<p> When Robert Pirsig?s <i>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</i> was first published in 1974, it caused a literary sensation. An entire generation was profoundly affected by the story of the narrator, his son, Chris, and their month-long motorcycle odyssey from Minnesota to California. A combination of philosophical speculation and psychological tension, the book is a complex story of relationships, values, madness, and, eventually, enlightenment. </p> <p> Ron Di Santo and Tom Steele have spent years investigating the background and underlying symbolism of Pirsig?s work. Together, and with the approval of Robert Pirsig, they have written a fascinating reference/companion to the original. </p> <p> <i>Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</i> serves as a metaphorical backpack of supplies for the reader?s journey through the original work. With the background material, insights, and perspectives the authors provide, <i>Guidebook to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</i> is destined to become required reading for new fans of the book as well as those who have returned to it over the years. </p>