)
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Sebastian Villa
- 15-05-2020
not what i expected
i was recommended this book at work when talking about software quality. has no idea what the heck i was in for. it's definitely a bit weird for me.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alice
- 11-09-2015
This is immersive.
I've listened to this piece after I was done with the original text, but it can be well enjoyed on its own. In comparison, the plot has had some rearrangements and has been made compact to create this abridged edition. It is still much more than a typical audiobook. And, by the way, the best narration I've ever come along.
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5 people found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 08-09-2021
Torn
The storytelling and sounds are amazing, although I was disappointed that many of the concepts taught in this book were not even touched upon. It was much too brief, and prioritised parts of the book that I don't believe should be. This will excite you for the full book, but is by no stretch a replacement
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Kevin
- 12-06-2018
What a wonderful book
A truly wonderful book, the dialogue is unexpected and amazing. This book is penitrating, and lasting into one's soul.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- DJHDD
- 25-02-2020
Zen & the Art of Night Time Listening
I had read this book a number of times in my teenage years & loved the philosophical didactic rhetoric & the traveling story line but if memory serves me, surly it took me longer than an 1 hour & 40 minutes to read. As a matter of fact, it actually took me longer to listen to it as nodding off & had to go back a few times. However I'm sure this was condensed, as it was a dramatization & missed a fair bit of the classical intellectual musings that were part of his internal dialogue. Still a great romantic listen concentrating more on the human relationships & the proposition of insanity whist still conversing on the dualism of classical & romantic quality.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-10-2021
Quality Experience
A 'Quality' experience of meaning and purpose, objectivity and subjectivity, and the beauty behind things.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- joel collie
- 04-08-2020
Read me, its the rational thing to do.
Had no idea what I was getting in to as this book was suggested to me but wow... Awesome story, very thought provoking. I am Faedris.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 24-12-2019
A 'Quality' message and quality performances.
A very insightful author.
Well argued throughout the story ... i note a sacrifice of ones authentic self to conformity to philosophical rational thinking, and the mental health toll on oneself and family relationship values to knowingly conform, betray ones spiritual identity and give in to living inauthentically.
i agree, profound unfulfillment in life is not worth going along for the sake of pleasing others, and Our True and Better Self is definitely worth saving.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karthik
- 14-11-2019
Now that I'm a dad, I see an all new perspective
I was 19 when I read this book for the first time. It was highly recommended by the librarian and I literally dragged myself through the book to get some meaning out of it. I was dumb back then. All these years later, now I'm 34 and just happened to see the title on audible. I'm glad that I found this book again. I'm a dad to a toddler and have myself struggled through some internal conflicts. I don't want even the shadow of my conflicts to affect my son. This book was a great parallel for myself, it has been a mirror and helps me see something I've been ignoring... Quality time for my son.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amit Bhardwaj
- 16-05-2021
For modern day mystics, travellers, finders
Great book, it was an experience. If you love motorcycles and ride alone sometimes, you will understand the spirituality of the experience and the joy of listening to yourself as the Fedras in the book did. Loved it.
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2 people found this helpful