Required reading for the human species

There are Leavers, and there are Takers. Takers ought to read Ishmael.

Have you ever wondered why in over 30 years of looking, listening, and searching for intelligent life beyond Earth, we have not seen, heard, or found anything? Is it possible that intelligent (technological) life generally causes its own extinction? When a species destroys the basis of its own sustainability, it's only a matter of time before either the mentality of the culture changes, or the ecology that sustains it falls apart. We have the power to decide. Ishmael offers some clues for when and how the Taker, Mother Culture went wrong.

An Unusual Must-Read Book!

If you're searching for the next Tom Clancy, John Grisham, or NY Times Bestseller book, move on. Ishmael is not a book for readers who enjoy character development, intricate plotline, ups and downs, psychological development, family crises, legal battles, war, or any of the "bells and whistles" which come with modern-day commercial hardback and paperback books. Ishmael is clearly for the reader, whether avid or casual, who wants to read a book which will turn over, if not change and transform, one's way of thinking.

Simply put, Ishmael is a work of philosophy. Daniel Quinn, like many other philosophical writers before him, has used a conversational writing style to convey his argument, rather than a traditional narrative: like other "conversational" works like Plato's Symposium, this style has proven to be extremely useful in philosophical works, allowing the reader to associate characters with certain styles of thinking and allowing the reader some kind of basic organization of thought rather than rattling off a number of premises which can be confused or disassociated by the reader, leaving the reader quite confused or befuddled.

Ishmael is a subverting book, simply put - but not in a bad way. It subverts your way of thinking, and forces reevaluation. Like most philosophical works it is opinion, and in this case it is groundbreaking at that. It will force you to think, no matter if it changes your thinking style or not.

Ishmael is centered around a discussion of two characters: a man and a talking (telepathic) gorilla in a teacher-student relationship. Contrary to what most would expect, the man is not the teacher - the gorilla is. As fantastical as this may seem to some, the usage of a gorilla as the teacher is striking and forces one to read further and further into the book.

Quinn, speaking through Ishmael (the name of the Gorilla) uses a variety of sources: philosophy, history, religion, cultural anthropology, psychology, paleontology, and a plethora of other subjects to outline his argument. Society, Quinn argues, is divided into two species: the "takers" and the "leavers." More specifically, from our viewpoint, "civilized" and "savage." Quinn's argument, although much deeper than this short synopsis, entails a viewpoint which suggests that the ultimate goal for "civilized" life is liberation. Liberation from what? The "gods," as he puts them - only when man is completely able to control the environment - when he can force the tide to recede at his call and for it to rain when he wants it to - only then will he truly be "free." For this reason, Quinn maintains, the "takers" have separated themselves from the natural laws, whether it be the advent of agriculture and stockpiling of natural resources, the separation of "man and beast," or conquering nature, whether that be in the form of pollution, environmental control, or other. The justification for all of this, Quinn says, is because culture teaches us that we are the final step in the evolutionary process: that we are the "chosen people," if you will.

Ishmael is a radically thought-provoking book. Upon reading it, one is forced into re-adjusting his or her surroundings, re-evaluating his or her beliefs and practices, as well as reconsidering our position in the natural order as a species. It is remarkably forward-thinking, and as such may be offensive or too radical for some. I suggest that you give it a try, however, because it is a cathartic - it washes you inside and out, and forces you to re-evaluate and perhaps even justify your environmental, moral, ethical, and social conduct to yourself and your inner sense of morality. A truly amazing, unconventional amazing work -- but try it for yourself. Pick up a copy! Another book I need to recommend -- completely unrelated to Ishmael, but very much on my mind since I purchased a "used" copy off Amazon is "The Losers' Club: Complete Restored Edition," a much lighter, contrasting, highly entertaining novel I can't stop thinking about.

Student seeks disciple must have honest heart, pure mind...

I read this book in high school, on the admonition of a friend. Personally all I think of it is good writing. The story itself even has a point of just how doomed we are a society unless we work together as a society of 'takers' and whatever the other one was. Its more implied more than anything else.

The problem I have with this book. Is it reaks of fatalism and empirical meanderings, with overdoses of skepticism and faithelessness, he did better with the "Story of B". But not better, by that I mean its supposed to be a book to help humanity find the means within ourselves to conquer our own nature. Sure you could argue semantics that having Ishmael telepathically communicate this to another human is the metamysteries of the earth spirit, Gia, or even God. Though I can't stand the fact this book really is nothing more than uneducated guess into speculative territory about the eternal nature of reality. And man's purpose of part of it(reality) is not simply more than a disease, or infectious plague which atrophies the planet.

My reasonings behind what I have said are simple. It's just good reading. Is it absolutely politically correct doctrine? You better believe it! Does it serve a greater purpose no, in my own opinion I put Daniel Quinn and his hystronic writings in the same vain as that of David Icke. And David Icke is one sick and twisted individual who occasionally get someting close to the truth.

However if you want some real depth, and really want to learn something. Check out Kosta Danoas, its primary stuff to learn what us as human beings are actually capable of being, by becoming. Pick up the Barnes&Noble Kabbalah as secondary reference and you'll begin to believe. Balance all that out with a heavy dose of CS Lewis and follow the white rabbit down the rabbit hole to see what WE as hunmanity really are. Comprehend all the above, and yes you will be better than Ishmael. You will be a living reality as the way things are.

Teacher seeks student, must have honest heart, pure mind, clean hands, and the ability to know he's wrong even when he doesn't want to admit it. Apply in person, with all you heart to God...the rest will come to you.