Ishmael:A Novel
One of the most beloved and bestselling novels of spiritual adventure ever published, Ishmael has earned a passionate following. This special twenty-fifth anniversary edition features a new foreword and afterword by the author.
“A thoughtful, fearlessly low-key novel about the role of our species on the planet . . . laid out for us with an originality and a clarity that few would deny.”—The New York Times Book Review
Teacher Seeks Pupil.
Must have an earnest desire to save the world.
Apply in person.
It was just a three-line ad in the personals section, but it launched the adventure of a lifetime.
So begins an utterly unique and captivating novel. It is the story of a man who embarks on a highly provocative intellectual adventure with a gorilla—a journey of the mind and spirit that changes forever the way he sees the world and humankind’s place in it.
In Ishmael, which received the Turner Tomorrow Fellowship for the best work of fiction offering positive solutions to global problems, Daniel Quinn parses humanity’s origins and its relationship with nature, in search of an answer to this challenging question: How can we save the world from ourselves?
Explore Daniel Quinn’s spiritual Ishmael trilogy:
ISHMAEL • MY ISHMAEL • THE STORY OF B
Praise for Ishmael
“As suspenseful, inventive, and socially urgent as any fiction or nonfiction you are likely to read this or any other year.”—The Austin Chronicle
“Before we’re halfway through this slim book . . . we’re in [Daniel Quinn’s] grip, we want Ishmael to teach us how to save the planet from ourselves. We want to change our lives.”—The Washington Post
“Arthur Koestler, in an essay in which he wondered whether mankind would go the way of the dinosaur, formulated what he called the Dinosaur’s Prayer: ‘Lord, a little more time!’ Ishmael does its bit to answer that prayer and may just possibly have bought us all a little more time.”—Los Angeles Times
“A thoughtful, fearlessly low-key novel about the role of our species on the planet . . . laid out for us with an originality and a clarity that few would deny.”—The New York Times Book Review
Teacher Seeks Pupil.
Must have an earnest desire to save the world.
Apply in person.
It was just a three-line ad in the personals section, but it launched the adventure of a lifetime.
So begins an utterly unique and captivating novel. It is the story of a man who embarks on a highly provocative intellectual adventure with a gorilla—a journey of the mind and spirit that changes forever the way he sees the world and humankind’s place in it.
In Ishmael, which received the Turner Tomorrow Fellowship for the best work of fiction offering positive solutions to global problems, Daniel Quinn parses humanity’s origins and its relationship with nature, in search of an answer to this challenging question: How can we save the world from ourselves?
Explore Daniel Quinn’s spiritual Ishmael trilogy:
ISHMAEL • MY ISHMAEL • THE STORY OF B
Praise for Ishmael
“As suspenseful, inventive, and socially urgent as any fiction or nonfiction you are likely to read this or any other year.”—The Austin Chronicle
“Before we’re halfway through this slim book . . . we’re in [Daniel Quinn’s] grip, we want Ishmael to teach us how to save the planet from ourselves. We want to change our lives.”—The Washington Post
“Arthur Koestler, in an essay in which he wondered whether mankind would go the way of the dinosaur, formulated what he called the Dinosaur’s Prayer: ‘Lord, a little more time!’ Ishmael does its bit to answer that prayer and may just possibly have bought us all a little more time.”—Los Angeles Times
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Community Reviews
slow, repetitive and not visually enriching. I detested the book (we all have our own opinions) Maybe when it was written, people were more 'takers' but seriously, if anyone has done lots of deep inner work, don't bother. You will just get frustrated. (just my opinion. I know our book club seemed to really like it like it was the 'second coming!'
incredible read. I agree with the reviewer that said there are the books I've read before Ishmael and books I've read after... the wisdom conveyed in this book is so crucial especially for the modern Western world that has such a blind spot to why the biggest issues in the world today exist. I love that Ishmael was chosen to be a gorilla. The ending left me in tears... partially because I was so sad to part with the book.. and the conversations with Ishmael.
Liked across the book club, getting a 32.5 out of a possible 40. Very thought provoking but inevitably frustrating as the actions it champions are still yet to take shape 25 years later.
the message of the story is amazing, hard to read, harder to believe... but enjoyed it's intentions.
"Ishmael" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that challenges us to re-examine our relationship with the world around us. The novel centres around a philosophical conversation between a man and a gorilla named Ishmael, who questions the notion that humans are the only intelligent beings on the planet.
Through his teachings, Ishmael invites the reader to take a broader view of humanity's place in the natural world and rethink the relationship between humans and nature. The book is full of thought-provoking ideas and highlights the impact that humans have on our environment, and the consequences that come with our choices.
Overall, the message in "Ishmael" is compelling, and the style of the book is engaging. It's an eye-opener for anyone who has ever questioned our society's impact on the ecosystem. It provides insightful philosophical concepts that help readers understand the importance of responsible behaviour towards our planet.
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