Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.....
.....is easily the most ridiculous book ever written.

The amount of people I have met who genuinely believe that whether you understand that particular book defines your level of intelligence is incredible.

It's PRETENTIOUS drivel.

I now judge people based on their enjoyment of that book.

Those people who think it's a masterpiece of modern literature - these people are to be avoided at all costs. At best, they are the dullest people alive. At worse, they are literary snobs that will use any old pretentious nonsense to belittle others.

Those who think it's a load of old wank are welcome to progress onto the next level of friendship with me.


Lucky them.....
(Jugular, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:27, 10 replies)

FACT
You are correct... It really is that simple. After it was recommended to me by a friend of a friend as a modern classic, I struggled through the entirety of the book (it was a struggle to get past chapter 2) For some reason I thought i had to give it a chance all the way to the end. I'd rather have tried to shit it out than read it to the end... Ah hindsight. Well live and learn!
Theres a reason that friends of friends aren't simply your friends.
(Mr Alexander si rsdawkcab, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:34, closed)

Harsh
I love that book but not as a weapon with which to brow beat others. Anything I got from it is for myself and I would never try to inflict it on others. That sort of dogmatism is for religious fanatics. When he finally wrote 'Lyra - an inquiry into morals' I hoovered it up. Same result. Harsh that you would consider excluding someone you disagree with as a friend - sometimes that's the guy will be there for you when you need him most.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:37, closed)

I couldn't get past
the third or forth chapter I found it so pretentious and dull. It's like catcher in the rye, I don't understand why people think these are such great books. I'm not trying to rubbish them, I genuinely don't understand why people think the are great. But feel free to try and enlighten me if you feel you must.
( Bazongaloid, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:43, closed)

It's a good book
But, as with any book, you get out what you take to it. I ultimately disagreed with his conclusions, but the journey of getting to that point made reading it worthwhile.
(frankspencer, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:44, closed)

I absolutely do not
feel I must. I loved it. I will read it again. I totally respect that you hate it. There are shedloads of lit-snobs out there who will use it as an excuse to judge others. They are wankers. I would even argue they have missed the point entirely.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:46, closed)

Tried reading it 3 times
Got through about 3 quarters - and it is kind of relaxing. But relaxation turned to boredom. And yes it is rather pretentious!
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Fri 16 May 2008, 9:47, closed)

I think everyone has something they judge people on
My friend will only date men that love cheese as she is veggie and had a dreadful experience dating a man who loathed cheese (weirdo).

I'm fairly non-judgemental generally, but that book particularaly niggles me.
(Jugular, Fri 16 May 2008, 11:02, closed)

Quite right, Jugular!
I tend to judge dogmatic people who wont acknowledge there are other ways of getting your kicks and do the whole "I dig your thang, you dig mine", thang - ya dig? It's not the book you hate thought is it? It's the gobshites waffling on about it and judging others intelligence, whom I repeat with gusto, are wankers.
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Fri 16 May 2008, 11:16, closed)

Ahem...
I'm afraid I disagree with you.

It's a very difficult read, but I found it to be well worth it overall, especially as a teenager.

Can't say that I liked "Lila" as well, though.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 16 May 2008, 15:38, closed)

Yup
I'm with you there
(sittingduck Attention seeking, bullshitting fuck-knuckle, Mon 19 May 2008, 17:57, closed)