Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance®
- Author Robert M. Pirsig and Peter Flannery
- Narrator James Purefoy, Full Cast
- Publisher BBC Audio
- Publish Date 1 July 2012
- Run Time 1 hours and 40 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Autobiography: philosophy and social sciences, Classic travel writing, Intergenerational relationships: advice and issues, Memoirs, Popular philosophy, Radio plays, scripts and performances, Social and political philosophy.
Flexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only £3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- £8.99
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
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
| Author | Robert M. Pirsig and Peter Flannery |
|---|---|
| Narrator | James Purefoy, Full Cast |
| Duration | 1 hours and 40 minutes |
| Release Date | |
| ISBN | 9781471304958 |
| Format | Audiobook |
| Publisher | BBC Audio |
| Genre | Autobiography: philosophy and social sciences, Classic travel writing, Intergenerational relationships: advice and issues, Memoirs, Popular philosophy, Radio plays, scripts and performances, Social and political philosophy |
| Availability | AU, GB, IE, US |
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.