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Summary: Simple in the best possible way. A message for us all.
Review: I have read many of the reviews posted on this book. I would be the first to say that the story seems simple and avoids many important areas. However, this is the point. The message is that simple. He eliminates the literary snobs right from the start and uses this approach to tell a story that must be told. We should thank Mr. Quinn for taking the risk.
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Summary: It's everything I believe contained in a gorilla's head
Review: This is the most amazing book I've read in a long time. It's easy reading, and it presents some new ideas. Even if you don't agree with everything it has to say, you should still read it just for the experiance of hearing a gorilla tell you how to save the world.
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Summary: Quinn is masterful
Review: This book will open your eyes and you'll give it countless hours of thought after you read it. Everyone needs to read this book and seriously think about it.
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Summary: Really Fantastic!
Review: I read Ishmael when I was sixteen - its the time of life when you really think you can save the world! For a few days, while I read the book, I really was the eager student, and Ishmael was talking to me! Great book, but I have only one complaint - why is on the fiction shelf? It's real, isn't it? At any rate, this book was the beginning of my thinking process. Every since Ishmael, I haven't looked back. Its a book all young people ought to read, just to see a new persepective. This book isn't entertainment, its for thinkers. Quinn established "takers" and "leavers"; those who read and this book and those who don't will similarly become "thinkers" and "moochers"! This was excellent, hope he keeps it coming!
Rating: 
Summary: A logical view
Review: For what this book has done for me I would give it a 10, but as I read what others have written I feel compelled to give it a 1. The reason I give would normally give it a 10 is not because "It opened my eyes!" or "Finally, a book for 'thinkers'!" No, I would give give it a 10 because it forced me to extract the grievences I had with it onto paper. Ishmael is a book full of poor anologies and skewed logic where benefit comes from being able to view the various inconsistancies, rather than from enlightenment. The reason I rate it at a 1 is because it has closed off many of those who read it. Many of the 10's rage about how Ishmael has changed their way of thinking, which is not a bad thing. However, many use the key word forever, and those who've been truely enlightened know that real knowledge is always open to change. I apologize to any followers of Ishmael I may have offended, but hopefully in offending you I also have presented a few new ideas which you may ponder.
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Summary: Why not read a good book instead?
Review: I'm not going to say this book has no redeeming qualities. Underneath the faux-mystical "enlightenment" that's supposed to be going on here, there are some valid points: societies that rely on non-sustainable methods are non-sustainable (duh), and that this isn't a very compelling message (duh). The long, meandering, and usually boring path that we have to take to get to this message, and the program for saving the world offered once it is revealed, are both a waste of time. Anyone seriously interested in the topic of society and ecological collapse would be much better served reading a scholarly work or two on the topic. Anyone not seriously interested should probably just read some good fiction.
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Summary: Another door has been opened.......in my mind
Review: I received this book in the mail from a friend. I looked at the title, read the front cover, turned it over and read the back cover, opened the book and started to read. I looked up some time later and realized that I had already consumed 80 pages of the book. I was surprised. I couldn't wait to read more. I have read most of the reviews and have seen the ratings of each. I was not surprised with the "low numbers" of some reviews, that's what makes the world go-round, everyone has a different opinion. My opinion, for what it's worth to "me" is that I loved the book. If you want "entertainment," go to the movies. This book is for us "thinkers" stumbling around out here in the "taker" society wondering what to do with all of our thoughts. Wondering if anyone else out there felt the way we did. I feel like I've joined a "family" who understands what deep thought really is. I felt like I was the student and Ishmael (the twist of his being a gorilla was most enjoyable) was my teacher. I have always known certain profound things, atleast to me, but never had them explained like Ishmael did. After finishing the book (which I knew would inevitably happen), the first thought I had was, how wonderful it would be to have ten or more people, who had also read the book, join me in a deep discussion of their interpretation of it and how it had changed them, or changed their way of thinking, forever. I love those kinds of conversations, but it's hard to find someone else who does where I live. Open mindedness is a rare thing around here. I now have something bright, shiny and new to believe in. Something wonderful and enlightening. I felt lost, but I was found. I read books for the data and the input to feed my mind, not for entertainment as some do. I want to learn. This book is for those people who want to learn. This book teaches with intelligence, patience and a small amount of humor thrown in for those of us who still have one. If you don't have a sense of humor in this world, I'm afraid you won't last long. Keep'em coming Mr. Quinn. Are there any other authors like you out there? More "fuel" is needed for this mind. A healthy mind is one that gets fed regularly. I will never forget this book, it's thought provoking ideas or the way it has made me feel. I am not alone, never have been. Ishmael and all his followers were just waiting for me to join them. Some of the people who rated this book as 10, e-mail me, let's talk!
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Summary: This is an important book of monumental proportions
Review: I have just completed reading ISHMAEL and consider it one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. It is a very simple story, plainly written, and I think, very entertaining. Yet, it contains huge ideas and explores them in a superbly Socratic method. I have read the negative reviews here and find that in nearly every case, the persons were unable to get the depth of what was written. So, this book may not be for knee-jerk reactionaries. No one who can listen actively with an open mind may dismiss this book's amazing insights into the essence of (all) life on this planet.
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Summary: The writing may be average, but this is an Important book.
Review: I'll be the first to admit that Quinn's style is rather bland and predictable--but his message is important for the human race. Despite some of the other comments above, the logic is sound. People may tend to disagree with some of Quinn's claims, but the arguments themselves are flawless. Enviromentalists shouldn't read this book--people who disagree with enviromentalists should. Quinn offers a solution that most of us would rather not employ, a solution full of sacrifice. Read it.
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Summary: Not only thought-provoking, this book ranks as a favorite.
Review: The book "Ishmael" brought up many interesting points in a very creative way. It caused the reader to re-evalute one's role in society, as well as brought understanding to many different issues. "Ishmael" takes the reader along for the journey, as Ishmael, a gorilla, attempts to explain the complexities of society today. It was not only thought-provoking, but easily ranks as one of my favorite books.
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