Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values is the
first of Robert M. Pirsig's texts in which he explores his Metaphysics of
Quality.

The 1974 book describes, in first person, a 17-day motorcycle
journey across the United States by the author (though he is not identified
in the book) and his son Chris, joined for the first nine days by close
friends John and Sylvia Sutherland.

The trip is punctuated by numerous philosophical discussions, referred
to as Chautauquas by the author, on topics including epistemology,