Ishmael

TEACHER SEEKS PUPIL. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person.

I originally scheduled, for today, an "Optional Reading List" for Winter 2011, just as I had for Fall 2010. However, I've preempted it because, due to the kindness of a friend, I actually got the chance to read one of the books contained in the Winter list.

"Ishmael," by Daniel Quinn, consists almost exclusively of a dialogue between a human and a telepathic gorilla named Ishmael. The discussion posits an ongoing conflict between two groups of people, the takers and the leavers. Today's society is cast as the ever-expanding culture of the takers, so-called because we take more than is necessary to survive. This is not just American culture or European culture, but all cultures who participate in the agricultural revolution. Quinn makes an excellent point: the agricultural revolution was a seminal even in human history, and we're taught when it started, but did you ever think about when it ended?

The gorilla's name comes from Genesis, wherein the first son of Abraham, Ishmael, was cast out and remained wild and always in conflict with the people. This is apt, as our gorilla is a representative of the leavers, never taking more than is necessary to live. Taker culture casts leavers as wild and in need of education to raise them out of their wretched state, that is, the culture needs to be destroyed.

As the self-appointed judges of what should live and what should die, the takers have transformed the world into a massive food production processor. But at what cost? "Ishmael" explores the dangers of our present course. While I personally find dialogues difficult, this was a relatively easy read, its 260-some pages going down in just a couple hours. And it has hand-drawn maps. How could you go wrong with that? I recommend it, and I'm looking forward to discussing it with you!