Turned Off by ZMM? Don’t Despair!

Despite the Worldwide Acclaim for the Book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (ZMM), Some 19% of Amazon.com Reviewers Are Frustrated, Bitter, & Negative About ZMM. This Page Seeks to Identify and Address Some of the Reasons for These Readers Being So Turned Off.

If You ARE Frustrated Reading ZMM, or Any Other Book, Here's What You Can Do About It!

An Analysis of 457 ZMM Reviews Posted on Amazon.com as of March 2006 Yielded the Following Results:

Concerning ZMM, many readers say some variant of:
"I don't get it!!! I just don't get it!!! All these Amazon reviewers continually ooh and ahh, and gush acclaim over ZMM!!! How could so many people give this book high reviews, when ZMM is a: dull, boring, cliché-ridden, stupid, meaningless, whining, narcissistic, arrogant, self-indulgent, self-satisfied, self-absorbed, self-involved, self-important, pretentious, condescending, authoritarian, preaching, ranting, rambling, obsessive, myopic, insane, heavy, confusing, excessively difficult book! To me, ZMM is overrated, tedious, contrived, and artificial! How can people be so enthusiastic about ZMM? I don't get it!! I just don't get it!!!"

On 10 Mar 2006 there were 457 ZMM Amazon Reviews available. The majority of these reviews (81%) were quite positive (3 to 5 stars). The remainder (19%) were negative or super-negative (1 to 2 stars). The reactions of the negative reviewers (actual samples have been gleaned and posted in the above paragraph) reflect their frustrated, angry feelings in no uncertain terms! Most of these persons apparently tried to read ZMM because they had received very strong positive recommendations from other people. In fact, many negative reviewers specifically cite other people’s glowing recommendations as their reason for reading the book; and upon taking these recommendations, the new readers expected to be similarly rewarded.

The Negative Amazon.com ZMM Review Authors (1 to 2 stars) must have also received an additional ego defeat: In the process of adding their reviews to the Amazon.com ZMM Webpage, they no doubt couldn't resist reading some of those glowing (4 and 5 stars) ZMM Reviews, which make up 70 % of all reviews that have been posted. The negative reviewers quickly discover that, not only are they totally blocked in their understanding of ZMM, they are also solidly in the minority. This adds insult to their frustration: they don't know what is wrong with their own abilities!

They've "had it" and want to tell the world that the author (or the ZMM Narrator) is, in no uncertain terms, the locus of their problem. These Amazon Reviewers are clearly, by their own statements, intelligent readers and generally enjoy books. In fact, they are well enough "put together" to write a coherent description of how they were confused and frustrated, despite their intensive struggle to really understand this book! All these are sentiments they take great pains to express in their reviews.

As has been previously stated, the vast majority (81%) clearly get a lot out of ZMM. For many of these, Pirsig's book is a life-changing experience. So it is a serious puzzle...why....how....some 19 % of the Amazon Reviewers are turned off! With an estimated 5 million copies of ZMM in print, that adds up to some serious frustration: 19% of 5 million is some 950,000 turned-off ZMM readers! So what's going on?

Those about to start reading ZMM will find below some guidance to help avoid the pitfalls that snagged those frustrated readers! Those about to "give-up" on ZMM will find below some tips to help make a breakthrough!

A) Why Do These Amazon.com Reviewers Have So Much Frustration with ZMM?

First off, many ZMM readers come to the book expecting more motorcycles, more maintenance, or a lot more Zen; and they are thus repulsed when they find instead what they consider to be long-winded philosophy. Additionally, these Frustrated Reader/Reviewer types may be looking for an interesting "easy read", pure entertainment, just like most other books that are being published today. When their initial expectations are not met, these people are surprised, and sometimes angered. Thus begins a self-stoking circle of reduced reading interest. Lowered interest in turn lowers attention, which in turn lowers understanding, which in turn produces more boredom, frustration, etc. Several cycles of this and readers become angered at wasting time and money!

But there is yet another classic "Catch 22" here! In order to successfully read about (and understand) any new topic, you must already know a lot about that topic. BUT ... to gain this understanding, ... you must be able to read about it. Essentially, you can't learn because you haven't learned! (More at third link below.) I believe those enthusiastic 4 and 5-Star Amazon Reviewers were those who already understood what Pirsig was “driving at”. Also they had the requisite knowledge, reading skills, and persistence to master Pirsig's difficult concepts (when the going got rough). As discussed next paragraph, ZMM was written specifically to help people out of this "bind" and other forms of blockage. One Amazon ZMM Reviewer, Kenai, said the following:

"The greatest recommendation for this great book comes from those who give it the lowest rating. As in so much of life, the ones in most need of understanding are least prepared to find it. The reasons they list for not liking the book are the very reasons it should be read. Does that sound Zen-like? ZMM is one of the great books of all time. Enjoy." [Bold emphasis by HSG]

B) Author Robert Pirsig Understands Reader Boredom: He Wrote ZMM to Help People Escape from the Frustrated Self-Stoking Cycle of Boredom and Loss of Meaning.

In fact, this is one of the main messages of ZMM! Throughout it, the Narrator makes many suggestions to interrupt the boredom cycle: Do something else until your "gumption" returns with needed energy and ability for action. (Gumption means your whole ability to move forward. It includes your resolve, strength, interest, sense of confidence, etc) Indeed, in ZMM Pirsig suggests a new college course that he believes should be taught at the university level entitled “Gumptionology 101 . . . in which these [gumption] traps are sorted, classified, structured into hierarchies and interrelated for the edification of future generations and the benefit of all mankind.”

When your gumption is low on any project, Pirsig suggests: take a break, get rest coffee and food, ask for help, etc. Come back to it later, and you will be revived! Alternatively, if the reading drags, you might get a clue what your missing from ZMM Reviews here. Also, you might skip ahead in your reading of ZMM to Pirsig's chapters on Gumptionology. They might be just what you need! (Especially see pages 274 to 283 in the Bantam Paperback Edition). But the main thing is: don’t get stalled; don’t get blocked; and most of all, don’t get mad!

C) Yes, All of the Philosophy in ZMM Probably Is a Big Put-Off for Those Who Don't Want It.

Many of my students say “ZMM drags until about midway;” and after that, interest picks up and they are “drawn into continued reading.” I had to read ZMM several times, spread over several years, before its full significance became apparent to me. Even the ZMM Narrator admits many parts of ZMM are boring. Anything is boring if you don't want it! This includes all Pirsig's chapters on maintenance, problem solving, gumption traps, value traps, etc. It requires a patient reader to realize that, whether sometimes boring or not, this is essential reading. If you are not ready for these topics, then wait until you are ready! The ZMM Readers Reviews on Amazon have much to say about this. See:
http://venturearete.org/ResearchProjects/ProfessorGurr/Documents/ReadZmmBestWay

D) Faced with These Boring Topics, What 'Else' Is the Reader to Do?

He or she can boost interest by studying the following. These happen on practically every page:

Also see 2nd link below.

E) The Frustrated Angry Readers May Not Have Been Warned or Properly Prepared.

The negative opinions may be from persons who were not aware of the difficulties ahead such as the required extra serious reading effort. I expect that most persons recommending ZMM would themselves not have had difficulties:

F) Are Frustrated Amazon Reviewers’ Bad Feelings Due to the ZMM Narrator's Apparent "Super-Ego"?

How much the problem of negative perception is due to the negative readers’ view of the Narrator's authoritarian egoist personality? (As stated above, many people say that the author is stuck on himself.) Is this negative view related to the Narrator's bad treatment of Chris? Do the negative reviewers feel they are being treated in the same way as Chris? Do they hate the Narrator because he has long and strongly worded presentations showing little doubt or humility? With such long and detailed discussions, the Narrator may indeed come across as being too sure he is correct. Scientists, such as myself, expect this and are used to it. How else can (or should) an argument be presented? If the writer were not convinced of his correctness, how could he present it? Perhaps this grates on some people, and they dwell on this; a feeling which produces the above-mentioned negative feedback loop: both attention and concentration decrease. This of course, leads to drop in comprehension. They are less able to see any correctness in the Narrator's arguments, which makes matters worse. Another self-stoking cycle!

In many cases the topics Pirsig addressed in ZMM are of necessity complex and involved. To explain adequately, many discussions involve pages-long interweaved threads. Indeed, sometimes these threads are dropped in one chapter, and not picked up again until several chapters later! This probably makes it worse for those readers who are unskilled and unprepared.

I do admit that ZMM Narrator actually is "self-absorbed", to some degree, with his continued dwelling on Quality and philosophy. He sometimes does get quite involved in his own ideas. So when the reader does not identify with, or get any meaning from, the Narrator's philosophy, then the criticism "stuck on himself" is true…and this becomes a big stumbling block. This is especially true for those persons who can't discover, don't see, or don't want to accept the purpose of ZMM. I personally don't notice the "arrogant, self-indulgent" Narrator. As a scientist, I am used to this form of positive and self-assertive writing.

G) ZMM Is Loaded with Unfamiliar Thinking and Absolutely New Ideas. This Makes the Book Difficult Indeed!

Most certainly, and most enigmatically for some, this is one of the many reasons ZMM gets such fantastic acclaim. Any person will feel a glow of satisfaction when he or she has learned new and valuable ideas or discover illuminating ways to handle life's challenges. But gaining such knowledge is difficult. And when the ideas are not understood, or even worse not wanted, then resentment can set in because there is no interest or involvement to draw the reader onward.

H) OKAY: What to Do When Reading a Tough Book or any Other Challenging Task?

When faced with unexpected difficulties, it is necessary to dig in. Again, this is one of the main messages ZMM! And of course a skill you will need the rest of your life! Start now to get in shape!

Getting a grip on anything new requires skill, and the willingness to endure hardship and frustration until the "new" finally becomes easy and old-hat. For example, remember how difficult it was to learn how to ride a bicycle? But despite the hardship, fear, and painful hard knocks, you still wanted to be able to ride! So you endured the frustration and pain, and kept trying until you succeeded. And when you felt yourself whizzing along as a result of your hard-won new knowledge, you were very glad you persevered! I suspect most bike riders would enthusiastically recommend learning to ride a bike, probably leaving off the hardships. So when you encounter difficulty reading ZMM, be looking for those very paragraphs that may provide guidance out of your reading difficulties. My own extended effort with the reading of such an especially difficult book (for me) is here in a new browser page on (Scroll to 3rd paragraph): http://www.usca.edu/math/faculty-sites/henry-gurr/OwenBarfieldInterpretMythV67.dot

I) Some Super-Frustration Problems Require Resolute, Enduring, and Continued Effort Until You Achieve a Special Breakthrough Called an "AHA, Flash-Of-Insight"!

We all get stuck on problems that seem to have no answer, "barriers" with seemingly no way out. Most people in our society do not recognize the importance of the flash of insight in solving a major problem and making a "breakthrough". And on this account ZMM spends many pages explaining the AHA-light-bulb-breakthrough event and how it is related to the prior blockage. Pirsig calls these "waves of crystallizations", and gives many examples. In the first several chapters of ZMM (and without any hint he is doing this) the Narrator slowly introduces us to the major topics he will take up throughout the book. How to face (and work through) unexpected and frustrating difficulties is one such topic. Here is what he says early in Chapter 1 (page 4): "The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go away, I’m looking for the truth,' and so it goes away. Puzzling".

Being blocked from understanding ZMM is the "problem" of those negative reviewers on Amazon.com!! (Hence 1 and 2 stars) As emphasized in ZMM, these readers are already looking at what they want, but don't "see" it. How to be open to "new facts" is discussed throughout ZMM. Although the Narrator does not always use these exact words, he gives many examples of how a "new fact" often arrives in an AHA, Flash-Of-Insight. More AHA explanation and examples here (This link will open in a new browser page): http://web.usca.edu/math/faculty-sites/henry-gurr/MemoryPerception%26ProblemSolving.dot

J) How to Move Ahead When Learning Is Difficult.

Although I wrote this Learning Guide for my physics students, it really applies to ALL difficult learning. Click here for this guidance (Opens in a new browser page):
http://www.usca.edu/math/faculty-sites/henry-gurr/guide.dot

K) Many Readers Are Put-Off Because They Can't Find Zen. As They Say "Hardly any Zen in ZMM"!

Of the Amazon ZMM Reviewers, a significant portion say they expected the book to be about ZEN. However when they looked closely for it, they report "not finding any". They concluded that there is "Hardly any Zen in ZMM"!

For me, Zen occurs all through Pirsig's book. I can see Zen in the choice of ideas presented, e.g. Quality and Gumptionology. And I can see Zen in how Pirsig suggests we use Zen-like behaviors in our own lives, behaviors such as “go slow” or “peace of mind” or “be present in here and now”. In addition, the Narrator acts and thinks in Zen-Patterns throughout the book, rather than just talking about it! This apparently prevents many readers from seeing how Pirsig builds ZEN throughout ZMM!

Even those persons who call themselves Philosophers (or those who speak strongly from this perspective), have similar inability to see much solid Zen in ZMM. I conclude that a Western Philosophy training (or orientation) alters perceptions so such persons "Just Could Not See What ZMM Was Really All About!" Part of the problem may be that the philosopher personality can't stand Pirsig's folksy, easy-going, everyday approach to the philosophy. They get bored fast with Pirsig's (non-Professional Philosopher) approach. If you do (or do not) agree with me, please email. I would like to hear what you think is the problem that Philosophers have with ZMM.

My Own Zen Experience with ZMM

I should admit that I was slow to see the full extent of Zen built into ZMM. I had my own illumination (Feb 06), when I discovered a passage on the back of a "Tao Te Ching Translation". Only then did I fully realize how extensively Robert Pirsig has written the principles of the Tao into in his book "Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". Like Lao Tzu's, Pirsig's book is to practical guide to life and living...a handbook to help "Westerners" to apply Zen to their lives. To see what I mean, I suggest you read the following passage meditatively:

A Tao Te Ching Medative Reading Summarizes the Zen Built into ZMM.

"The philosophy of Lao Tsu is simple: Accept what is in front of you without wanting the situation to be other than it is, Study the natural order of things and work with it rather than against it, for to try to change what is only sets up resistance. Nature provides everything without requiring payment or thanks and also provides for all without discrimination—therefore let us present the same face to everyone and treat all men as equals, however they may behave. If we watch carefully, we will see that work proceeds more quickly and easily if we stop ‘trying,’ if we stop putting in so much extra effort, if we stop looking for results. In the clarity of a still and open mind, truth will be reflected. We will come to appreciate the original meaning of the word ‘understand’, which means ‘to stand under’. We serve whatever or whoever stands before us, without any thought for ourselves. Te—which may be translated as ‘virtue’ or ‘strength’—lies always In Tao, or ‘natural law’. In other words: Simply be."
View this passage on the back page of Gia-fu Feng and Jane English’s classic translation of Tao Te Ching.

For more examples of how Westerners can connect to the incredibly important life-lessons taught by the Tao Te Ching, see:

Westerner’s Guide to Tao Te Ching

So How Not to Get Caught with the Wrong Book?

To keep from getting caught off guard by a book unsuitable for you, do the following: Go to Amazon.com and read reviews till you see what you are getting into and what effort is going to be required. Good advice before taking-on any new project!

Other related resources:

Amazon.com Readers Advise: What To Expect As You Sit Down To Read ZMM. For Example ZMM Will Require Your Full Attention, and If You Get Bored (or Frustrated) Come Back Later, Even Years Later!

My Collection of ZMM Reviews & Analysis.

Edited by Andrew Geyer 14 Oct 2010; minor revisions David M. 15 Sept 2012.
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