By Robert Pirsig - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (Reissue) (1/31/84)

Robert Crisp was a man unmanageable except by his own wit and lights. I was fascinated to read how the WWII tank hero who participated in some of the great underdog and under-weaponed battles of WWII, (Greece and the Western Desert in Libya.), beat cancer with the help of his Greek doctors and his own imbibing a chemotherapeutic preparation instead of applying topically. Broke the rules once again. He is most comfortable in desperate discomfort and ambiguity, where his perception of events shortly to come in nature allows him to cope, perhaps unlike events in the human world where reality is a matter of perception, conniving, and hostile plans of people very unlike him. I see in him a need to get back to basics of existence, far from plans to disrupt his options. If, like reading a novel, you suspend disbelief and accept that he 'had to' leave domesticity and live rough on a Greek peninsula in a donated ramshackle home, his only income a soldier's disability pension, it is vitally interesting. His relationships with the donkey and his adopted animals show him in a sympathetic light. People really loved him, wherever he went, when things were simple and they didn't need him to execute behaviors and plans. I knew a war hero in Vietnam who was most interested in what happened in the next five minutes rather in longer range speculations. Is there explanation here? Would Bob Crisp have been a hero if he were pedestrian and methodical? The newspaper columns he was paid for as he later circumnavigated Crete on foot have been collected with earlier and later writings and carefully compiled into this book, published posthumously by his family. Here's a man who lived at the most basic. To read this book is to touch a life, one of the most extraordinary lives of our times. Read it and find encouragement. After having speculated so much about him, I must add that I awaited this publication and bought it on the day of publishing, because I have such high regard for Robert Crisp, having read both Brazen Chariots and The Gods were Neutral. Something about him illuminates our times and lives. Thanks to his children for their hard work. I hope it becomes a further legacy for the family.

Any one who has read and been fascinated by Robert Crisp’s war memoirs will enjoy his twilight story of a walk around Crete with a donkey. He was and is a very interesting character, brave( by his own account) but totally self absorbed which robbed him of medals he deserved in war but also led him to abandon his wife and children in middle age and go “hippy” in Greece. Since there is no biography this is as close as you can get to the well written and,yes, charming story of an absolutely unique character.

fantastical

To understand the man, it might be best to read his previous books. It is an insight to what might be diagnosed PTSD and how he did self treatment. He was an excellent writer and is totally engaging.

three stories in one. I read it on a plane ride to visit my son. I have a motorcycle and so does he. I left the book for him to read. So the side story is this guy on a bike ride with his son across country. He treats his son poorly because the father is self absorbed in his own issues. Poor kid. Second story like is the guys issues. Third is how technology is changing human interaction. Its a easy read. I skipped some of the lengthly diatribe on philosophy as it wasnt the story line I wanted to pursue. Pick your story line in this book

The old classic from the 1970's, I read it when it first came out. As good and relevant now as it was then. I pick it up from time to time and read a chapter or two randomly. Always seem to read what I needed to hear.

Reading this book when I was a teen is the reason I am an avid cross country rider today.

Finally decided to read this book not knowing where it would take me. For me it's a book that you read, stop, contemplate, then continue. If your open to examination, you'll probably like this book. There's a lot for me on a personal level that I can relate to (Motorcycles, Religion/Spirituality , Technical writing). If your reading this review then do yourself a favor, what's a few hundred pages amongst friends. I'd highly recommend this book!

Very entertaining and inspiring, albeit that the more could have been made of the design of the book and the pictures. A pleasant read in these turbulent times, much recommended

Still Working on it. Excellent Book!

Excellent service, excellent quality, excellent value for money! What more can I say!

Book arrived on time and in good condition. I read this while I was in hospital. To be honest the procedures they did in hospital were a lot more fun than this book. On the back of the book it suggests that this could be life changing. Frankly the reviews on the back of the book were written by people who had taken to many mind bending drugs. It is sad in some respects as it charts a man struggling with life and ending with a complete beak down. It makes some interesting points although I did feel that a lot of them where based on some rather dodgy logic which could be refuted rather easily. I think the greatest recommendation I can give it, is to say if you don't read this before you croak, don't worry you haven't missed anything, and for those of us who have read it, that's four days I wont get back.

Interesting and very readable account of the author' attempt to establish a smallholding in Greece in the early 60s. A good read.