(CNN) Philosopher and author Robert M. Pirsig, who wrote the renowned "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," died Monday at his home in South Berwick, Maine, publishing house William Morrow & Company said. He died after a period of ill health, the publisher said in a statement. "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance," often viewed as one of the most influential works of popular philosophy, was rejected by 121 publishers before William Morrow published the book in 1974, the agency said. "The book is brilliant beyond belief," Morrow editor James Landis wrote before publication. The book was inspired by a 1968 motorcycle trip across the West with his eldest son, Christopher.

Source: CNN April 25, 2017 02:26 UTC