Like the seminal philosophical work- Robert M. Pirsig's “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance”, that inspired this collection, the stories, travelogues and poems in Wind on My Face: Motorcycle Diaries explore the philosophical depths that can be plumbed from the seem-ingly simple act of operating a motorcycle. Robert M. Pir-sig's enduring classic used a cross-country motorcycle trip as a vehicle for profoundly questioning the way we think about reality, rationality, romantic relationships, and the metaphysics of quality itself.

This anthology takes a similar tack, probing the contem-plative headspace that comes from straddling a powerful machine hurtling down the open road, choreographing the intricate ballet of clutch, throttle, and brake through turns and straightaways. The writers here share personal epipha-nies achieved while immersed in the synergy of rider and bike. Some transcend the physical world entirely, finding truth in the harmonic resonance of engine and surround-ings. Others achieve clarity through high-stakes scenarios, narrowly avoiding disaster through a transcendent unity of mind and reflexes.