/lit/ - Literature

Motorcycles are gay

DFW's mom liked it.
He said it was trash.

Can you give me a quick of the ol rundown?

>>12563428
He also hung himself so who cares what he thought

>>12563437
its an awful book that workaholic boomers like

>>12563428
really? I'm just glad that mototcycle and DFW has in relation
I desperately need citation of this

>>12563437
It's part roadtrip and part philosophical musings, kind of blended together to convey the concepts. At least as far as I've read.

Boomer trash.

>>12563465
It stays that way. If you don't like it at first, you won't like the rest. It's fine and good but not capital-G Great, so if you feel like stopping, stop.

>>12563504
Whats the core philosophical teaching?

Holy shit his son got stabbed to death by blacks outside a Zen meditation studio
https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/20/archives/100-zen-students-keeping-vigil-over-body-of-man-slain-in-street.html

>>12563513
Some such thing as: Quality only arises in the interaction of subject and object. There's really no deep philosophy in the book, the philosophy is just there to support the narrative. Not the other way around.

>>12563504
Thanks for the advice.
I've liked a lot of the concepts introduced but I don't find most the roadtrip narrative all that compelling. I find many portions to be written in a clumsy and pretentious manner, which makes it kind of an overbearing read.
But I want to talk about it with my dad, whether I like it or not.
I think I'll spend a couple more days on it then give in if I really can't keep it up.

>>12563556
>Quality only arises in the interaction of subject and object
Sounds like dualist garbage

My dad recommend name this tho, is this essential boomer dad core?

>>12563574
i dont think you know what dualist means

>>12563414
John Kaag recommends it as 1 of 2 books to start philosophy with
I’d read it—my parents passed away, and I’d do almost anything to get to discuss this book with my dad
—the Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan, this was one of their books, they gave their coach a motorcycle after all the championships
—the author was a student at University of Chicago and you can find out who his nemesis prof was, he’s quite well-known

>>12563414

I think this is a good book if you start being interested in philosophy. In terms of a novel it is nothing interesting, but it has a lot of entry-level thoughts that can sparkle philosophical curiosity in a teenager. Would not recommend for anyone who already has a solid basis in philosophy or is searching for a good literary experience.

>>12564474
>>12564442
Yes to both of these

I've tried to read this book twice. I just can't get past how dull it is.

>>12563414
If you think it is a slog now then quit. It gets so intolerable towards the 2/3 mark. Pirsig is a major douche pseud.

>>12563414
It's half comfy roadtrip book and half a defense of sophistry. I thought it was pretty enjoyable, and the stuff about his autistic son was touching.

>tfw he talks about his son being stabbed to death in the afterword

>>12564458
>—the author was a student at University of Chicago and you can find out who his nemesis prof was, he’s quite well-known
His nemesis was Richard McKeon, who was a great and respected professor and philosopher.

>>12563414
One time when I was bored I came across this article where the female author explains why she left ger philosophy major boyfriend for a motorcycle riding chad. She even recalls her first notions of attraction, this absolutely cucking her philosophical boyfriend since in her eyes, there wasn’t enough practicality to it. She continued to list books that offer practical wisdom on philosophical underpinnings. This was the first book on her list.

OP confirmed for an absolute bitch.

>>12563439
kek

>>12563414
It's a shallow self-help book for hippie teens of all ages
Any of the populist garbage with zen in the title should be avoided at any cost

However, it's also a messed up dad and son story