[TravisBickle]

When I was hanging out with hippies in the late 70's, this was THE book to read for enlightenment. I tried to read it, but the author, a Professor of Rhetoric, if I recall, was just too incomprehensible.

Or maybe it was the numerous toxins in my body that prevented me from understanding English.

In either case, I tried to read it and just didn't get it.

Sadly, I believe the author's son, who figured quite prominently in the book, was murdered during a robbery when he was in his early 20's.

[BraveMan]

Pirsig's son Chris was the most important figure in the book, aside from the author's alter ego and previous personality, Phaedrus.

Later versions of the book contain an "afterword" written in 1984 where the author mentions the murder of his son. He was killed November 17, 1979 in San Francisco on Haight Street during a botched robbery attempt.

The author mentions later his wife unexpectedly became pregnant, and that "after careful discussion we decided it was not something that should continue". On the way to the "medical appointment" they have a change of heart and reverse their decision. The birth of their daughter, Nell, helps to fill the hole in their lives from the loss of their son Chris.