Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

A journey through philosophical inquiry and the landscape of the American West, this audiobook captures the rolling narrative of author Pirsig's uniquely American style. His form of Chautauqua, originally a spoken presentation combining education and entertainment, allows for a natural transition from the written word to audio. Michael Kramer has a friendly, confident voice, and he reads the thoughts of Pirsig's curious narrator as if they were his own. Although the book includes much dense philosophical speculation, Kramer's measured pace and clear delivery help to convey its complex ideas. He is equally convincing as the secondary characters, giving each a distinctive voice. Kramer's casual style suits the author's own informal tone, and he perfectly renders how the listener would imagine the voice of the fictional narrator. T.D.M. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine


Although more than twenty years have passed since the book's original publication, Pirsig's philosophies on technology and science, nature and love still offer much to this generation. Lawrence Pressman's delightful performance conveys the author's deep awareness and self-discovery. The combination of the book's vivid imagery and Pressman's contemplative delivery help ease the listener into Pirsig's lesson: we should pay less attention to "what things mean," more attention to "what they are." R.A.P. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine