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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This book was assigned to me during my undergrad, and I kept it all these years, returning to read it now. At first I internally groaned, “philosophy; ugh.” However, as I continued to read I remembered why this held my 20-year-old interest and maintained my interest today. Ideas expressed hold greater significance today more than ever in terms of how man is negatively impacting the planet. The format of a conversation makes this philosophical plunge more palatable
What? A talking gorilla is the guru. Nope, sorry, that does not work for me. At all.
An interesting philosophical book. I liked and agreed with some points but I also found some of the supposed "truths" to fall a little flat. I think it is worth reading just to make you think about how we as humans think about the world but I don't think this seriously altered my viewpoints on anything.
Important ideas executed in a horribly dull, infuriatingly tedious way. I had to force myself to finish it. Terrible writing. Don’t read unless you take some pleasure in being talked down to for 300 pages.
I didn't like the structure and voice of the book. It came off as too pretentious for a heavily opinionated book.
I really didn't enjoy the style of this book. I found it really irritating to read...half the time I had no idea who was talking and it was incredibly preachy.
Not to mention, as a former teacher I thought Ishmael was perhaps the worst teacher known to man. I would have left after one day. The only reason why I didn't stop reading the book after one day was it was for book club.
Not to mention, as a former teacher I thought Ishmael was perhaps the worst teacher known to man. I would have left after one day. The only reason why I didn't stop reading the book after one day was it was for book club.
This still stands: Some dude has a conversation with a gorilla. That's it. That's the book.
Except is it really a conversation if the gorilla lectures the dude, and the dude just says things like "Yes, I see"? No. It's boring. There are some interesting ideas in the lecturing, but also there are lots of holes that are never explored because the dude just agrees with the gorilla at every turn.
And I'm left wondering at the end — if the gorilla's teachings are really supposed to save the world, as he claims, by convincing people to go back to the way humanity behaved for millions of years prior — how?? Have the dude lecture people one at a time the same way Ishmael did for him? Yeah, the human race will have died out before this could ever hope to be a success. Ishmael claims to have already had four "failed" students, but it's not clear WHY he "failed" at teaching them when he is "successful" at teaching narrator dude. Because they didn't think it would be possible to convince anyone of Ishmael's message? Because they knew this method had no hope of being realistic? Because they dared to disagree with him on some point or another?
Also, I read this idea once upon a time, but when people talk of "saving the world," they really mean saving our own skins, making sure the world won't catch fire on our watch. Except the world has been around long before we were, and will be here long after we are, so now that phrasing irks me. And I really am an optimist! I believe in recycling and avoiding war when possible and not polluting the oceans and producing less — but I am NOT a person that's like, meh if we just don't feed starving people then the world's population will control itself.
We needed a female character. One other than the "nurturing" "Mother Culture" (barfing emoji). Someone that would be willing to argue some of the finer points.
I have more thoughts regarding sacrilege, but I haven't figured out how to articulate them, so maybe I'll come back later. Or maybe I'll decide to put this out of my head entirely the moment after book club ends.
Except is it really a conversation if the gorilla lectures the dude, and the dude just says things like "Yes, I see"? No. It's boring. There are some interesting ideas in the lecturing, but also there are lots of holes that are never explored because the dude just agrees with the gorilla at every turn.
And I'm left wondering at the end — if the gorilla's teachings are really supposed to save the world, as he claims, by convincing people to go back to the way humanity behaved for millions of years prior — how?? Have the dude lecture people one at a time the same way Ishmael did for him? Yeah, the human race will have died out before this could ever hope to be a success. Ishmael claims to have already had four "failed" students, but it's not clear WHY he "failed" at teaching them when he is "successful" at teaching narrator dude. Because they didn't think it would be possible to convince anyone of Ishmael's message? Because they knew this method had no hope of being realistic? Because they dared to disagree with him on some point or another?
Also, I read this idea once upon a time, but when people talk of "saving the world," they really mean saving our own skins, making sure the world won't catch fire on our watch. Except the world has been around long before we were, and will be here long after we are, so now that phrasing irks me. And I really am an optimist! I believe in recycling and avoiding war when possible and not polluting the oceans and producing less — but I am NOT a person that's like, meh if we just don't feed starving people then the world's population will control itself.
We needed a female character. One other than the "nurturing" "Mother Culture" (barfing emoji). Someone that would be willing to argue some of the finer points.
I have more thoughts regarding sacrilege, but I haven't figured out how to articulate them, so maybe I'll come back later. Or maybe I'll decide to put this out of my head entirely the moment after book club ends.
Recommended by Andrea J.
* This book really challenged my thinking: “There is no one right way to live.”
* I would love for everyone to read this book so we could talk about it.
Check out www.ishmael.org to learn more.
V
* This book really challenged my thinking: “There is no one right way to live.”
* I would love for everyone to read this book so we could talk about it.
Check out www.ishmael.org to learn more.
V
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated