Ishmael by Dan Quinn - Learning From Literature

Ishmael by Dan Quinn is a fictional philosophical novel published in 1992.

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General Summary (No Spoilers!)

The novel begins in the early 1990s with a nameless protagonist reading a newspaper advertisement. The advertisement says, “Teacher seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person.”

Reflecting on his teenage years during the 1960s counterculture movement, the narrator recalls his former idealism and desire to change the world. Yet, in the present, he feels disillusioned, wondering how anything can be saved when a movement as powerful as that one ultimately failed to create lasting change. Driven by a need for answers, he decides to visit the address listed in the ad.

Upon arriving, he is greeted by an unexpected sight: a rented office with a live gorilla. A poster on the wall asks, “With man gone, will there be hope for gorilla?” The gorilla, introducing himself as Ishmael, communicates telepathically with the narrator. Initially shocked, the protagonist gradually comes to accept this strange encounter as Ishmael reveals his wisdom.

The rest of the novel unfolds primarily as a series of dialogues between the gorilla and the narrator, with Ishmael imparting his profound teachings. As the narrator listens and learns, he begins to find clarity about life and the world around him.

Background

The central portion of the novel is structured in the form of a Socratic dialogue between Ishmael and the narrator. Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, was known for his approach of asking probing questions rather than offering direct answers. His method encouraged participants to examine their beliefs and uncover the reasoning behind them, leading to self-discovery rather than passive learning. This approach is more effective because when a student uncovers the truth themselves, it becomes far more memorable and convincing than if it were simply taught.

In Ishmael, the gorilla uses this method to challenge the narrator’s understanding of the world. Ishmael argues that it’s impossible to change someone’s worldview by merely disproving their beliefs and replacing them with facts. Instead, a new “story” must be offered, one that provides a new perspective and allows the person to reframe their thinking. This is why Dan Quinn, the author of Ishmael, presents ideas often found in nonfiction philosophy through the lens of a fictional story, allowing readers to explore profound concepts in a more engaging and thought-provoking way.

Themes

Hidden Biases + Cultural Myths In Society

Through Socratic dialogue, Ishmael allows the narrator (and reader!) to ponder over the hidden biases and cultural myths, eventually exposing several widely-held beliefs of modern society

Ethics + Sustainability

Ideas such as human supremacy (anthropocentrism) can produce catastrophic consequences for humankind, including extinction. Ishmael proves we humans need to reevaluate our fundamental beliefs in order to create a future that is better for all

Imprisonment

Ishmael, though physically imprisoned, argues that society itself is trapped in an invisible prison. People are enslaved by invisible bars – obligations to work, family, materialism, etc. Ishmael believes his indifference to money, ambition, and dependencies gives him more freedom than most humans, who remain bound by these societal pressures.

Review

Many fiction novels are stories used to convey an underlying message about a subject. Quinn took it a step further from solely revealing ideas and actively introduced different interpretations of long-held beliefs.

Even though there is philosophical topics brought up, it is through the lens of a story which keeps it infinitely more engaging than reading some old philosopher’s book.

personal thoughts and recommendations

I really enjoyed Ishmael and will reread it in the future (probably multiple times). My favorite elements of the novel are the different interpretations of long-held beliefs and how the novel is framed as a Socratic conversation.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to view universal human experiences from a different perspective and is a supporter of environmentalism.

Sequels to the novel include The Story of B

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