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Ishmael (Ishmael, #1)

Questions About Ishmael (Ishmael, #1)

by Daniel Quinn

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Answered Questions (3)

I'm currently reading this book. What is the significance behind the name Ishmael? It is also the name of the narrator in Moby Dick (Call me Ishmael). Is this just a coincidence?
A I know this is late but in the start of the book, Ishmael's name was originally Goliath. Walter Sokolow (who saved Ishmael and also a Jewish man) came…m´Ç°ù±ðI know this is late but in the start of the book, Ishmael's name was originally Goliath. Walter Sokolow (who saved Ishmael and also a Jewish man) came across a painting of a gorilla named Goliath that seemed to be a "symbol for the Nazi giant that was then engaged in crushing the race of David". Once he realized that Ishmael was not a "bloodthirsty monster", he renamed him to Ishmael. Referring to the Bible, Ishmael was the firstborn son of Abraham, where his name translates to "God hears." At the start of Ishmael's life story, he talks about how he would question "why" while in the zoo because he felt as though he was "unjustly deprived of some inborn right." In a sense, God heard him and had him reborn as a whole person through the help of Walter. (less)
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I think we agree with the impracticality of the premise of the romanticism on practices of old? However, I didn't take this as the premise of the book (at least in its entirety). The book explores various areas of the modern society and its own very apparent hypocrisy, such as our "battle" against world hunger and poverty, which it draws very logical distinctions to its folly when we contend with population increases.
Saharra George His premise is very contradictory though. He talks about the privilege of the first world, but then insinuates that the developed nations feeding the …m´Ç°ù±ðHis premise is very contradictory though. He talks about the privilege of the first world, but then insinuates that the developed nations feeding the developing nations that have high birth rates should stop because it only encourages more population. Understandably he doesn't have Ishmael spend a lot of time on the idea of starving people out because its not a very nice idea. At any rate, it doesn't matter because its yet another fact Quinn has dead wrong - first world food production does not feed the developing world. To the contrary, countries in Europe are extremely reliant on food imports from other countries. (less)
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Recommended read?
Saharra George It's a didactic work, meaning its just the author preaching a lecture at the reader (through a gorilla). Quinn's entire thesis could easily be summari…m´Ç°ù±ðIt's a didactic work, meaning its just the author preaching a lecture at the reader (through a gorilla). Quinn's entire thesis could easily be summarized in 2000 words, so it ends up getting quite tedious, IMHO. Quinn's ideas are also based on a very superficial and sometimes incorrect understanding of history and ecology. (less)
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