ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE

A journey through philosophical inquiry and the landscape of the American West, this audiobook captures the rolling narrative of author Pirsig's uniquely American style. His form of Chautauqua, originally a spoken presentation combining education and entertainment, allows for a natural transition from the written word to audio. Michael Kramer has a friendly, confident voice, and he reads the thoughts of Pirsig's curious narrator as if they were his own. Although the book includes much dense philosophical speculation, Kramer's measured pace and clear delivery help to convey its complex ideas. He is equally convincing as the secondary characters, giving each a distinctive voice. Kramer's casual style suits the author's own informal tone, and he perfectly renders how the listener would imagine the voice of the fictional narrator. T.D.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]