On Quality - by Robert M Pirsig & Wendy K Pirsig (Paperback)

About the Book

"More than a decade before the release of the book that would make him famous, Robert M. Pirsig had already caught hold of the central theme that would animate Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: 'Quality,' a concept loosely likened to 'excellence,' 'rightness,' or 'fitness' that Pirsig saw as kindred to the Buddhist ideas of 'dharma' or the 'Tao.' As he later wrote in Zen, 'Quality is the Buddha.' Though he was revered by fans who considered him a guru, the famously private Pirsig published only two books and consented to few interviews and almost no public appearances in later decades. Yet he wrote and thought almost continually, refining his 'Metaphysics of Quality' until his death in 2017. Now, for the first time, readers will be granted access to five decades of Pirsig s personal writings in this posthumous collection that illuminates the evolution of his thinking to an unprecedented degree. Skillfully edited and introduced by Wendy K. Pirsig, Robert s wife of four decades, the collection includes previously unpublished texts, speeches, letters, interviews, and private notes, as well as key excerpts from Zen and the Art of the Motorcycle Maintenance and his second book, Lila"

Book Synopsis

Featuring long-awaited selections from Robert M. Pirsig's unpublished writings, from before and after Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, an original collection illuminating the central theme of Pirsig's thought: "Quality"

"The ultimate goal in the pursuit of excellence is enlightenment." --Robert M. Pirsig, 1962

More than a decade before the release of the book that would make him famous, Robert M. Pirsig had already caught hold of the central theme that would animate Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: "Quality," a concept loosely likened to "excellence," "rightness," or "fitness" that Pirsig saw as kindred to the Buddhist ideas of "dharma" or the "Tao." As he later wrote in Zen, "Quality is the Buddha."

Though he was revered by fans who considered him a guru, the famously private Pirsig published only two books and consented to few interviews and almost no public appearances in later decades. Yet he wrote and thought almost continually, refining his "Metaphysics of Quality" until his death in 2017.

Now, for the first time, readers will be granted access to five decades of Pirsig's personal writings in this posthumous collection that illuminates the evolution of his thinking to an unprecedented degree. Skillfully edited and introduced by Wendy K. Pirsig, Robert's wife of four decades, the collection includes previously unpublished texts, speeches, letters, interviews, and private notes, as well as key excerpts from Zen and the Art of the Motorcycle Maintenance and his second book, Lila.

Since its publication in 1974, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has established itself as a modern classic of popular philosophy; selling millions of copies and inspiring a generation, while serving as a perennial touchstone for the generations that follow. On Quality is a remarkable contribution to our understanding of one of the most influential thinkers and writers of our time.

Review Quotes

"His musings offer a pleasant detour into a curious mind at work. Pirsig's fans will find much to consider." - Publishers Weekly for On Quality
"On Quality, a collection of Pirsig's speeches, fiction, letters, and musings ... reads like a notebook from a life spent pondering: What does 'quality' mean? Why are some things better than others? What is it about humans that causes us to recognize the difference?" - The New Yorker
"Pirsig's timeless wisdom continues to rank amongst the best books ever. Ignore it at your own risk." - Forbes
"However impressive are the seductive powers with which Mr. Pirsig engages us in his motorcycle trip, they are nothing compared to the skill with which he interests us in his philosophic trip. ... Electrifying. ... Intellectual entertainment of the highest order." - New York Times on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance sold millions of copies and made Pirsig a reluctant hero to generations of intellectual wanderers. ... Zen was an instant classic -- a work of literature that captured the spirit of its time and retained its appeal long after the hippie movement had faded." - Washington Post