Robert Maynard Pirsig Bibliography :: Author, Pirsig, Biography

Robert Maynard Pirsig BibliographyRobert Maynard Pirsig was born in Minneapolis on September 6, 1928. After high school Pirsig decided to join the army and from the ages of 18 to 22 served the United States. Once discharged, he decided to study at the University of Minnesota. Here he obtained degrees in philosophy and journalism.(1) Once finished, Pirsig decided to travel to India. He talks about this trip in his book, stating it as a trip that expanded his experience solely not his understanding.When he returns, he marries his first wife, Nancy Ann James, an administrator, on May 10, 1954. (2) Working many jobs, including an teacher for English composition at Montana State College and instructor of rhetoric at the University of Illinois, he receives a break and then becomes a technical writer for a variety of technical institutions. Though the time menses could not be found (puzzling?), I believe his transition from teacher to writer was when he suffered his mental breakdow n. During this event he received electrical shock treatment, which coincides with Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. He divorced on August, 1978 and remarried to Wendy L. Kimbell on December 28, 1978. His first child, Christopher, from the first marriage dies shortly after on November 17, 1979.(1)He is now living in New Hampshire with his wife and 2 kids, Theodore and Nell. He tries to remain reclusive explainingThe Buddhist monk has a precept against pampering in idle conversation, and I think the basis of that precept is what motivates me. (Letter from Robert Pirsig to Boduar Skutuik, August 17th, 1997) While residing here he released his newest book, Lila An Inquiry into moral, released in 1991.