Book · 1984 · Ego (Psychology)
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
An Inquiry Into Values
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig has been mentioned in 25 episodes across 17 podcasts (10 episodes recommend it and 15 episodes discuss it), through . Most frequently brought up by Josh Waitzkin (3 episodes), Andrey Breslav (1 episode) and Bob Baxley (1 episode) on Lenny's Podcast (3 episodes), The Joe Rogan Experience (3 episodes) and The Rich Roll Podcast (3 episodes).
#97 of 17,131 books, ranked by how many different people bring it up on podcasts
- episodes
- 25
- podcasts
- 17
- people
- 22
- episodes recommend it
- 10
There's something on a if you read Zen in the-art of Motorcycle Maintenance which is the only book that's ever been written that's kind of gets close to the kind of spiritual place.
Josh Brolin · The Joe Rogan Experience · Nov 2024 Listen at 17:36 Questions about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
Who recommends Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig on podcasts?
Josh Waitzkin (2 episodes), Andrey Breslav (1 episode), Bob Baxley (1 episode), Jim Mullane (1 episode) and Jim O'Shaughnessy (1 episode) have recommended Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig on podcasts. In all, 22 people brought it up across 17 podcasts (9 people recommended it).
Which podcasts mention Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance the most?
Lenny's Podcast (3 episodes), The Joe Rogan Experience (3 episodes), The Rich Roll Podcast (3 episodes), Invest Like the Best (2 episodes) and Lex Fridman Podcast (2 episodes), among 17 podcasts in all.
Is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance recommended, or only discussed?
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig was recommended in 10 episodes and discussed without a recommendation in 15 episodes, as of 2026-04-24.
What do people say about Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?
Josh Brolin on The Joe Rogan Experience (2024-11-21): "There's something on a if you read Zen in the-art of Motorcycle Maintenance which is the only book that's ever been written that's kind of gets close to the kind of spiritual place."
When was Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance last mentioned on a podcast?
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig was last discussed on The Ezra Klein Show by Ezra Klein on 2026-04-24.
What they say about it
- Focuses on quality“talks about the quality of things”4
- Reads it multiple times“read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance like six times”3
- Calls it a classic“classic that's been recommended across the tech community”2
- Calls it a favorite“one of my favorite books and and thinkers”2
The best things said about it
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I absolutely love that book. It's beautifully written. It's so deep.
Ultimately a philosophy book, but it's about the concept of quality which I think is a very important topic so it talks quality and the importance of how things integrate into a cohesive hole.
Another book that I've read probably five or six times, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Love the book. Taught me a lot about how to think.
So I'm reminded of the book that got me into philosophy, which was Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. And he talks about this notion of quality a lot in that book.
I was reading is that in the art of motorcycle maintenance I read it in 1988 and I read it again in like 2011 or something like that maybe 12 and I was reading a brief history of time at the same time.
Where and when it comes up
How it comes up
Most episodes, by podcast
22 people who brought it up
- Josh Waitzkin3 episodes · recommended in 2
- Andrey Breslav1 episode · recommended in 1
- Bob Baxley1 episode · recommended in 1
- Jim Mullane1 episode · recommended in 1
- Jim O'Shaughnessy1 episode · recommended in 1
- Josh Brolin1 episode · recommended in 1
- Julie Zhuo1 episode · recommended in 1
- Karri Saarinen1 episode · recommended in 1
- Roy Sebag1 episode · recommended in 1
- Light Watkins2 episodes
- David Perell1 episode
Ethan Hawke1 episode
Why people recommend it
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig is a philosophical novel that explores the concept of quality and the integration of ideas into a cohesive whole through a cross-country motorcycle trip. Andrey Breslav recommended the book on The Pragmatic Engineer, noting its long-standing popularity and strong reputation across the tech community. Julie Zhuo named the book on Lenny's Podcast as a frequent recommendation whose exploration of quality deeply influenced her personal leadership philosophy. Bob Baxley also praised the title on Lenny's Podcast for its philosophical depth regarding quality and the way elements fit together. Josh Waitzkin discussed Robert Pirsig's work on both The Joe Rogan Experience and The Tim Ferriss Show, identifying the author as one of the most important thinkers and philosophers in his life while exploring the concept of dynamic quality. Josh Brolin mentioned the novel on The Joe Rogan Experience as the sole book that captures the spiritual feeling of riding motorcycles. Karri Saarinen recommended the text on Lenny's Podcast because it thoughtfully examines quality, while Roy Sebag recalled reading the classic book during his teenage years on The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast, receiving immediate agreement from Jordan Peterson regarding its wonderful nature.
Every mention
Josh Waitzkin Robert Pirsig, my favorite the most important philosopher in my life, Robert Pirsig wrote Zen and the Art o… 3
“Robert Pirsig, my favorite the most important philosopher in my life, Robert Pirsig wrote Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Have you read Have you read that book?”
“then you could think about Robert PK's work and and there Motorcycle Maintenance and lla around Dynamic quality versus static quality”
“the author of Zen In The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is one of my favorite books and and thinkers”
Andrey Breslav There is this classic that's been recommended across the tech community for many years. Uh, it's called Zen… 1
“There is this classic that's been recommended across the tech community for many years. Uh, it's called Zen and the Art of Moycle Maintenance. I heard that recommended. Yeah, it's a very good book.”
Bob Baxley second book Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance many people may know ultimately a philosophy book but… 1
“second book Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance many people may know ultimately a philosophy book but it's about the concept of quality which I think is a very important topic so it talks quality and the importance of how things integrate into a cohesive hole”
Jim Mullane one of them was that the this Zen art of motorcycle maintenance all right it's one of those legendary 1
“one of them was that the this Zen art of motorcycle maintenance all right it's one of those legendary”
Jim O'Shaughnessy Another book that I've read probably five or six times, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Love the… 1
“Another book that I've read probably five or six times, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Love the book. Taught me a lot about how to think”
Josh Brolin there's something on a if you read Zen in the-art of Motorcycle Maintenance which is the only book that's e… 1
“there's something on a if you read Zen in the-art of Motorcycle Maintenance which is the only book that's ever been written that's kind of gets close to the kind of spiritual place”
Julie Zhuo The first is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I absolutely love that book. It's beautifully writt… 1
“The first is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I absolutely love that book. It's beautifully written. It's so deep.”
Karri Saarinen the other the other book that I like is like the the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because it's… 1
“the other the other book that I like is like the the Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because it's also like talks about the quality of things”
Roy Sebag I remember when I was about 17, I read this book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Oh yes, wonder… 1
“Remember when I was a kid 17 or so, I read this book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance... He called it an investigation into quality, right?”
“I remember when I was about 17, I read this book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Oh yes, wonderful book!”
Light Watkins and it's kind of like what Robert persk the guy who wrote Zen and the Art of Motorcycle M and said you the… 2
“and it's kind of like what Robert persk the guy who wrote Zen and the Art of Motorcycle M and said you the only Zen you're going to find at the top of the mountain this is in you bring up there with you m you know”
“And it's kind of like what Robert Persick, the guy who wrote Zen and the Art of Motorcycle, Nathan, and said, the only zen you're going to find at the top of the mountain is the zen you bring up there with you, you know?”
David Perell I can't tell you how many people I know who've read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance like six time… 1
“I can't tell you how many people I know who've read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance like six times and they're like that guy Persik, Robert Persik.”
Ethan Hawke I carried that in the art of motorcycle maintenance. That's the same idea. 1
“I carried that in the art of motorcycle maintenance. That's the same idea.”
Ezra Klein And you quote quite a lot from "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," which is a classic book. 1
“And you quote quite a lot from "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," which is a classic book.”
John Williams Robert pers died last month at 88 and so I'm reading the only book he's known for which is Zen and the Art… 1
“Robert pers died last month at 88 and so I'm reading the only book he's known for which is Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”
Jordan Peterson I mean, that's something that Pirsig investigated in 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,' right? We… 1
“I mean, that's something that Pirsig investigated in 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,' right? We could assume that value is no more than what we say it is.”
Kate Courtney i love there's a quote i think it's from the zenon art of motorcycle maintenance where he says it's the it'… 1
“i love there's a quote i think it's from the zenon art of motorcycle maintenance where he says it's the it's the sides of the mountain that's sustained life not the top”
Patrick O'Shaughnessy So I'm reminded of the book that got me into philosophy, which was Robert Persig, Zen and the Art of Motorc… 1
“So I'm reminded of the book that got me into philosophy, which was Robert Persig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. And he talks about this notion of quality a lot in that book”
Peter Wang so i'm just stealing wholesale here from robert persig who is the author of zen in the art of motorcycle ma… 1
“so i'm just stealing wholesale here from robert persig who is the author of zen in the art of motorcycle maintenance”
Reginald Dwayne Betts but with Zen and the other Motorcycle Maintenance, I know that book it is not in the library 1
“but with Zen and the other Motorcycle Maintenance, I know that book it is not in the library”
Robert Breedlove but this dovetailed nicely with another book called Leela um the the author is Robert perig so he wrote Zen… 1
“but this dovetailed nicely with another book called Leela um the the author is Robert perig so he wrote Zen In The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance which is a very popular book book 20 years later he wrote Leela which no one's heard of”
Russ Roberts i remember reading uh i read zen in the art of motorcycle maintenance by robert persig when i was a lot you… 1
“i remember reading uh i read zen in the art of motorcycle maintenance by robert persig when i was a lot younger 40 50 years ago”
Tom Scott I was reading is that in the art of motorcycle maintenance I read it in 1988 and I read it again in like 20… 1
“I was reading is that in the art of motorcycle maintenance I read it in 1988 and I read it again in like 2011 or something like that maybe 12 and I was reading a brief history of time at the same time”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“right the journey matters I mean just like persig and Zen In The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance talks about that a great deal”
Other mentions (4: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Zen in the art of motorcycle repair. God damn. Zen in the art of archery.”
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pierig, The Effective Executive by Peter Ducker.”
“Fadis was his name; is that in the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Exactly!”
“it was in the art of motorcycle maintenance yeah”