A small minority of people around the world will know without having it explained.
For those of you who were around in the 70′s but didn’t get into heavy discussions about the meaning of life blah blah blah blah ………. then: -
Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_and_the_Art_of_Motorcycle_Maintenance
Was a book I read in 1975 and truly affected my take on things at the time. I didn’t realise until a couple of years ago when I re-read it that at the time it had also moulded me regarding my opinions and attitudes.
The biggest shock was that the parts of the book covering poor mental health now reflected how I viewed the world ………….. spooky!
To give recognition to the part this book played for me I use zenataomm often as a pseudonym.
I was three when you read that book.
I think I could probably recognise the initial of my first name.
Just thought I’d point that out.
No reason.
Just thought I would.
When I was teaching Advanced Software Design at Coventry University in the ’90s, I argued strongly to have that book put on the Required Reading list for the course. I argued, pretty persuasively I thought, that there was just no other book like it for learning the right way to think about “the right way to think about things.”
Well, they didn’t swallow that (more fools they!), but I did eventually succeed in getting it added to the Recommended Reading list. My students loved it.
Anyway, I hope that you’re doing well, or at least as well as possible. We think of you often.
Kay
Thanks Kay
Recently I was sent an email with a dozen or so of your articles, and one of them included a link to your ‘blog’ (whatever that is; i’ve heard about them but don’t know where to buy one!). Anyway, having read the email, I then started on your blog. I now cannot stop slowly working my way backwards, presumably to the beginning of time. I used to read them in the firm’s time, but now have to wait until I’m at rest in the evening. Whatever will I do when I get to the beginning?
Bob
Hi Bob ……
Lovely to hear from you (whoever-where ever you are) Thank you for your observations, but why do you read my crap?
It’s not compulsory you know.
Interesting that you are reading them backwards ….. I wrote them forwards, do they make any more sense your way?
Frank Sinatra was famous for doing it his way, but I understand he had the Mafia on his side. That probably helps.
You should carry on reading them in the firm’s time, in fact the most rewarding thing you can do in their time is use the toilet, not only does it save on your toilet paper but they end up paying you £X an hour to have a shit.
I’m sorry it’s taken a month for me to notice you had landed on my Blog, that’s because I don’t visit it, I don’t have to, I already know what’s written, I wrote it.
If you suddenly find any money or food belonging to me then please contact me ………
zenataomm@gmail.com
You ask what to do when you end up at the beginning ….. well I suggest you begin again at the ending.
I’m having a meat pie and a bag of crisps for my lunch now.
Good Bye
Jeremy
Hmmm. Well I was a bit older than three when that book came out, and had been riding bikes for over a decade. Having a ‘mechanical mind’ with a seeming natural ability to pull things apart and put them back together with not too many bits left over, I tackled the book from a motorcyclists point of view – and found it pretty pathetic. A bit like reading about Homer Simpsons first attempt at ice skating – ‘Doh!’. So then after someone had said “No, not like that – like this”, I tried again, and saw some point, but to be honest – not a lot.
If you can find a copy, read ‘The Land Beyond The Ridge’ by R.K. Battson. That is good – but if you liked Zen etc. perhaps it just wouldn’t do.