On Quality

An Inquiry into Excellence: Unpublished and Selected Writings

By: Robert M. Pirsig, Wendy K. Pirsig

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall, Abby Craden

Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Featuring long-awaited selections from Robert M. Pirsig's unpublished writings, from before and after Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, an original collection illuminating the central theme of Pirsig's thought: “Quality”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Skillfully edited and introduced by Wendy K. Pirsig, Robert’s wife of four decades, the collection includes previously unpublished texts, speeches, letters, interviews, and private notes, as well as key excerpts from Zen and the Art of the Motorcycle Maintenance and his second book, Lila.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.

©2022 Robert M. Pirsig and Wendy K. Pirsig (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

A Bridge to Knowing Quality

This compilation of excerpts from Pirsig’s writings and presentations facilitates the transition from trying to understand Quality, to Knowing. I would recommend reading or listening to this before reading “Zen” and “Lila” again.

Succinct dove into Pirsig

I appreciated the variety, and cumulative enrichment enabled by these multiple snapshots and digestible dives into Pirsig’s thought and feeling.

Great work

Having enjoyed Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, and Lila, this compilation of notes was a real treat for me. Anyone who enjoyed Pirsig’s previous work will appreciate this book. It does help to flesh-out Quality philosophically and spiritually.

Read ZMM and Lila, then this

Another reviewer said the same thing. Don’t read this before first reading the two short masterpieces that Pirsig had completed. I am very much enjoying this exploration of Bob’s thinking. His widow and wife of 40 years did an impeccable job producing a beautiful discussion that clearly demonstrates her love and admiration for him. I feel sad when I think of his death because there is clearly so much more he never published. In the 25 years since some forgotten person told me, “you should read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, you’d dig it,” I’ve learned a great deal about eastern and western philosophy that’s connected back to what I first encountered in ZMM. Some say Pirsig offered nothing novel in his writing but for me he articulated the concept of Quality in a way that really pulls the central thread of consciousness. I have been filling in the empty spaces ever since. This book is a beautiful insight into Bob’s journey. It’s worth a listen.

The narrators voice is impeccable. I am very sensitive to reader style and articulation. She could not be more enjoyable to listen to.

Really enjoyed

After reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, I really enjoyed the author's letters. Really interesting how yoga, Vedic history and Buddhist theory are all mixed in.

Interesting trip inside an obsessed mind.

Sometimes an idea grabs ahold of you and won’t let go until you follow the Rabbit Trail wherever it leads until you have explored its every nook and cranny.

This is what happened to Pirsig and this little book is a diary of his journey. Reading brief snippets of his letters, speeches and essays was very comforting as I have often found myself in similar mental straits.

His obsession was the word Quality, or Value or Dharma, and he saw it as a Unifying concept that would help him make sense of every aspect of the World around him. Mine is “Truth” and the search has been equally perilous. His search led him across America and Asia, helped him write a best-selling book, got him invited to speak all over the World, and even found him admitted to a Mental Hospital.

Those Rabbit Trails can be hazardous but reading about them was very enlightening and inspiring for this Reader. I thoroughly enjoyed riding along with him. Five Stars *****

Wendy Persig!: Thank you!!!

Please get Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance on audible! I read it and it changed my life. The world needs it so bad right now. We know this. Unfortunately there is a huge group of people who do not read anymore, however some of those same people do listen to audiobooks. Personally I do both. I feel like it would be just fine to read On Quality before Zen. These books have immense value, enough to change your life for the better. I badly wish it was Bob P doing the narrating but the narrators used here did a damn fine job. Don’t even think about it just click on it now.

Don't read before zen and the art of motorcycle...

Don't read this book before zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, as you will not have the required knowledge to understand the concepts fully.
The entire second chapter takes excerpts from the book without the preceding parts and with a great deal of the logic missing in the middle.
As the narrator noted in "zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance" ... "if I were to babble what's really on my mind about, say, the a priori presumption of the continuity of a motorcycle from second to second and do this without benefit of the entire edifice of the Chautauqua, they'd just be startled and wonder what's wrong."
too much is left out.