Rating: 
Summary: This was not Ishmael
Review: I was quite disapointed with this novel. After falling in love with Ishmael and its sequel I thought this novel would too be a gem. Really, if you read Ishmael theres no need to read this. The message is the same, only not told as well, and the progression of the (weak) plot is absurd. Quinn just did not pull off the synthesis of writing his philosophy into a story. He should try reading some Ayn Rand. Im going to reread Ishmael tonight, and hopefully get this bad taste out of my mouth.
Rating: 
Summary: A book that works on you, like it or not
Review: An earlier reviewer wrote (in his updated review) "I have thought about the book several times since I read it and disliked it, there must be more to it than I originally noted." He then raised his review from 2 to 3 stars.This, for me, sums up the power of Daniel Quinn's writing. He provides a new framework or lens through which we can see the world. Once that lens is in place, the world occurs differently, whether we want it to or not, whether we like the book or not. Before the microscope was invented in the 17th century, no one knew that living things are made up of cells. Early microscopes were crude, but they began to make an invisible world that some suspected was there, visible. Quinn's books are like the early microscopes: anyone reading these books will start to see things that have been invisible (but suspected) in our world and culture. Instead of using glass and light, Quinn uses dialog and socratic inquiry. The core concepts--"leavers and takers" and "the great forgetting"--are the lenses, and the books themselves are the metal and plasitc and wooden pieces of the microscope. In TSOB Quinn has several characters explain and transmit his ideas, each in his or her own way. While it may be a bit clunky, each pass makes the lens a little sharper and brings the subject into a little closer focus. Other reviewers give a sense about what is being examined, what readers begin to see, and what impact it makes on their lives. What seems to happen, as happened for the earlier reviewer who has been thinking about the book, is that the lenses become part of us whether we want them to or not. So please forgive Daniel Quinn for not writing a concise academic treatise or literary masterpiece; others will do that. But would they be able to had he not come first? Read his books, rock your world, and maybe you will be the one to take the next step.
Rating:
Summary: Are You Desperate?
Review: Anybody who thinks that this book or anything Quinn has written is THE AWNSER is a fool. He says nothing new here (again) and is only bound to attract desperate people looking for THE AWNSER. On a literay level, it's horrible but at least it resembles a story. If you're some kid in college or something thinking you've figured it out make sure to keep looking and read some real philosophers to find out why Quinn's very premises are false.
Rating: 
Summary: The purpose of the book is not the story.
Review: I encourage reading this book since it does something most of us are not doing, it asks questions. True, the book is dogmatic and the storyline is [sad], the characters shallow etc... but the purpose of the book is to deliver the message that we need to be looking around and asking more questions about the values (or lack of them) that drive western civilization today, and we need to start asking questions about why we do certain things... like breeding. It also calls forth something equally important: don't believe everything you read or are told... do some research, ask lots of questions. I thought the message was great, the book as a story was amateur.
Rating:
Summary: A thought provoking story for our times
Review: This story will challenge you to see to all that surrounds you daily in an entirely new way. Many things that I have felt through my life journey were put into words and a larger picture is emerging. If you want a story that will inspire you and help you find new ideas and ways of being and open your eyes to that which is hidden within our culture then this is the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: The Story of B
Review: (Plot) The Story of B focuses on a Catholic preacher who has been sent to Eastern Europe to investigate a "dangerous" preacher that has been causing a stir among Europeans from all walks of life. The book examines the teachings of this preacher (known to his supporters as "B" and his hecklers as "The Antichrist") in great detail, as well as the importance of his teachings in overturning the cherished foundations of religion and society, specifically in the field of Agriculture. (End of Plot) Daniel Quinn has chosen a subject that is interesting, multi-layered, and, at least spiritually, relevant. However, in The Story of B, the subject is never given the chance to flourish because it's poorly executed throughout the story. This is because Daniel Quinn is, at best, a mediocre writer. His narration is clumsy ("Which I must say surprised me on the basis of what I know. Really, the whole thing surprised me.") and his vocabulary elementary. He attempts to fuse together disparate styles of writing, perhaps combining the reflective prose of Ralph Ellison with the dark, cynical humor of Murakami or Palahniuk. But whatever the pairing, it never works because Quinn isn't able to develop either of these styles well enough to create an intelligent amalgamation of them. Quinn's protagonist, Jared, uses the medium of a diary to tell his story. It's Quinn's attempt to imbue creativity into the narrative, but one can't help thinking that the diary shtick is only a gimmick, and as such, it's pointless and unnecessary. The story could have been told just as easily with a straightforward narrative, which probably would have been for the better, since Quinn's choice of narrative adds nothing to the feeling of the proceedings and confuses the reader in the process. As if the narrative hasn't been muddled enough, Quinn also decides to break his chapters up into mini-chapters, or segments, and gives them enigmatic titles such as "Fun with Marxists and Others" and "Now the Parable is This." Again, it's a structural gimmick that falls flat on its face simply because it doesn't need to be there, and most likely would have benefited the fluidity of the narrative with its absence. There is nothing implicit about The Story of B. Instead of suggestion and subtlety, the reader is beaten over the head with virtually every spiritual and philosophical idea found in the entire book. To make matters worse, B's words to Jared reek of didacticism, and the same can be said about B's "teachings", which are schizophrenic sermon-like studies of the modern world (located, oddly, at the back of the book, apart from the story rather than in it.) The first half of the book takes a good while to get going. By the 30th page, the story already feels tired, and you're still reading exposition. Jared (through a loophole in the story which noted that Jared was given no deadline to find B) takes all of the sweet time he needs, moving from nondescript city to nondescript city, meeting one uninteresting, one-dimensional character after another. Even B, Quinn's "shrouded-in-mystery" character, comes off looking as lame and predictable as everyone else. The second half (if you haven't been bored to tears getting through the first) is almost entirely made up of exchanges between Jared and B, similar to what one would probably hear between a Sunday-school student and a priest with his door a crack open. This is where the most interesting material lies, but even this dialogue grows tiresome after several pages, so much so that reading B's lessons and Jared's responses becomes a test of patience. Perhaps the biggest problem plaguing The Story of B is that the reader is never given the opportunity to think for himself. The characters plod through explanation upon long-winded explanation of oh-so-simple philosophical and spiritual notions. It's not only a bore to read; it also leaves absolutely no room for thought and theory on the part of the reader. In other words, reading The Story of B becomes not an active reading experience, but one in which the reader is expected to cram large quantities of moral ideology down his throat without a thought in edgewise. Instead of leaving the question of whether or not B is the Antichrist open as moot, Quinn tries to answer the question for us, thereby zapping all of the fun and mystery we'd hoped for right out of the story. When I had completed the book and grudgingly read all of the "teachings", I couldn't help but feel that it was not only B but also Mr. Quinn himself forcing me to take in and (worse) accept his ideology that he has painstakingly preached through his character B. The Story of B is a lousy, substandard novel. It's a chore to read not because it's complexly written (quite the opposite, actually), but because it presents a stomach-turning combination of poor writing, bland characters, wooden emotions, cathartic dialogue and preachy morality. By the close of the book, which includes B's "teachings", it's too little too late; the story itself is, forgive the expression, beyond salvation. Which is too bad, because the book had potential...it just needed someone more open-minded than Daniel Quinn to carry out its message.
Rating:
Summary: Important but unfair
Review: Quinn's message is important to read, and all of Ishmael, My Ishmael, and The Story of B are worth reading. Quinn's perspective is certainly not entirely new, but these 'teachings' are written perhaps most clearly in Quinn's books. The Story of B is indeed fiction and its leading arguments are certainly unfair at times. It reminds me much of Plato in this way; however, being a gadfly is important. Quinn's analysis of reasons for the agricultural production are ridiculous and NOT based on anthropological and archeological science he seems to like. Yes, it is a novel; it is fiction, not meant to be real. But, if we are to use real world examples, we must give them full analysis and not an unfair treatment.
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Summary: The Answer To Ishamel (well sort of)
Review: Once you read Ishmael you feel you are left without something. Something that could possibly pose as the answer to the solution to all this chaos. But Quinn leaves that answer out of Ismael. Instead, he answers it slightly in this book. (He answers it directly in Beyond Civilization) This book is connected to Ishmael, because Ishmael is mentioned in this book. If you didnt like Ishmael, which would be absurd, because it had no plot or action to it, this book does. It is a priest going on an adventure to review a guy an decide if he is the antichrist. No more will be said in this review. BUY IT OR RENT IT! P.S. Also, this book has speeches in it. During points in the book, it tells you to refer to the speeches in the back. I would recommend reading the speeches after you finish the book. I think it would be best if you actually think what the speech would be about. Unless your one of those people taht cant think for themselves and act brainless as the destruction of the world continues.
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Journey
Review: I hate to be typical and follow the crowd, but I found "The Story of B" to be an incredible take of the evolution of civilization, on religion, and on social change. It has changed the way I perceive the world around me and the positions I take in everything. Research into the areas introduced in this novel prove that Quinn is correct in most of his ideas. Readers of Daniel Quinn's "Ishmael" will recognise key theories set up by Ishmael and Alan Lomax, but new ideas and history are introduced to give an even clearer picture of how and why the human race is hurdling ahead to eventual destruction, as well as what we can do to save it and make *all* of its inhabitants happier. Jared is a priest who is sent to Europe to scope out a man who is whispered to be the Antichrist. He finds B, but is immediately drawn into his theories. The lectures are facinating, if a bit on the dry side, and are well placed within the story to keep the plot line moving. They also set up information and ideas for "My Ishmael," the next book in the trilogy. I found "The Story of B" to be the most enthralling of the three, however, with some of the most poingant moments in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Reviewing B
Review: The Story of B is a novel of different themes and paces. In some parts, the book moves very slowly, in others I found myself gasp in reaction to the plot twists. This novel makes you look at human history and cultural beliefs in a completely different light. However, sometimes all these revelationsd and theories are clumped together so closely that I had trouble taking all of it in. Although The Story of B wasn't filled with melodramatic emotions, there were some scenes that were very touching at a spiritual level. At times, I had to force myself to absorb all of the revolutionary ideas, but in the end, I benefitted. My suggestion to someone about to read this novel would be it although it is initially hard to follow. It also helps if you read the speeches in the back as they appear in the story
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