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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
I was assigned this book in a college course, and I LOVED it. It deals with the state of the world, our unsustainable ways and culture, but in a fictional setting with a talking gorilla. I recommend this book to everyone!!!
In this simple narrative, Quinn sets off to explain how things came to be this way. There are some interesting ideas here about we Takers (as Ishmael calls us) got to this point and how history and nature has demonstrated that the path we're on can't proceed indefinitely without severe harm being done to the world and ourselves.
I think the central idea I take away from this book is that we should be more mindful of the harm we're causing our environment and other species just so we can have modern day conveniences.
I think the central idea I take away from this book is that we should be more mindful of the harm we're causing our environment and other species just so we can have modern day conveniences.
My favorite book. I don't know how many times I have read it! I think I need to read it again!
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i forgot to review this which could possibly be a testament to how infuriating this reading experience has been for me and how gladly i was to get over it. i appreciate this idea (and some of them i keep thinking about such the plane falling analogy) but the execution was almost specifically designed to make me lose my mind. the way that the book talks down to its reader (who is obviously identified with the main character) is nothing short of disdainful to the point it feels like it hates people who do not know everything (or even just the same things as the author). i do not know why i've hated reading this so bad, but when chapters are barely two pages long and the reading experience is very swift, a whole page being dedicated to the main character expressing either caricature level dumb ideas or just not knowing or refusing to learn IS VERY OBVIOUS. IT ADDS UP. let me say that i looked daniel quinn's blog up and i've read more of his writing and it's actually very good! he seems like a great dude trying to make an impact. however, ishmael reads as baby's first concepts of theory, but if the baby wasn't even born yet and was a contradictory dumb loser. i understand this is meant to be maybe relatable OR show how to approach introducing ideas to unwilling parties, but it did Not work for me.
p.s. loved the plot with the gorilla though, outside of the theory. really sweet and fun.
p.s. loved the plot with the gorilla though, outside of the theory. really sweet and fun.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I'm not sure if I necessarily agree with everything in here, but this really does make you think of our history as a species in a different way... think everybody should read this at one point whether or not they end up agreeing with the points it makes
I read this twice; once a long time ago and then for book club.
The phrase “Call me Ismael” comes to mind when I think of this book, not because of any similarities between the stories, but because of the power of that statement. It is a statement made by a sentient being, one with an awareness of self and of one’s place in the world. Ishmael, the philosophizing, telepathically communicating gorilla, takes center stage in this story with his wisdom and his ability to reveal the parallel stories of the Leavers and the Takers who make up our world. Reading this book is a thought-provoking, eye-opening experience. He leaves us with the conundrum: “WITH MAN GONE, WILL THERE BE HOPE FOR GORILLA?” and “WITH GORILLA GONE, WILL THERE BE HOPE FOR MAN?” A very good question indeed.
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The entire book is built upon faulty premises. It is presented in a manner insulting to anybody with even slightly above average intelligence. I agree that mankind is going to have to be pretty creative to fix the mess we've made, but I don't agree with Quinn's incredibly pessimistic conclusions about early human history, or his blown up interpretation of a few chapters in Genesis. I'm not even a religious person, but I think Quinn was reaching pretty far on those ones.