Rating: 
Summary: Like a veggie's meal, there ain't much meat here.
Review: After reading the first few pages of Ishmael, you'll be quite intrigued, up until boredom and marble-eyed reading set in where nothing registers anymore. I had a lukewarm feeling while reading Quinn, especially after I had to put up with the rather uncharacteristic and frustratingly simple protaganist, who is not only hindered by his total lack of personality, but is given the IQ of a plant just to move the plot along.
Now I understand that this is not a book about characters or anything like that, but someone out there might not know this, and if you're looking for that kind of thing, don't look twice at this book until you're ready for a save-the-trees lecture that balks before the option to intellectually stimulate the reader. Quinn constantly fights the fact that our agricultural revolution took place, and that many of us don't see it as a mistake. This, I found frustrating. We have no dominance over the past, we can't abandon our way of life and go back to hunter-gatherer anymore a fish can decide to breath outside of water- unless of course, we have a nuclear war, then both of these things are bound to happen. As a reader, I felt like I was in Chemistry class. Once in a while something interesting would pop up, my ears would perk, I'd digest the information, wait around a little longer for some more and finally gradually begin to hang my head as nothing else of interest came my way. This is a very, very preachy book. Either you agree with Quinn or you don't (and you have WILL agree with him sometimes), but when you don't, you're just going to get a giant gorilla shaking his head at you and chewing on a peice of straw like a tyrannical, pompous, forgotten God.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Piece
Review: I began this book in hopes that it would truly be an adventure of mind and spirit, and I was a bit disappointed. I didn't think that the book was what people said it was. Some of the revelations that were made by the pupil of Ishmael were pretty obvious, and it became a little annoying when this pupil would play dumb. However, this is an interesting read. There were some parts of the book that I really enjoyed and thought were applicable to our daily lives. I believe Quinn could have done a better job by turning this into a story rather then just one huge conversation. This isn't a book that you are going to want to read because of the great story, but rather because of the fact that it makes you think, sometimes. I recommend this book, but I honestly believe that it could have been much much better. I am a bit disappointed, but I enjoyed it.
Rating:
Summary: The Difference a book can Make.
Review: Ever wonder why the planet is over-populated? Why we are destroying the environment and why no matter what we try to do nothing seems to help? Curious as to why we have such difficulty living in harmony with nature? If so, reading Ishmael will be a very rewarding experience. This book is full of wonderful ideas and reasons for our ignorance. The use of a Gorilla (Ishmael, who can communicate telepathically) to teach the lessons only helps to encourage an open-minded view. Quinn takes the reader on a journey of self-awareness and forces a realistic view of why our demise is surely at bay.
As an introspective individual, I could appreciate Quinn's perspective even when I completely disagreed. I loved that he could make one tale really hit hard enough to make me question why I disagreed in the first place. It is wonderful to be challenged in this way. Quinn makes the reader want to explore. The need to support your beliefs is mysteriously stronger than ever imagined. It is not about just believing Quinn's way but about finding a truth. Being "primitive" vs. "civilized" is not what Quinn is suggesting. He is stating the answer is in everyone finding a way to live, not that one way of life has to be followed by everyone. It is the diversity that makes it work.
Quinn does a very thorough job of teaching through Ishmael. It can almost be tedious trying to get the student to understand a concept. Getting through this can prove difficult. Even when realizing this, there is a clear reason why the student is simple minded. Everyone who reads this book needs to understand each and every step. So much is at hand; it cannot be assumed that the answer is already known. With a heavy "Mother Culture" voice ringing in our ears at every turn, a detailed explanation is needed.
One other downside, in most cases, is an introspective person tends to be a cynical person. Reading this book will make you want to find the perfect solution. What can I do? But really, what can I do? The ending is left in the hands of those who now know both sides. A clear plan for the future is lacking. With no detailed instructions how on earth can we succeed. Unfortunately, Quinn cannot tell us the outcome anymore than anyone could. His answer is simply to learn why we have the problem and then share that very knowledge.
Beautiful it is not, but realistic it is. We must face that we are failing this planet. The key to our success is knowledge. Ishmael teaches to share this information with just one person but Quinn states we need to share the book with everyone we know. The difference a book can make is clear, learn from the mistakes we are making. Do this and we can become a "new culture"!
Rating:
Summary: Earth:Saved By The Gorilla?
Review: "Ishmael" is a different kind of novel that I enjoyed reading. It took me on a mysterious journey as I read through the chapters. The begining is a mystery because I would of never imagined that the teacher of this story is really a talking gorilla. As you read through the novel you begin to learn what the meaning of the book is really going to be about, at least you will think so, and then things in the story suddenly start to have different meanings. Ishmael is the teacher that takes the student on a journey through what this world has seen, been through, and teaches a very different point of view about human behavior and acts that I would of never imagined someone would have about all of the things that occur here on this Earth. "Ishmael" is a down to earth book that can let you realize just how important every living creature in this Earth really is, and that it has nothing to do whether the living thing can speak or not. This novel will make you think twice about doubting an animal's intelligence the next time you may be wondering about an animal's real feelings. I do recommend this novel to any person, especially to those who ever wonder if animals really do have feelings even though they can not speak to us. It will make you think twice about killing what someone may call, "An ugly insignificant insect or animal". It will make you really think about the beginning and the ending of this Earth. It will make you think about what the real meaning of being on this Earth is really about.
"Ishmael" is a novel that I will never forget about because it has really made me value almost every living thing on this Earth even more then what how I did before reading it. The animals that live here have a special meaning to me now. "Ishmael" is a "must hurry up and go read" book that I hope those that are doubting about reading will go and read the book soon. I believe they will enjoy it as much as I did because reading the book is really a neat experience. It will challenge you to think about your believe on how this Earth really came to be and its' causes. Whether you are convinced of a special way this Earth began, reading "Ishamael" can even make you change your point of view because of all the explained details and reasons that Ishmael has to offer to the student in this mysterious novel. It will take you on a journey that you have never been on before!
Rating:
Summary: Darwinism
Review: The book will cause you take a probative look into all that we have learned about our "civilized" culture and that of "primative" third world bretherin. The only problem that I had with the book was that it didn't go too far. The narrator of the book offered little resistance to Ishmael's thoughts. Here is a gorilla basically telling you of the evilness of your ways and all you say in turn is yes I see. Or, when Ishmael stumps the guy, Ishmael says think harder and then the guy instantaniously gets it. That aspect made the dialouge a bit unrealistic. But in terms of the depth of knowledge and ability to make the reader think, the bookn is incredible. A definite must read.
Rating:
Summary: Food for Thought - neither more nor less than we need
Review: The premise seems crazy, if inventive. This "dialogue" between a man and a gorilla turns out to be an exercise in critical thinking (good, therefore, for everyone!) Ishmael invites the reader to question the very underpinnings of "modern" culture. I don't know about you, but I find that to be a very worthy enterprise. We do seem to be driving ourselves to extinction - maybe Ishmael has something to teach all of us.
Rating:
Summary: Teacher...teacher...I know
Review: "Student wanted. Must have an earnest desire to change the world." Now, who wouldn't answer an ad like that? Most everyone wouldn't but a few did. One person in particular answered such an ad and found their life recreated in a sense. They found the answers they were looking for and a few more questions to add to the ones they started off with. The big kicker is that the teacher is a gorilla. A gorilla named Ishmael. Now I know what you are thinking, I just gave away the big surprise of the book, but that's just one of the interesting aspects of this book. This is one of those books that you may want to read where there is nothing to throw. Even though Daniel Quinn makes very valid points throughout his book there are many people that would argue with much he has to say. So if there is so much to disagree with then why continue on with the book? That's Quinn's style, he compels you to read on. Reading this book brings on so many emotions for many readers but he makes you think, and that's what gets you to the end of the book. It would be much easier to dispute his findings and toss the book aside, but no you can't do that he has you in his clutches. You want to read on so you can find fault in what he says. The accuracies in the history are surprisingly accurate. In a book so involved in saving the world you wouldn't think there would be much room for a relationship to develop, but teacher and student create a certain understanding with each other. They find that they can understand each other on different levels. In the end the student not only sees how he can save the world but how he can arrive at his teachers level with the last thing Ishmael taught him. "What you do is teach a hundred what I've taught you, & inspire each of them to teach a hundred. That's how it's always done."
Rating:
Summary: Maybe not an adventure, but quite a journey...
Review: For all of the people who are unwilling to face the fact that our planet is in trouble, Ishmael acts as the sympathetic parent that will hold your hand all through the destruction of what you thought was reality. Though I doubt that many people will come to any sort of life-changing epiphany just through reading this book. The material covered is not difficult. We have all heard it before. What makes this an important book is that through the time-proven format of the Socratic dialogue we are presented with a plethora of information in just such an arrangement that it is effortlessly absorbed into the deeper levels of the consciousness. Ishmael will not likely change the world, but the thoughts that are stirred within the mind of the observant reader will help us as a society come a little closer to the answers that we seek. Strictly from a literary perspective, Ishmael is well written. While certainly not the most masterful novel I have read, Quinn's style is light and conversational throughout. Thereby allowing any level of reader the ability to enjoy the story, and hopefully gleam at least the basic truths presented. Though I realize that some, through a brilliant stroke of egoism, will feel that this book was an insult to their intelligence. If you spent your time while reading the book looking for facts and feeling insulted, I can safely say the book went over your head. Sure the book could have been more researched, could have provided more pertinent facts and sources pertaining to the destruction of the world around us. But this would have been even more of an insult, for that type of information is easily found on the front page of almost any newspaper you happen to pick up. This book is about making us aware that we are in a cage of our own creation, and that cage is sinking fast. There are few books today that will offer such a clear and concise portrait of our planets current state of affairs. There is little new information, but the presentation of these well worn facts will leave the reader with a greater awareness of the problems at hand, hopefully making it more difficult to revert to the socially acceptable state of denial that got us here. If you approach this book with an open mind and a willing heart, I guarantee that you will go out into the world with a slightly different perspective.
Rating:
Summary: Melancholy Monkey
Review: Ishmael is a gorilla. Those of you who thought he was the first son of Abraham and the start of the Arabic nations you are mistaken. Well not wholly mistaken; Ishmael was that person too, but in this book he is a large, hairy, telepathic gorilla. Wise to the world, he has a vision of what has happened and what should happen if the world is to survive man's onslaught of greed. Ishmael wants to share this with anyone willing to sit and learn from him.
The person who Ishmael finds is a young man eager to save the world. The two of them organize to become teacher and pupil. Grumpily, Ishmael takes his young apprentice through a cacophony of thoughts, meditations, and stories of history to come to the realization that man thinks he has been made to take and destroy. He says man is the cause and facilitator of all current day extinction. Even when man realizes his folly and tries to fix it, man screws it up even more. The fact that it takes Ishmael two hundred pages to get this point across is absurd.
I found it took me massive amounts of caffeine to get through this novel. Like a good meal cooked too long, Quinn takes good ideas and ruins them by over analyzing and over explaining. The author spells out his main points within the first few pages of the book. Therefore the reader should get the gist of Ishmael's message early.
I was also offended by Quinn's repeated attacks on the Christian faith and way of thinking. He misses the true message of the Bible and then attempts to use it as a history lesson. Each point is run into the ground endlessly leaving the reader either bored or suicidal by Quinn's constant attack on the majority of humankind through this constantly annoyed monkey.
Ishmael presents a good platform for thought and discussion. I think this would be a good book for high school students to read and discuss in a classroom setting. The questions posed by Ishmael should cause the reader to think about their role in society and what they are doing to preserve animals and nature.
Even with my disagreements and issues I have with this book I believe that it is a necessary read. We frequently need a reminder that the world is in need of care and animals are not an easily replenishable source. Ishmael's facts are suspect, but his conclusion isn't too far from the truth. Many people don't care if a lemur disappears or if an ape falls off the face of the planet. We need to care about our surrounding environment. Quinn reminds us this through Ishmael. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you have a lot of time and even more coffee. Its message is good; its means are boring.
Rating:
Summary: Take Flight or Crash
Review: I found reading Ishmael to be something like an airplane flight. While some see the greater significance of accomplishment and become obsessed with its mechanics and beauty, others tend to find a fully booked flight on a 727 last on their list of "things they'd want to be doing at the moment." During my flight through Ishmael I found a little of both. The narrative style in which Daniel Quinn writes is something as unique and fresh as an aerial view of the golden gate bridge; however, I'm not a particular follower of his body of thought which turned my view of a majestic scene into a forced fed documentary on the discovery channel. I would however, strongly recommend everyone to read this wonderfully written novel because it makes you wonder. Wonder what? Who knows. That all depends on how you look at human interaction with the planet and it's other inhabitants. Daniel Quinn is obviously outraged with the way mankind is squandering away it's natural resources and how we seem to think we "rule the world." I have often heard criticisms that he doesn't provide solutions for obvious problems, but then again, even if he had all the answers, who would listen. I personally believe that he does well to bring up issues that tend to get left on the back burner and forgotten by society. Throughout his body of works and collected thoughts, Mr. Quinn explains almost every universal problem pertaining to man and I must say again that I am not a follower of his ideas in particular, but Ishmael is an excellent book to make you think!
|
