Daniel QuinnIshmaelMonika says:
We all see the world with our own eyes and as we all know everybody's point of view is a little different - it all depends on our perspective. Daniel Quinn casts a very special eye on the history of mankind. Ishmael is a gorilla, an especially wise one who made his mark in life. He became a teacher and discusses the fate of humanity with his last (human) student. The result is a very entertaining book that in passing provides a lot of food for thought. It's not easy for a gorilla to live among humans. After all you can't just take up any kind of work to earn your daily bread - or bananas. You need a patron who gives you some kind of protection. Ishmael found one when he was young who taught him everything he knows. Now his patron is dead. His daughter is willing to take his place, but gets pressure from her family. She rents an apartment for Ishmael while he tries to find students to contribute to his livelihood. Teacher and students meet regularly and discuss everything under the sun. And Ishmael has a lot to say that never ceases to amaze and confuse his students. He divides humans in two categories he calls "Takers" and "Leavers" who correspond roughly with what we call "civilised world" and "developing countries". To explain this division he goes back to the beginnings of agriculture, when the foundation for our present day civilization was laid. It's no secret that the attempts to subdue the Earth weren't all that civilized. But most people aren't aware of the effect this process can have on an outsider. It takes a gorilla to point our attention towards all the little oddities we like to take for granted. A book for people who always doubted that man is the crown of creation. Or recommended reading for those who still believe that we are the top and nothing can possibly come after us. |
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Copyright 1999 Christina Gross & Monika Hübner |
