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A comment on The bewildering phenomenon of declining quality. Parent comment

Re:The bewildering phenomenon of declining quality by weinzierl on Sunday July 20, 2025 @06:56AM (#44623894)
I read the “Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” many years ago. What I remember and took away from it is a lot about mental health and about being different and trying or not trying to fit in.

The quality idea in the book sadly never clicked. To my defense I have to say I was young and had no philosophical background whatsoever, but maybe I am ready now.

I should really re-read the book but maybe you could summarize your take away about quality from the book.

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Re:The bewildering phenomenon of declining quality by osigurdson on Sunday July 20, 2025 @11:23AM (#44626043)
Agree, the quality part of the book is hard to grasp. I get that some written works are good and some are bad, that it is hard to qualify why yet there is a general consensus around it but I haven't been able to distill any deeper meaning than that.

However, the discussions regarding "gumption" and separating abstractions from reality when needed (i.e. "the carburetor set screw") as well as several other great lessons from the book have really helped me fine-tune my thinking. I think reading this a few times in your 20s is a fantastic time investment.

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