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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Dramatised)  By  cover art

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Dramatised)

By: Robert M. Pirsig, Peter Flannery
Narrated by: James Purefoy, full cast
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Publisher's summary

An odyssey into life’s challenging questions during an unforgettable summer motorcycle trip

Acclaimed as one of the most exciting books in the history of American letters, Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance became an instant bestseller upon its publication in 1974. A powerful examination of how we live, as well as a breath-taking meditation on how to live better, it tells the epic story of a father and son’s motorcycle trip across America’s Northwest in the 1960s.

Pirsig’s modern classic transformed a generation and continues to inspire millions of readers today. Dramatised for radio for the first time by Peter Flannery (Our Friends in the North, George Gently, The Devil’s Whore), this fantastic full-cast production stars James Purefoy (Rome, Injustice, Ironclad) and adds a new and original dimension to an iconic work. Following a father and his young son on their cross-country summer adventure from Minnesota to California, it is a story of love, fear, growth, discovery and acceptance. Both personal and philosophical, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is also a compelling study of relationships, values, enlightenment and meaning.

The maintenance of the motorcycle throughout the journey illustrates how to unify the cold, rational realm of technology with the warm, imaginative realm of artistry. Resonating with the confusions and the wonders of existence, the narrator wrestles with some of the most important philosophical questions of the 20th century. His need to also reconcile his past and present selves drives him and his son forward, to a point where all is either lost or won on the Chautauqua spiritual journey.

This audio edition includes a bonus 10 minutes of material that was not broadcast on the radio.

NB: the recording contains strong language.

Production credits
Author: Robert M. Pirsig
Dramatist: Peter Flannery
Original music: Jon Nicholls
Sound Design: Eloise Whitmore
Producer: Melanie Harris

A Sparklab production for BBC Radio 4.

©2012 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2012 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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What listeners say about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Dramatised)

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

WARNING!!! Not the book.

It's an audioplay based on the novel. I wasted a credit not knowing. FYI, the other version on Audible is also NOT the book. (wasted another credit). It's a heavily edited shorter version. Audible doesn't carry the complete novel. Bummer.

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94 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I should have bought the book.

pro: I liked that it was dramatized
con: it was too abridged.
To sum it up: create a dramatized unabridged version because what I heard was good.

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46 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

It is not the story it claims to be! Avoid!

It is not the story it claims to be! Avoid! Had to buy the real version again ...

The story in this audible is wired

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42 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Garbage

Garbage. Nothing like the actual book, what a mistake, don't make the same as me.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Book is way better (no surprise)

You cannot boil a great book down this much (especially not a book as dense as the original) and maintain the QUALITY of the full story.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Why a short story?

Why not just do the real book? I should have read the reviews before expending a credit. I have no idea what of this is poetic license.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

This is not the book. I wasn’t sure what “Dramatized” meant. Total bummer. Will be requesting my credit back.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Engaging and though provoking

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, the book is dramatised and it makes it very interesting to listen. The use of mild music is also soothing and adds to the drama

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not the full book!

Mehh. It was tolerable but underwhelming, over-acted, and hard to follow with the flashbacks of similar voices.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A good story perhaps too dramatized

What made the experience of listening to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Dramatised) the most enjoyable?

The dramatization is done quite well, and at times you can feel the emotion coming through the characters voices.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I wish I could say the child was my favorite character, but he seemed to be a brat. The father in present sense was perhaps not likable, due to his roughness, but you could empathize with him.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's very short making it a easy to listen through in a couple of hours.

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5 people found this helpful