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Ishmael  

post #1 of 15
12/26/01 at 3:27pm
Thread Starter 
Anyone out there read any of Daniel B. Quinn's books about Ishmael? Or The Story of B? I first read them a few years ago and am rereading My Ishmael and would love to "discuss" them with other readers. I had hoped my friends would do this with me, but none of them have been able to get interested in the books and finish them. I was grabbed immediately. What do you think?
post #2 of 15
12/26/01 at 8:36pm
I have not read them, nor do I know anything about them. What can you tell me? If they sound interesting, I'll go to the library and read them too How does that sound?
post #3 of 15
12/27/01 at 4:47pm
Ishmael and its sequels/ companions articulated and expanded on a lot of ideas and values that I already had, and it really inspired me. I've considered giving the book to others whom I want to be exposed to its content, but have always been afraid that they wouldn't devour it the way I did. Unfortunately your friends' experiences indicate that this might be the case.

The books talk about how humans evolved as social creatures in a completely different context than the one we live in now, and the society that most of us in agricultural societies have been living in is doomed to fail. The author tries to make it inspiring by pointing out the large number of other cultures we can learn from to avoid having to build a new world from scratch. I say "tried" because it's the type of monumental task that's virtually impossible to begin, and I must say that I'm at a loss as to how to use and implement these ideas. Any help out there?
post #4 of 15
12/27/01 at 10:01pm
Thread Starter 
It's so hard to explain what the books are about. If you're willing, try going to Ishmael.com, I think that will give you some idea of the ideas and philosophy tied to the books. It's interesting that you say the books reinforced many thoughts you already had, srain, because for me it was the opposite. The books completely turned my thinking on it's head but I didn't fight it at all, it all made sense to me immediately and resonated with me much more than what Mother Culture, as Ishmael calls it, has ever done.

Basically, Tripke, the story is that Ishmael is a very wise and articulate gorilla who is temporarily located in some small city in America and looking for "students" to whom he can pass on his knowledge of how humans came to be in the fix we are in today and how we can possibly get out of it. In Ishmael, the student is an adult man and receives certain information, and in My Ishmael, the student is a twelve year old girl who receives different info from Ishmael. It doesn't matter which book is read first; they are both fascinating as far as I'm concerned. They definitely challenge your most basic and deepest held beliefs about our world and culture and the community of life, and I think one reason so many people don't get into them right away is that it makes them feel uncomfortable, like looking at something you don't really want to look at. Just a guess. Let me know if you decide to read one.
post #5 of 15
12/28/01 at 1:49pm
oh, I LOVED Ismael!
Dh and I read it together several (well more like 5) years ago and it sparked such wonderful discussion!

I will see if I can find my (or another copy) and would love to reread and discuss!

I tried reading the Story of B afterwards and had trouble gettinginto it!
post #6 of 15
12/29/01 at 12:10am
Thread Starter 
Oh, it's music to my ears to hear you say you loved it! My dh hasn't read it and probably isn't going to, so I've been so frustrated by a lack of anyone to talk to about it. You're so lucky that he was interested. I'd love it if you wanted to reread it and discuss.

It took me a while too, to get into Story of B. In fact, I had it over a year before I went back to it and read the whole thing. It's worth it, similar type ideas but different enough that you don't feel you're reading something you've already been through. Let me know if you get hold of a copy and start to reread.
post #7 of 15
12/31/01 at 12:05am
I read Ishmael and absolutely loved it. DH did also. It's one of our favorite books! I also (breifly) met Daniel Quinn when I lived in TX. He seemed like a great guy.
Anyways, I've loaned the book to 3 friends and they all were very impressed w/ it as well!
post #8 of 15
12/31/01 at 4:10am
Reading it now and it totally jives with my feelings about over population. And from heresay My Ishmael totally jives with my feelings on education.

I love this book but it makes me angry when I look out into the world and I forget the Tao art of detachment that I try to cling to in order to stay sane.
post #9 of 15
1/11/02 at 5:35pm
We've read Ish, Story of B and My Ish multiple times at my house. We've lent copies out ... we've hosted salons on the subject ... DH has even explained it to passengers on the bus on his way to work!

If you haven't checked out these books, GET THEM. READ THEM. They are simpleeasyentertaining to read but will stretch your spirit and give you a whole new outlook on life.



A Friend of Ishmael
post #10 of 15
1/14/02 at 4:52pm

Absolutely!

Wholeheartedly agree with Baby Phat!!! DH and I recommend Ishmael, etc to anyone who might be the slightest bit interested. Not everyone actually reads them, and not everyone who reads them is affected by them the same way we were, but it never hurts to try.

We own several paperback copies just to lend out, as well as hardcover copies that are the focal point of our bookshelf...DH and I have read several books since Ishmael that have similiar ideas/outlooks on culture, but none seem to pull everything together as well as Daniel Quinn's books do.

It's been a while since I've read Ishmael. I'll put it next on my "to re-read" list. DH and I are always willing to discuss Quinn's books

FYI...In addition to Ishamel, The Story of B, and My Ishmael, Quinn has written Providence (sort of a autobiography/how Ishmael came to be) and After Dachau (a novel - very different from the others, but incorporating similiar ideas).

Jenoline (Another Friend of Ishmael)
post #11 of 15
1/15/02 at 12:54am

Ishmael & More

hi Jenoline's DH (lol) checking in here, since a topic so close to my spirit has come up :-)

I'd love to talk to anyone about it :-)

One other book that DQ wrote that should be on everyones list to read is called Beyond Civilization. People who read DQ's books often say that there great, but now what do I do?? DQ resisted ever telling people what to do...his main thought was to just keep spreading the word, and do what makes sense to you. Well, as you might expect, that didnt satisfy everyone. So eventually DQ wrote down his own idea of what you can do. Its an incredible book. I would recommend reading Ishmael, The Story of B, and My Ishmael first though, because he references all three in Beyond Civilization.
post #12 of 15
2/17/02 at 11:53pm
Thread Starter 
Finally getting back on the subject after several weeks. Thankyou, I've been wondering about DQ's other books. I've read both Ishmaels and The Story of B. So I'll put Beyond on the top of my to read list. Have you shared these books, esp Ishmael with kids? I'd love my son to read My Ishmael but I'm not sure, he's almost thirteen. Maybe I'll just leave it laying around.....
post #13 of 15
2/28/02 at 6:43pm
This is funny,

I was just thinking of posting a message regarind Quinn...
The name Quinn was first brought to my attention on the COntinuum Concept list by a few members. And I think that when some idea coms your way repeatedly, the person will should look into it.
Well.. lo and behold, one day I was in my mall and a book discount story (Coles' going out of business sale ) And there was Story of B by Quinn, harcover, for $3!! I grabbed it, thinking I'll read some day, I'm sure...
I began to read it that evening, just to peruse, you know.. get some idea as to the "feel" of the book.. I could not put it down.. After the book I was on a mad dash to find and purchase all or Quinn's books, I NEEDED his ideas... they so jived with my feelings of "there once was a better way to live.. it is still somewhere out there!!"

It made me realize what my suicidal ideas were all about when I was a teenager. I tried to explain to people, I didn't want to "die" I just wanted to leave this place, permanently and forever. I KNEW there had to be something different out there...

I have since purchased every single book Quinn has put out, in hardcover where possible (I believe a hardcover book is an investment...) I even purchased this cute little book about what life is like after you die, written by Quinn and his friend.. His friend had "died" and then come back and told Quinn about what he saw and what it was like.. the book, new, was $1. Cute...

Well.. there is my shpiel for the day... thanks for listening/reading...

Talk with you later,
K.
post #14 of 15
3/9/02 at 12:48am
So do you all visit the web site, too?
post #15 of 15
3/9/02 at 11:14am
I visit the site on a regular basis, about once or twice a month... Always hoping there'd be more information...

K.
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