

#145
Mentioned in 105 episodes
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Book • 1974
This classic novel by Robert M. Pirsig is a personal and philosophical odyssey that delves into the author's search for meaning.
The narrative follows a father and his son on a summer motorcycle trip from the Midwest to California, intertwining a travelogue with deep philosophical discussions.
The book explores the concept of 'quality' and how it informs a well-lived life, reconciling science, religion, and humanism.
It also touches on the author's own struggles with his past and his philosophical quest, making it a touching and transcendent exploration of human experience and endeavor.
The narrative follows a father and his son on a summer motorcycle trip from the Midwest to California, intertwining a travelogue with deep philosophical discussions.
The book explores the concept of 'quality' and how it informs a well-lived life, reconciling science, religion, and humanism.
It also touches on the author's own struggles with his past and his philosophical quest, making it a touching and transcendent exploration of human experience and endeavor.
Mentioned by



























Mentioned in 105 episodes
Mentioned by 

in the context of dynamic and static quality.


Josh Waitzkin

6,131 snips
The Art of Learning & Living Life | Josh Waitzkin
Recommended by 

as a beautifully written and deep book, which her whole philosophy around quality comes from.


Julie Zhuo

3,233 snips
From managing people to managing AI: The leadership skills everyone needs now | Julie Zhuo (Facebook VP, Sundial CEO, The Making of a Manager author)
Recommended by 

as a philosophy book about the concept of quality.


Bob Baxley

1,697 snips
35 years of product design wisdom from Apple, Disney, Pinterest, and beyond | Bob Baxley
Mentioned by 

as one of Ev Williams' favorite books from 2016.


Tim Ferriss

1,417 snips
#800: Ev Williams — The Art of Pivoting (e.g., Odeo to Twitter), Strategic Quitting, The Dangers of Premature Scaling, Must-Read Books, and More
Mentioned by 

when discussing the difference between philosophers and "philosophologists".


Josh Waitzkin

529 snips
#756: Anne Lamott and Josh Waitzkin
Mentioned by Nick Sleep as a book that deeply resonated with him and shaped his investment approach, emphasizing quality in actions and decisions.

509 snips
#364 Nick & Zak's Excellent Adventure: How Nick Sleep and Qais Zaharia Built Their Investment Partnership
Mentioned by 

as one of his favorite books and thinkers, differentiating between philosopher and philosophologist.


Josh Waitzkin

461 snips
#148: Josh Waitzkin, The Prodigy Returns
Mentioned by 

as one of the most important books ever written.


Josh Waitzkin

448 snips
Episode 2: Joshua Waitzkin
Mentioned by 

as a book that people reread multiple times and get something new from each time.


David Perell

413 snips
Paul Harding: A New Way To Think About Writing | How I Write
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

when discussing societal influences on individuals and straying from personal desires.

Jim O’Shaughnessy

400 snips
Joe Hudson — The Art of Accomplishment (EP.280)
Mentioned by 

, quoting the author's perspective on finding meaning in experiences.


Brad Stulberg

366 snips
Master of Change: Brad Stulberg On Rugged Flexibility & The Neuroscience Of Expectations
Recommended by 

for its exploration of quality and its difficulty to define.


Karri Saarinen

359 snips
Inside Linear: Building with taste, craft, and focus | Karri Saarinen (co-founder, designer, CEO)
Mentioned by 

in a discussion about quiet quitting and the recurring theme of re-evaluating work-life balance across generations.


Cal Newport

245 snips
Ep. 214: Quiet Quitting
Mentioned by 

when discussing the philosophical realm of AI's ability to make quality judgments.


Manu Sharma

216 snips
The Data Factory: Inside the $100B Race for Post-Training Supremacy, with Labelbox CEO Manu Sharma
Mentioned by 

in the context of discussing his preferences for Robert Pirsig's books.


Joe Buleg

191 snips
182: Clear Thinking by Shane Parrish
Mentioned by 

as an example of an author who became "loopy."


Tim Ferriss

172 snips
#362: Graham Duncan — Talent Is The Best Asset Class
Mentioned by 

as a book that heavily influenced Nick Sleep and Toby Carlisle.


Kyle Grieve

167 snips
TIP687: The Art of Thoughtful Wealth Creation w/ William Green
Mentioned as a foundational book by both guests, referencing a passage about the experimentation method.

161 snips
Jeff Bussgang — The Experimentation Machine (EP.285)
Mentioned by 

as a book he absolutely hated.


Mike Schmitz

153 snips
213: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
Mentioned by 

as a book he found sometimes frustrating but ultimately engaging.


Clay Finck

152 snips
TIP641: Improve Decision Making with Mental Models w/ Clay Finck & Kyle Grieve



