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/lit/ - Literature

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23332039 No.23332039 [Reply] [Original]

I'm more than halfway through and I still don't fully understand what this is about. Is that the point?

>> No.23332069

>>23332039
Its basically about the difference between the analytical and the continental mindset. Pirsig tries to make it sound like its more than that, but it's not really.
He thinks about the bike in terms of its mechanical parts, and the friend thinks about it in terms of the pleasure of the ride. It's not that deep really

>> No.23332207

>>23332039
it's boomer slop

>> No.23332289

>>23332039
It's for self-obsessed faggot boomers to self insert on and feel smart and special.
It's garbage and you're wasting your time.

>> No.23332362

>>23332207
For me it's Jonathan Livingston Seagull

>> No.23333113

>>23332039
>Is that the point?
no

>> No.23333351

I liked it. It made me realize that i am an autist, so instead of hedonistically chasing euphoria with drugs and partying and whatever, I instead spend my time playing factorio and learning how to program

>> No.23333529

>>23332207
>>23332289
this seems a little aggressive.
>>23333351
yeah it's a wake up call for sure. it's been getting me to be less analytical and obsessive

>> No.23333747

>>23332069
Tell me you only read the first 20 or so pages without telling me you just read the first 20 or so pages.

>> No.23334598

I know I'm retarded because I read this book and my only takeaway was that I need to get a bike license and drive around Europe. I don't know wtf Phaedrus was or why he went insane. Did it ever get explained?

>> No.23335238

I don’t think a single person in this thread actually finished the book

>> No.23335245

>>23335238
It's not a book you read, it's a book that makes you read Zen and the Art of Archery first and then pretend you read it.

>> No.23335257

>>23335245
Interpretively, the book seems to more be about modern society, inducing, schizophrenic episodes, and that it’s basically a war to stay sane.

>> No.23335334

>>23335238
I finished it. Kind of wish I hadn't though, it sucked.

>> No.23335338

>>23335334
what do you make of the ending?

>> No.23335354

>>23335338
Sorry to disappoint, but to be honest the plot didn't really stick in my head, I just remember they met up with various people and the main character talked to them about how smart he was and they all clapped and agreed that he was very, very smart (but also crazy?) and then they hopped on the motorcycle and learned about how Quality is the point of a train etc. etc.

The most powerful part to me was outside the text, finding out his son died. That lent a different feel to the work.

>> No.23335362

>>23335354
I mean the end of the book throws most all aspects of it into question so that's pretty shitty you don't know it

>> No.23335626

>>23335354
>finding out his son died. That lent a different feel to the work.
You mean the part where he said "but actually it's ok that my son died because I get his soul back because I just had a new son"
The man truly does not see others as existing in their own right. He is profoundly vile.

>> No.23336414

>>23332362
lel I remember when this slop got pushed to us at sunday school more than a decade ago. I vaguely recalled the title and had to Wikipedia it to recall what it was about.

>> No.23337039

>>23335238
>I don’t think a single person in this thread actually finished the book
I have but it was 10 years ago so I don't remember anything expect he got strapped to the electric chair and he is worried they will do the same to his son.