Book: Ishmael

You may have noticed a trend in my blogs and its negativity...
Things annoy me, that should be obvious but this "novel" makes me angry!

Look it up! Everywhere you'll read how it changed peoples lives and that its a must read. I have friends who read on average 1 book every 2 years and went out of their way to get Ishmael. I was EXCITED to read it! I take the train into work every day so I get through plenty of books so when I heard of this book I couldn't wait to read.

Right at the beginning I noticed a style of writing that wasn't... good. It read more like a documentary with an added character in an attempt to put you in their shoes. Unfortunately he is a useless character, doing nothing but advancing the horrible story along with one word answers or useless banter.

The fable is about a monkey and his "conscience". He becomes aware and starts to communicate to the point of being a wise philosopher (all this within the first chapter or two). He then seeks pupil to spread his knowledge. That pupil is the 'yes man dunce' I previously eluded to. The monkey (Ishmael - a Gorilla) tell all about the failures of humans starting at agriculture, attacking specialization and settling. His overall theme is that humans are harming the planet to an extent that we'll kill ourselves. Okay, I can buy that but he details on how and why made me laugh at first, then angry when I though that people really took this book to heart! The notion that early agricultural humans deviated the earth? That the creation of specialist destroyed the earth? It did lead to civilization I can see the link but he start with the "Mother Culture" idea. That somehow we're all helpless and succumb to this culture and all, yes ALL cultures are harmful to the earth. So far, all made me laugh a little. How can he say that with conviction? There are plenty of peoples and cultures that live in harmony with nature. There are just too many of us / them. Then its gets stupid.

This guy, the pupil, the yes dunce, he is a supposed atheist (or was talking in the point of view that god was out of the picture, I cant remember) but he, by the lead of the monkey, come to the idea that mankind is the end all of evolution... Yes, I don't know how else to say it. I chuckle a little when I write it. No second guessing... Fact. He even went into a story about a jellyfish saying he was the end all of evolution, the supreme being. I'm sorry, if you're not religious and GOD didn't wave his magic wand, we're PART of evolution. Evolution doesn't end, its a process an infinite verb. Also, to tear apart the jellyfish story, if there was some organism that evolved from humans, monkeys, dolphins, whatever and had special ability, greater technology, whatever, people would recognize the step in evolution...

So, we're suppose to realize that humans all think they are the end all be all of evolution... You with me so far? Next is that humans are trying to create paradise (excuse me if I have the order wrong, its been a good month since I read most of the book. I couldn't finish it it was so bad).
The monkey stated that humans are fundamentally flawed, were stupid, short sighted and greedy. Sure, some of us are... With my general dislike of people I'd say maybe even most but how does that sum up our inability to create paradise? Maybe its conflicting views of paradise? Maybe? All the religious wars, economic wars. Nah, couldn't be that there are other views of what paradise is. Its because were stupid and greedy. Also, who said were looking for paradise? Obviously the monkey is talking about removing ourselves from nature, using and abusing nature. Personally my paradise IS nature. Its a lot of peoples paradise. How stupid is this monkey?

The next two items is what made me quit reading this book and when I became angry.
The monkey talks about how people have no idea that its nature is what sustains us. He says this like its the punch line to his whole theory! Its the gotcha! Really? Really?I didn't know that I need food to survive? whats food? Plants and animals... Air to breath? Air from plants? Maybe? I though my can of Spaghetti o's just appeared when I say "Computer, spaghetti o's" Freakin ridiculous. Then my favorite part... Humans live in deviance, conflict to the laws of nature. Oh yea? And animals do not, and that's what keeps them alive, FOREVER. I was like " You have got to be kidding" First, what do you mean by conflict? Birds flying? Is that conflict? I was unaware that we could break laws of nature... Use them, understand them to achieve something sure... But break or be in conflict? Huh? Also the notion that the species will continue forever if they live in harmony with the laws on nature... Okay, so forget the hungry animals, forget evolution creating something bigger and better... What did the Dinosaurs do? I suppose during the Ice age or any of the warming \ cooling of the planet did nothing to species that lived in harmony with the laws of nature. WTF? Stupid monkey.

It was okay in my mind. Here is an author who is writing out his arse. People can be stupid, I see them everyday. But how, HOW can people say "This will change your life". I still don't know if I'm angry or sad about that...