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Summary: Ishmael is the most important book I have ever read.
Review: For years I have been active in feminism, animal rights, environmentalism, and many other social justice issues. I understand just how messed up this world is and want to change it as much as possible, but with a lack of insight into the roots of 'the big problem', I felt like my efforts were perhaps misguided. Ishmael not only helped me to understand the source of 'the big problem', but what I can do about it.
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Summary: Read this book! Right now!
Review: The book begins when the narrater find an ad in the Personals reading: "TEACHER SEEKS PUPIL. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person." The narrater responds to the add, thinking to discredit a charlatan, and finds instead an unlikely (or perhaps not-so-unlikely) teacher who proceeds to teach him HOW THINGS CAME TO BE THIS WAY. While the book follows the conversations of two fictional characters, these conversations could be transposed onto any two people on the planet and be no less truthful. Toxic pollution, global warming, species extinction--Daniel Quinn, through the teacher Ishmael, explains why our culture (and our culture only, not all of humanity) has played a role in creating the present environmental crisis. The explanation hides so well in plain sight (it's all around us, but it's hard to recognize) that when it's finally revealed, we at once say, "Well, of course!" and then leap to our feet while striking our brows and crying, "My God! This is incredible!" The group of people who read this book should be composed not only of environmental engineers or naturalists or ecologists, but also of truck drivers, potters, bricklayers, computer programmers, English teachers...For the message of Ishmael must be heard by all if there is to hope for the life that presently exists on this Earth.
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Summary: This book should be mandatory reading in high school english
Review: I think this book should be read in high school english class. After a few classes graduate with the Ishmeal's viewpoint in the back of theirs heads, I think the world will begin to be a lot better of a place.
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Summary: a book that really does change the reader
Review: as a sixth grade teacher for 28 years i have seen apathy raise its ugly head until it is looking me in the eyeballs. last spring i used ishmael with a group of the more motivated students and the results were astounding. they loved the book and wrestled diligently with the concepts taught by ishmael. the rest of the class tuned into every discussion this group had and were also entranced. quinn is careful to give no single answer to the dilemmas we have brought onto ourselves. giving young people the idea that this is their world too, and that their ideas are important in solving our problems empowers them and gives them a head start in life. i can think of no other book as important for young people to read. even if they do not agree with ishmael's (quinn's) take on how we got to this point culturally, they will learn to question and realize that there is more than one way to live.
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Summary: Maybe the most important book you'll ever read!
Review: Ishmael is a 1,000lb gorilla who teaches us what it means to be human. A lesson we must learn if we hope to avoid mass extinction from environmental devastation.Ishmael reminds us that humans have been around for 1 million years, yet our cultural mythology teaches us that only the past 5,000 years matter, while the other 995,000 years are irrelevent. This is the type of book that can shatter your world view. Although it is fictional, the framework is based on our knowledge of ecology, early humans, biology, history and religion. Ishmael puts forth revolutionary ideas about sustainablity, ecology and being human. Quinn's subsequent and related books: The Story of B, and My Ishmael are also excellent books for readers interested in how we might get out of the ecological mess that our culture is creating. I highly recommend this book to anyone.
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Summary: A Good Book For Those Without Religion
Review: In short, this book goes on and on and ON about everything that I have learned immoral in my life. The people who love this book tend to have an open mind about our creation.
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Summary: nicely written, but might be another dead revolution
Review: Although the book addresses the problems at hand, we are still a conformist, profit driven, and short sighted culture. The cures require the minds of open minded environmentalists. There seems to be no foundation in our world for these ideas, as the gorilla explained in the story of the lion who couldn't find the door and searched in frustration until giving up. I'm not anti-agriculture, but i do think overpopulation is a problem still.
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Summary: a frightening, much-needed awakening
Review: Never before have I been so moved and grateful. The words of Daniel Quinn are exactly what the spiritual seekers are in need of. At 19, I've already spent several years in search of the deep meaning of things and how society has come to be as it is. Finally, I've found something that makes complete sense. It's a book you'll read again and again.
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Summary: Important, if not beautifully crafted
Review: This is the story of a gorilla who teaches us how to save the world. It's an extremely important text for understanding how the stories we create in our culture allow us to rationalize our ecologically destructive way of life. Ishmael says that according to our "Taker" way of looking at the world, the world was created for us, and accordingly, we can (and should) do with it as we please. Quinn very convincingly tells us how this logic is flawed, and he offers an optimistic view of how we can reverse this trend. Although the novel, such as it is, offers little in the way of plot, setting, or character development, and although it waxes self-righteous and smug, the message is an essential one, one that must be heard. It is true that our culture is on a self-destructive path, and Ishmael offers us a new path to follow. Follow the baboon, I say!
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Summary: Many good ideas, but next time skip the lousy dialogue
Review: "Ishmael" is filled with challenging and potentially life-changing ideas. What bothered me was that the characters and plot were not very well fleshed-out. I would have preferred it if this book had been written in an essay form, as the conversations between Ishmael and his nameless pupil hinder the progress of the book. Half of the time, we understand where Ishmael is going with his line of thought pages before the pupil does, causing Ishmael's points to be repeated over and over after we already understand them. Much of the dialogue consists of the pupil simply agreeing with Ishmael. "Yes." "I see." "Yes, I understand." It gets a little distracting. Nonetheless, I recommend that you read this book in order to gain a fresh perspective on the natural order of our world.
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