Book Review: Ishmael

Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn. Published by Bantam Books, 1992. ISBN: 0-553-37540-7.

This book came to me by way of a house guest who left it behind. I finally decided to pick it up and read it. I am so glad I did! The story is written in the first person and, like The Celestine Prophecy, we never learn the main character's name or gender. The main character sees an ad in a paper that says: "Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person." Pessimistic yet intrigued, the character shows up at the address in the ad and begins a journey toward understanding "how things came to be this way". The teacher leads the pupil through discussions of human history, Mother Culture, and a bit of theology, until the pupil learns the answer to "how things came to be this way" and is able to envision an alternative future for planet Earth.

With the current conversations around Global Warming, the destruction of the rainforests and war, this book is a great resource for finding a language that most people can relate to. It is a serious discussion of the state of the world that includes humor and a path to understanding "how things came to be this way." It is an easy and quick read. I highly recommend it!