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Ishmael (Abridged): An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit Audiobook
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(3.00) - 39,176 listener ratings
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One of the most beloved and bestselling novels of spiritual adventure ever published, Ishmael has earned a passionate following among readers and critics alike. This special twenty-fifth anniversary edition features a new foreword and afterword by the author, as well as an excerpt from My Ishmael. TEACHER SEEKS PUPIL. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person. It was just a three-line ad in the personals section, but it launched the adventure of a lifetime. So begins an utterly unique and captivating novel. In Ishmael, which received the Turner Tomorrow Fellowship for the best work of fiction offering positive solutions to global problems, Daniel Quinn parses humanity’s origins and its relationship with nature, in search of an answer to this challenging question: How can we save the world from ourselves? Praise for Ishmael “As suspenseful, inventive, and socially urgent as any fiction or nonfiction you are likely to read this or any other year.”—The Austin Chronicle “Before we’re halfway through this slim book . . . we’re in [Daniel Quinn’s] grip, we want Ishmael to teach us how to save the planet from ourselves. We want to change our lives.”—The Washington Post “Arthur Koestler, in an essay in which he wondered whether mankind would go the way of the dinosaur, formulated what he called the Dinosaur’s Prayer: ‘Lord, a little more time!’ Ishmael does its bit to answer that prayer and may just possibly have bought us all a little more time.”—Los Angeles Times
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"A student asked me about this book last week, and it brought it up again for me. This was a favorite read of mine a few years ago. I recommended it to everyone I knew for awhile. It is not without flaws in logic, but this book made me really rethink some things that I thought were "F"acts in life."
— Cheri (4 out of 5 stars)
Ishmael Listener Reviews
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" A beautifully crafted philosophy book that reads like a novel, very thought provoking and, regardless of whether you agree with the ideas exposed or not, it makes you think more closely about the history of civilization as we know it. I can't recommend it enough. "
— Ignacio, 2/5/2014 -
" I think if you are of okay with the ideas revolving around the population bomb, this may be a book for you. Essentially this book is about a gorilla (Ishmael) teaching a human about how Mother Culture is destroying the world and that there are two kinds of beings that inhabit his world the leavers and the takers. There were some interesting explanations for some of the religious "myths" out there but overall I found this book boring and irksome especially since Quinn had the human play the role of lesser intelligence. "
— Jessica, 2/1/2014 -
" Everyone should read this book, life changing. "
— Ellen, 1/31/2014 -
" Interesting characters, espectially Ishmael. Interesting interpretation of anthropology, but some good points. "
— Johnrlbooks, 1/28/2014 -
" Essential reading for those of us who understand that one man's notion of perfection is another man's hell. "
— Janet, 1/15/2014 -
" I really think everyone should read this book. "
— Dayna, 1/14/2014 -
" I remember being impressed by the book and its format. That it was 'preachy' was of course but it accomplished its overall goal without much force or awkwardness. "
— Ginny, 1/13/2014 -
" Intersting book. Didn't want to put it down as a non-read, and yet at the same time I couldn't wait for it to be done with.Just finished it and am glad that I did, but I'm not usually into these kind of philosophical books. "
— Lori, 1/10/2014 -
" Two words about this book: utter hogwash "
— Hannah, 12/26/2013 -
" I dunno. "
— Sally, 12/17/2013 -
" Great book, like this much more than any of his others. "
— Megan, 12/12/2013 -
" A philosophical thought experiment that is reminiscent of both God's Debris and The Man from Earth. I have a strong feeling Yann Martel read this book while attempting to find inspiration for Beatrice and Virgil. "
— Anastasiya, 11/27/2013 -
" This is the most important book I have ever read. "
— Sapien, 11/26/2013 -
" Extremely thought provoking; thank you to Jon Leibowitz for recommending it to me! "
— Sahiti, 11/16/2013 -
" Fabulous, but perhaps I wasn't as emotionally invested in the main character because I'd already read the sequel, so I liked her better. "
— Shana, 10/17/2013 -
" Great book, nice ideas. The writing is not amazing but good enough. Reads a bit like it should be an essay at points. "
— Jeremy, 5/1/2013 -
" It's dry in a few places and seems somewhat ridiculous in the beginning but overall a very thought provoking book about our culture and all we have grown to learn as truth. You see our world from a whole new angle. "
— Soxfan3376, 4/17/2013 -
" Interesting, and easy to read. This offers to the average human a way to see where we're at and where we're going, but one wonders why Quinn didn't write a "real" analysis that would be useful for those who won't seek this particular way of knowing. "
— kp, 3/26/2013 -
" Very interesting ideas about humans and how we think about the environment. "
— Jonathan, 3/14/2013 -
" Condescending exestential monkeys are apparently not my favorite. Curse you book club for choosing this lemon. "
— Kysa, 12/13/2012 -
" Good book with great ideas which force you to examine history from a different perspective. The story narrative did feel kinda forced, though. "
— Charles, 8/30/2012 -
" I wouldn't say it was life altering but it definitely motivated some reflection. "
— Redsthread, 4/29/2012 -
" What in the holy fuck? Who new? Listen to the apes, they are our Eco-saviours. "
— Ian, 2/23/2012 -
" Well written, thought provoking. Meant a lot to me. "
— Rebecca, 7/1/2011 -
" Very thoughtful. Enjoyed this book a lot. "
— Kay, 6/30/2011 -
" I disagreed with pretty much every premise of this book. "
— Pablo, 6/29/2011 -
" AMAZING book and made me cry! True to life story full of exposing of myths of Christianity and Islam etc + warning human beings to take care of the planet which they call home... beautiful and rather sad story of the novel inter-woven into the warnings. "
— Ted, 6/23/2011 -
" Close the screen to your laptop and go read this book. Immediately. "
— Aren, 6/22/2011 -
" I may or may not agree with the message of this book, but I found the method of delivery exhausting to wade through. "
— Jcat66, 6/21/2011 -
" A gorilla who can mind meld with humans. Awesome. Can get a bit preachy (as gorillas tend to be..) but is worth the consideration. "
— Sarah, 6/18/2011 -
" Conflicted. Enjoyed reading this book. Do not agree with reviewers who describe it as the worst book ever written. Probably simplistic and contrived. But thought-provoking. "
— Michael, 6/14/2011 -
" Strange Story.. But interesting take on life. So Read it :) "
— Kristen, 6/12/2011 -
" Really hit or miss on the evo theory/anthro. Interesting premise and conclusions, though. "
— Laura, 6/12/2011 -
" Somewhat cheating here ..... got 2/3 of the way through and thought ....why?????? <br/> "
— Linda, 6/4/2011 -
" Nothing more can be said than that this book will change your life. "
— Sean, 6/2/2011 -
" I came across this book at precisely the right time, and I found it profoundly shaping. but then again, I was a teenager. "
— akanksha, 6/2/2011
About Anthony Heald
Anthony Heald, an Audie Award–winning narrator, has earned Tony nominations and an Obie Award for his theater work; appeared in television’s Law & Order, The X-Files, Miami Vice, and Boston Public; and starred as Dr. Frederick Chilton in the 1991 Oscar-winning film The Silence of the Lambs. He has also won numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narrations.