Summary Of Ishmael An Adventure Of The Mind And Spirit By Daniel Quinn

The novel “Ishmael An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit” by Daniel Quinn explores the problems of society, culture, and the world. Humans are thriving in the world currently: we have developed language, mastered fire, and have dominion over agriculture. But while doing this humans have caused many massive problems, and are continuing to do so. Humans have great power over the world but do not fully understand the consequences. If we do not stop destroying the earth and environment, then humans will not survive. We have chosen to believe we are the center of the universe, exempt ourselves from the rules of competition, and chosen a short life of glory, “Ishmael” explains these choices and can guide us on how we should live and continue our

This however is not true, animals are still evolving and may or already have become more complex than the human species. “Ishmael” uses a metaphor to represent this, when an anthropologist asks a jellyfish what his creation myth is the jellyfishes climax of the myth was “but finally the jellyfish appeared!” (Quinn 56). Ishmael uses this story to explain that the world was not made for humans, it doesn’t revolve around human existence. The human species will come and go just like every other animal on earth. Many use religion to answer this question but I think that we not the most complex in the universe, we have not explored all of the universe therefore it would we foolish of us to decide that the world was made from us when we have no solid evidence. In the future humans need to understand this idea and get a different perspective of life because without it we will keep mindlessly destroying the environment which we think is

“Ishmael” references the “Takers” as the people of the narrators culture or the culture of the United States of America. Humans of all other culture are called “Leavers”. Takers partake in a society without questioning its origins whereas Leavers are those who choose not to see themselves as the center of the universe. In the novel they discuss the idea the man has two choices “ A brief life of glory or a long life in obscurity” (Quinn 75). The “Takers” in society choose a brief life of glory because it is described as “man’s destiny”. I disagree with this idea, I think that for human survival it is vital to choose a long life in obscurity. Instead of trying to control everything and have a glorious life we need to return to our original way of life. Some people say that it is man’s destiny and it is the price of being born human. But if man continues to “fulfill his destiny” he will only further ruin the environment. I think that we the takers should try to become more like leavers and see ourselves as equal to the rest of