Have you read Kerouac's On the Road or Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?

Question

what did you think of either? how do they compare?

Answer 1

Both. I had to put both books down often, march around the room, and rant and marvel to myself about what good writers they were. Then I'd go right back to the book. I believe both books are pretty much paragraph-by-paragraph experiences.

All they lacked was the humor of "Tropic of Cancer."

Answer 2

I had to read Pirsig for my freshman seminar class. I liked it at the beginning because it was more like a narrative, but towards the end it got more and more into deep philosophical stuff. Not an excellent book, but not a terrible one either. It really makes you think. If you were interested in questions like "What is quality?" then it is the book for you. If you are looking for a good plot, probably not because it definitely drags at times.

Answer 3

I only read half of Pirsig's book. Interesting fact: he was rejected 117 times by publishers before he got a book contract for Zen.

Answer 4

I certainly have examine zen and the paintings of bike maintenence.... a instructor in center college used to assign me books like that and seize 22 as punishment....I wish i'd desire to thank em.. jack kerouac is a robust author aslo...

Answer 5

I loved "On the Road" but personally I'll be happy if I never ever even see Zen and the Art again, it is pretentious and it makes me throw up just thinking about it but, if you like that kind of thing, you could give it a try.

Answer 6

No~sorry

Answer 7

i read the motobike one - i thought it was going to be like easy rider - but it was about a guy in recovery

Answer 8

All rubbish.Politely termed "train reading".