Rating: 
Summary: Who's the Master, Who's the Beast?
Review: Many would say this book is too long, not suspenseful. I would argue they missed the whole theme of the book. This book isn't meant to be solely suspenseful. It's a book that makes you see familiar things in a different, fresh way. I never understood the importance of an animal's habitat and their particular niches. This may sound odd to all of a sudden begin thinking about an alternate point of view now, but that's what this book does. The sign in Ismael's room reads "Without man gone is there hope for gorilla?" Eventually, this message is transposed by the narrator to read, "Without gorilla gone is there hope for man?" I can't help but wonder if Daniel Quinn is trying to point out a future that could actually come true.
Are we really building a paradise, but instead, in the process, destroying the innocent animals in our world? To conquer Nature and to build this paradise (at whatever the cost) are the images fixed in our minds. Have we begun to fail in this task, seeming to continue doing more harm than good? We don't understand the way of living, as Daneil Quinn said, but we seem to want to find a way. We are eager to find a way in spite of ourselves. Meanwhile, our audience of creatures seem to sit back and laugh at us while we destroy instead of create a paradise. We who would like to believe we have learned so much, have really learned so little. Who are the true beasts? Who are the real masters?
Rating: 
Summary: A true must read for all of those who wish to survive!
Review: I recently read Ishmael, and I found it to be the most enlightening thing that I have ever heard. In it, Quinn quashes our basic beliefs that society has ingrained in our minds and does not give out doomsday prophesies, but rather gives healthy, doable solutions.
However, I saw one review giving this book one star. This is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever heard. For one, it's obvious he didn't even really read the book, because he says it blames society's problems on the so-called "evil white people," when in fact Ishmael never says anything whatsoever to single out the whites as the cause of society's problems, and actually speaks out against the false belief of all societies under Mother Culture (you'll understand what I mean if you read the book). He/she says that the characters are two-dimensional, but I could not disagree more. The characters are mysterious, and though on the surface may appear undeveloped, if you read into it and think beyond the box (something that I believe this reviewer has not done), you will see their personalities come alive. He tells us to have an open mind, but he is the one of accusing this writer of brainwashing us. I can disprove this by saying that I have studied techniques of mind manipulation used throughout the modern world, and he is applying no such tactics. Furthermore, in this story, Ishmael unmistakeably implies several times to Alan Lomax (and, in My Ishmael, Julie Gerchack) that he is simply telling him this information, not forcing him to believe it or do something with it. In the end, for example, Ishmael seems absolutely indifferent when Alan asks him what to do with the information. In novels, you have to think beyond what the author says. So do not listen to this person who obviously has not. It is your choice to believe it's message or not, but please don't condemn it so that others won't have a chance to believe it.
Rating:
Summary: Who's the Master, Who's the Beast?
Review: Many would say this book, too long, not suspenseful. I would argue they missed the whole theme of the book. This book isn't meant to be solely suspenseful. It's a book that makes you see things different, fresh way. I never understood the importance of an animals habitat and their lifestyles. This may sound odd to all of a sudden begin thinking about an alternate point of view now, but that's what this book does. The sign that reads "Without man gone is there hope for gorilla?" in Ishmael's room is eventually transposed by the narrator to read, "Without gorilla gone is there hope for man?" I can't help but wonder if what Daniel Quinn is trying to point out, could actually be true?
Are we really trying build a paradise but instead destroying the innocent animals in our world. To conquer and build this paradise are the images placed in our minds, but we have begun to fail in such a task that we continue doing more bad than good. We don't understand the way of living, as Daneil Quinn said, but we seem to want to find a way; we are eager to find a way. These creatures seem to sit back and laugh at us while we are destroying instead of creating a paradise.
Rating:
Summary: Monkey gone to Heaven
Review: I love this book. I just finished it a couple of days ago. Already I have purchased a second copy and given both away with instructions for them to be passed on. If one of my copies doesn't come your way in the next week you should go buy it, read it, and then give it to your best friend. This book did a great balancing act with hope and despair, eventually leaving me slightly more weighted on hopes side. If this isn't a true story and Daniel Quinn didn't actually meet "Ishmael" teacher and learn these things then I have to ask, "How did he come up with this, it's amazing." I really hope time will tell us how important this story is. I was pleased to see that it has only been out for a little more than 10 years. Big changes take time and this book could very well instigate a big change in our world, it has in mine.
Rating: 
Summary: Importan but Boring
Review: Daniel did a really good job of stating the obvious over and over again. I am sure that we all know that we are damaging the earth but, who wants to face the truth. The truth is that someday our planet is going to be overcrowded and peple are going to be starving to death. However, the truth hurts that is why nobody pays any attention to what we are doing. This book also ticked me off a little bit. The book made it seem as if agricultural was the worst knowledge humans have aquired. Guns do not kill people, people kill people. I know it stated that is was not pointing the finger right at agriculture but, it it gave a very small impression that it did. Of course, because I am an agricultural major that is probably the reason I feel that way.
I also did not like the setting's that Daniel picked. The most exciting thing that happend was when Ishmael was talking at the carnival. The book could have been better if the conversation envoled a little more suspense. The whole book was a simple,long and boring conversation. That was a pretty lame idea. I also thought the idea of a gorrila being that smart and being able to talk was pretty stupied.
I did like the slap in the face Daniel gave me. I know it is hard to face the truth but, we have to be reminded of it every now and again. His story was catchy and disapointing at the same time. But, obviously the story was good or else he would have not made all of that money.
Rating: 
Summary: It sounds good, It must be true
Review: When I first began to read this book I was drawn away because the story starts off really slow, but chapter two picks up the pace and begins to suck you in. I think thats why I liked the book so much because one moment it's boring, and then something will grab your thought and next thing you know, you have read three chapters.
Ishmael talks alot about evolution and religion through out the book. I found myself kind of frustrated because I do not study the bible, but at the same time the book made me interested in the story of the bible. "Certainly the knowledge of good and evil is a powerful knowledge, for it enables us to rule the world with out becoming criminals."(Pg.159Ishmael)
After reading Ishmael I found myself thinking alot about the treatment of animals, and how people should do more to protect them and their environments. It also made me think about how people are so quickly to believe in these stories of religion, and if you do not believe, you are looked down on.
Ishmael makes you step out of the cave and explore the light.
Rating:
Summary: Selfhood pronounced a delusion & New territory
Review: I find that Ishmael is bold in challenging the human's predefined justification and giving us the opportunity to rethink our perspective on life. I wondered if it was actually possible for a gorilla to display such knowledge, and how the gorilla came to acquire these insights. Well I guess it was due to observation and through experiences, for instance, when he was told that he was not Goliath(As he felt his awareness of selfhood had been pronounced a delusion, that very moment may have triggered or developed his approach and intuition). I think on many occasions throughout history man has been blinded to believe what somebody else wants for us to believe. Contented from the soothing of a fictional story because the truth of the matter just might be out of their cognizance! I liked the overall concept in the beginning of the story when it displays the question-"With Man Gone, Will There Be Hope For Gorilla?" For man in our ignorance have this perception of the world, flattering ourselves with the thought that everything within the world wouldn't otherwise function properly without our existence. I love how the book concludes, after Ishmael has pasted, the narrator discovers the other side of the sign which reads-"With Gorilla Gone, Will There Be Hope For Man?" For it was actually a gorilla and not mankind whom pointed out to the narrator this manor of unfamiliar territory, along with new methods, styles, and technique's on ways of comprehending! If you're that stupid to precede in life depending on others opinions, but if you're brave enough, read the book for yourself and evaluate a conclusion or you're own explanation!
Rating:
Summary: Psychic Gorilla Dung
Review: A psychic gorilla lectures a lame former hippie (psychically, natch) on how to save the world. His message? The earth is on the brink of environmental collapse because the evil white people have forgotten that the world does not belong to them. The prose is leaden, the characters (all two of them) two-dimensional. But that's not the primary reason this book ...; after all, this is not really a work of fiction but a sociopolitical screed. The fictional framework frees the author from such superfluities as footnotes and references -- after all, the eponymous Ishmael has such _gravitas,_ we are meant to credulously lap up every word he says just as the book's narrator does. That's apparently just what most new-age idiots who would read this book in the first place do... witness all the five-star reviews. But for those with an open mind I recommend a couple of correctives: _The Skeptical Environmentalist_ by Bjorn Lomborg, plus Jared Diamond's fantastic _Guns, Germs and Steel._ _Those_ books have footnotes.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended Reading
Review: I sometimes feel as though the world, in the condition it is today, is like an ocean liner headed full-speed for an iceberg. Not everyone sees it and the people who can do something about it don't see it, and even if they did, would there be time to slow or alter the course of such massive momentum? And does anyone even know how? (And is the iceberg really there, or is it a mirage?) Daniel Quinn's book gives one theory of how things came to be as they are and why we are on a collision course with doom if we don't alter our way of thinking about the world and our relationship to it. There are no easy answers to such a huge predicament, and Quinn doesn't try to provide any. In this book he just tries to convince us that there is a problem. (After all, isn't it said that the first step in solving a problem is admitting that you have one?)
Rating:
Summary: Good Beginner's Book for a Cultural Wake-Up Call
Review: For those who are in the very early stages of waking up from the great patriarchal nap, the simplicity of the book and its cleaver approach can be a good start. I've heard that a number of young people, especially men, find the book life altering. An excellent follow-up book with much more meat about "takers" (patriarchal) and "leaver" (matriarchal) cultures can be found in Leonard Shlain's The Alphabet Versus the Goddess. There are also a number of other excellent books on the subject as noted in many of the other reviews of this book. One of the major problems with Quinn's ideas is that he doesn't know he is caught up in (taker) patriarchal "either/or" thinking. Don't we both give and take? Isn't it "both/and" thinking that we've been missing out on? The challenge at this point in time is to look at both cultural approaches, sort out what works and what doesn't, and combine them to create a new period. Quinn also appears quite confused when he refers to the "taker" group as "mother culture" when as Shlain and many others point out, it's a male dominant issue. Just look at who has all the power and wealth in the "taker" culture. It isn't mothers. Sure, people are "unconscious" of another way of living (which is what I think he means - the feminine being a symbol of the unconscious) but it was patriarchy that suppressed this knowledge.
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