Was anyone else just not that impressed by Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance? Maybe I need to give it another try but I kept wondering while I read it if I had grabbed the wrong book.
Was anyone else just not that impressed by Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance? Maybe I need to give it another try but I kept wondering while I read it if I had grabbed the wrong book.
Has nobody read "The Stainless Steel Carrot?"
So many 510 fans here, I would have assumed that someone would have read it besides me. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Even if it was highlighting the oppsing team that I would have favored at the time.
nocones wrote: Was anyone else just not that impressed by Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance? Maybe I need to give it another try but I kept wondering while I read it if I had grabbed the wrong book.
I agree. I read it later in life, late 30s. I didn't get it.
My wife read it in college and loved it. Then tried it again when I didn't finish. She was mystified about the appeal as well. It may just be you need to read it when the mysteries of life are still very mysterious.
In reply to alfadriver:
Yes. Awesome. Still waiting to read the Sam Posey book, but the Morton book should be read by anyone interested in racing "back in the day".
"How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive; A Manual of Step-By-Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot" by John Muir.
Even if you don't have an aircooled VW, it's a fun read. The illustrations alone are worth your time.
nocones wrote: Was anyone else just not that impressed by Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance? Maybe I need to give it another try but I kept wondering while I read it if I had grabbed the wrong book.
I've read it. It's not a motorcycle book, it's a philosophy book. Motorcycle repair is just used as a guide to understand other people's philosophy of life, sort of. When viewed from that perspective, yes it's pretty darn good.
Curmudgeon wrote:nocones wrote: Was anyone else just not that impressed by Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance? Maybe I need to give it another try but I kept wondering while I read it if I had grabbed the wrong book.I've read it. It's not a motorcycle book, it's a philosophy book. Motorcycle repair is just used as a guide to understand other people's philosophy of life, sort of. When viewed from that perspective, yes it's pretty darn good.
I'll echo the not impressed. Maybe impressed isn't the right word, but I guess let down. It had been talked up so much to me before I read, I may have had unrealistic expectations.
I have a minor in Philosopy and I didn't enjoy it, I was bored with it on our road trip a few years ago, I never bothered finishing it.
"A Racing Car Driver's World" by Rudi Caraciolla, autobiography by THE MAN on the pre-war Mercedes GP squad. It is with the utmost humility when he recalls: "... in the curve I let Nuvolari pass me..."
ransom wrote: "Think Fast" by Neil Roberts.
Get this book. I've given away four as gifts to racers after buying my own copy.
Also, anyone serious about building and preparing racing cars should read and re-read until you understand at least half of this book. The Racing and High-Performance Tire by Paul Haney.
-By Jupiter! The Life of Sir Roy Fedden
-Any issue of Automobile Quarterly, and any book published by them
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I'll add a few that might seem odd until you spend an hour reading the Off-Topic forum. - The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, Carl Sagan - The Blind Watchmaker, Richard Dawkins - The Ancestor's Tale, Richard Dawkins - 1984, George Orwell - A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present, Howard Zinn - For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hemmingway (for no other reason than because it is awesome storytelling)
I like the way you think Sir!
I read this one a while back. I even teared up when he described his death. His Einstein book is good too, haven't read the Jobs book.
I suggest "Archie and the Listers" by Robert Edwards. An amazing story of courage and perseverance to overcome a huge handicap.
Just realized that no one has mentioned Kings of the Road by Ken Purdy, one of the early great automotive writers.
Another +1 for the Stainless Steel Carrot.
Having just seen a rerun of the Top Gear episode where the Black Stig drowns, I have to give another +1 to Flat Out, Flat Broke. Especially these days, when drivers have to bring millions of Dollars/Euros/Pounds/whatever to score a ride in F1.
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