Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit

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Summary: Illuminating
Review: I finally understand the beginning of the Bible, up through Cain and Abel. Hackneyed as it may be, "must read" is the only way to describe this book. Quinn's writing makes enjoyable a book-length abstract philosophical discussion that could easily have devolved into a verbal bludgeon or sedative in the hands of a lesser talent. Doug Franklin

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Summary: Excellent Look at How We View Our Planet
Review: Daniel Quinn points out a great many silly beliefs we (humans) espouse. For example, the belief that humans are so wonderful that evolution must have stopped with us. Therefore, we have the right to use up the planet. Pretty ridiculous when you put it that way -- and Mr. Quinn does. A great line from the book: "And then there were jelly fish!" runs through my mind at the oddest times. Read the book and you'll think it too! He gets a little bogged down at times and the main character seems extremely dense. (Frankly, I don't see how Ishmael put up with him) but overall a wonderful, thought-provoking story

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Summary: made me feel better about Cain & Abel story
Review: A different approach to some of those age old questions...thought provoking and fun-highly recomended

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Summary: May be the most important novel ever written
Review: Can we really save the world by learning from a gorilla? Find out how we got into this mess and what we can do to get out. Follow our mentor, Ishmael, the gorilla, into our past, 10,000 years ago, to find the roots of our disfunctioal society. Find out what happened to our reverence for the earth. Maybe, just maybe, you will be able to find a way to save the world. A must read for anyone who might think that maybe something is wrong with the way humans live on earth

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Summary: Everyone That Has Read This Book Agrees Upon It's Importance
Review: Imagine reading a dialogue between a man and an ape! Sounds ludicrous, right? Well it's not. It's down right enlightened. Much like King Lear's fool, Ishmael, the telepathic ape, is a great philosopher (in the original sense- a lover of wisdom). It is a humbling experience to read this book. Ishmael explains to us the history of our culture myths or stories. These stories are the lies our culture teaches us which simplify our lives. Yet the lies we now live are misguided and dangerous. We must replace them, or our future will be in a perilous situation. Or so argues the wise ape. Whether you agree with the final conclusion of the book, or not, it does raise the right questions we must discuss. Quinn opened the dialogue; now we must continue it. By doing so we will gain strength in taking choices as a culture.

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Summary: Ishmael teaches vital truths & shows common "truths" false.
Review: Ishmael is not merely the type of novel that forever changes the way you look at life--it demands action. After reading this book, you can't just go back to living and thinking the way you did before. You realize that Quinn has shown you things that you have realized before, but he ties all these things together under one great truth--namely, that we are trying to avoid the rules of nature, but in so doing, we can only insure that we are eliminated as a species. To think that this is merely more of the same environmentalist "propoganda" is a profound mistake--Quinn is extremely knowledgeable on such subjects as agriculture, biology, religion, history, etc. He explains how our culture has lied to us about the truths behind each of these topics, and points to the real truth which underlies each of them.

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Summary: Ishmael shows us the subtle culture we don't know we have
Review: Daniel Quinn and Ishmael leave an impact on the reader long after one puts down the book. While reading this novel, it is hard to put it down, because you want to learn more. Teaching us about Man and his history, we see that "our" branch of humans has gone astray. Ishmael forces the reader to think: about what being human means, about the human history we have been taught, and about Man's relationship with the rest of the world. Through reading this book, one can realize what the problem is, and perhaps realize how to solve it

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Summary: Taker or Leaver, the future doesn't belong to you alone .
Review: First recommended by Oprah on one of her shows, "Ishmael" has impressed upon me the importance of leaving this world in the same or better condition than when I arrived. The Takers are sure that the world is here for humans...the Leavers know better. This book should be included in every High School curriculum, it is that important.

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Summary: Ishmael describes the life 'trap' we created! Let's escape!
Review: Only a true connossier of life can sit back and, in a very 'down-to earth' matter-of-FACT manner, describe that the way mankind lives and has been living is *very* wrong. This is NOT one of those boring self-help books, nor is it another 'pollution' 'global-warming' 'take-action' type non-fiction novels. It is an EXTREMELY well written book that shows us how brainwashed in our way of thinking we are... and wakes us up to the fact that all along we have been living a myth. Ever have a gorilla pick your brain? Ishmael can and will in this highly suggested reading ... and SO MUCH more! It's factual, comical, easy to read and, in my opinion, one of the best books ever written!

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Summary: FASCINATING ! - - Easy to Read - - LIFE CHANGING !
Review: A magnificent story by an inspired writer. If you've ever wondered whether a few fundamental truths could be at the core of all society's ills R E A D - T H I S - B O O K !!! You'll be surprised and disturbed by the obvious solutions, and you'll never be the same..... unless of course you're afraid to see the truth and you've got your mind completely shut...