Pirsig Robert M. Knihy

THE CLASSIC BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED MILLIONS A penetrating examination of how we live and how to live better Few books transform a generation and then establish themselves as touchstones for the generations that follow. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one such book. This modern epic of a man's search for meaning became an instant bestseller on publication in 1974, acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters. It continues to inspire millions. A narration of a summer motorcycle trip undertaken by a father and his son, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance becomes a personal and philosophical odyssey into fundamental questions on how to live. The narrator's relationship with his son leads to a powerful self-reckoning; the craft of motorcycle maintenance leads to an austerely beautiful process for reconciling science, religion, and humanism. Resonant with the confusions of existence, this classic is a touching and transcendent book of life. This new edition contains an interview with Pirsig and letters and documents detailing how this extraordinary book came to be.

From the author of the multi-million-copy-selling classic, this original collection features Robert Pirsig's writings on the central theme of his thought—"quality"—including never-before-seen selections from his unpublished works. Pirsig penned the line, "The ultimate goal in the pursuit of excellence is enlightenment," in 1962 while hospitalized as a psychiatric patient. Even before his famous book's release, he had identified the core idea of "Quality," akin to "excellence" or "rightness," linked to Buddhist concepts like "Dharma" or the "Tao." He famously stated, "Quality is Buddha." Though he became a revered figure, Pirsig published only two books and rarely engaged in public appearances. Nevertheless, he continued to refine his "Metaphysics of Quality" until his death in 2017. For the first time, readers can explore five decades of Pirsig's personal writings in this posthumous collection, which sheds light on his thought process. Edited and introduced by his wife, Wendy Pirsig, it includes unpublished texts, speeches, letters, and notes from his time in the mental hospital, alongside key excerpts from his renowned works. Since its 1974 publication, the classic has transformed generations and remains a significant touchstone in popular philosophy. This collection is a remarkable addition to the literary and philosophical canon from one of the most influential thinkers of our time.

„Hvězdné nebe nade mnou, seřízený motor pode mnou a zenový klid ve mně,“ to vše vystihuje pocit po přečtení této knihy. Autor se svým Zkoumáním hodnot vtrhl do rozčarovaných 70. let a způsobil na literární, filozofické i vědecké scéně otřesy. Kniha se stala bestsellerem, následovaným vlnou epigonů a překlady do mnoha jazyků. Text kombinuje žánry cestovního deníku, románu a filozofických úvah, přičemž zážitky z cesty jsou zasazeny do kontextu vykládané metafyziky, která ovlivňuje vypravěčův vnitřní život a vztah k synovi. Autor se snaží o smíření dvou směrů lidského chápání: západního, racionálního a východního, emocionálního. Skrze téměř detektivní pátrání odhaluje klíčový pojem své filozofie, Kvalitu, a spojuje ho s mystickými pojmy východních filozofií. Zároveň se vyrovnává s filozofickými „viníky“ ze starověkého Řecka, kteří podle něj způsobili rozkol ve vnímání dobra a pravdy. Největším přínosem jeho myšlenek je, že „zamazal filozofii od oleje“, tedy ji aplikoval v každodenní realitě, a ukazuje, že filozofie, která nám nedokáže pomoci s praktickými problémy, je k ničemu.