The author then explores the Genesis origin stories of Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel. Only humans have taken exception to this rule, which suggests that any species can protect itself but cannot wipe out another species or food chain. One of those rules is that there is limited competition amongst all species.

The narrator and Ishmael also establish some rules that have allowed the world to survive for so long. Takers blame their problems on gods or something else external to themselves, but Ishmael believes that people only have themselves to blame because they’re enacting a destructive story against nature. The story that drives this belief is passed down through society by Mother Culture, who reinforces it in every aspect of life for Takers.

They point out that Takers believe they are at the top of evolution, which has led to catastrophic results for humans. Ishmael and his pupil discuss the differences between the Taker and Leaver stories. A culture is a group of people enacting stories together (41). A story is an interrelation between gods, man, and earth that can be enacted by humans through their daily lives in order to make it true.

The rest of humanity is called “leavers,” or uncivilized people. They’re also known as “civilized” because they’ve evolved from a simpler time when men were hunters and gatherers to more civilized times, such as now. “Takers” are the people who developed agriculture in the Neolithic Revolution. Before they start their discussion, Ishmael defines some terms: The narrator has similar feelings of being trapped, but can’t express them well. Ishmael learned how to communicate with people in zoos and aquariums, so he’s able to think like a human. The narrator claims that he has spent his whole life in a form of captivity, and now they are going to discuss what it means for humanity as well. The narrator and Ishmael then begin their dialogue about the topic of captivity. Impressed by this story, the narrator decides to keep working with Ishmael throughout the book. They learn about each other’s pasts – in which Ishmael was stolen from his mother at birth and put into captivity, then rescued by a Holocaust survivor who taught him how to speak English. Nevertheless, he responds to Ishmael’s ad for help and finds that the gorilla can communicate telepathically with him. He was a part of the counterculture movement in his youth and found it to be useless. Must have a desire to save the world.” The narrator goes to see the teacher and begins his adventures with Ishmael.Īt first, the narrator is angry because he thinks that helping Ishmael will be like saving the world. The narrator finds an ad in the newspaper that reads: “Teacher seeks pupil.

Ishmael book review