Motorcycle Enlightenment

Alan Pierce has spent a lifetime looking for happiness and the meaning of things. Finally, after a divorce, he sells everything he owns except his motorcycle. He intends to travel across country on it, to California, where he believes he will find enlightenment. But Alan has a poor sense of direction, and he ends up in New Jersey. Charles Sides tells the story of Alan's quest in Motorcycle Enlightenment. It's his first novel, and it's delightful reading. Alan is a thinker, who has coasted through his life without really observing or feeling. He meets Jean, who encourages him to "be" rather than "do." Parking his motorcycle, Alan embarks on a journey of self-discovery that's filled with comic mishaps, pizza, and doughnuts. His first real breakthrough comes when he realizes that he ate a whole doughnut without being aware of having done so. Beneath the humorous exterior, Alan learns important lessons, such as people are not their thoughts and that he is responsible for his attitude. "Motorcycle Enlightenment is a wry, humorous and Zen-like journey of self discovery through self-observation. When Alan Pierce finally reaches his destination he discovers that what he had always wanted was found where he least expected it." Readers will laugh as they read, but they'll also be led into certain important discoveries about their own lives.

Besides containing some very important life lessons, MOTORCYCLE ENLIGHTENMENT is just plain cute. I liked all the characters and found myself rooting for a happy ending. If you're familiar with Richard Bach's ILLUSIONS, you can relate: This book is ILLUSIONS for the over-40 set!If you've ever doubted your place in the universe or have had a crisis of the soul, you'll empathize with the book's main character and you'll be a little more than just a bit envious that he had the means to just 'drop out' while he figured out where he belonged and how to find true happiness in this life!Enjoy!