Ishmael
by Daniel Quinn · first published 1992
74% recommend23% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Philosophical novel that questions assumptions about civilization, agriculture and human progress by viewing humanity from an outsider's perspective; suits readers who want a thought-provoking, clearly argued challenge.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. This book changed my life. I read this book when I was maybe 17? And read it again last year, a decade and a half later. The most powerful lesson I learned here is what anthropologists…
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗“Desert Solitaire” by Ed Abbey and “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn. Both are wildly different but explore the question of how different the other forms of life on this planet are from ours. “Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are?” By Franz…
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗Seriously Robert Anton Wilson's books changed the way I look at the world. I started with "Prometheus Rising" and followed that with "Quantum Psychology." Honestly the two best books I've ever read (Ishmael by Daniel Quinn is close).
on “English-Prime - English without "is"” ↗Ishmael by Daniel Quinn--a novel about the most basic of assumptions civilization makes about humanity's manifest destiny. Eye-opening.
on “Ask HN: Summer Reading Recommendations?” ↗Understanding Media - Marshall McLuhan The Book: on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are - Alan Watts The Limits to Growth - Donella Meadows Ishmael - Daniel Quinn
on “Ask HN: What books fundamentally changed the way you think about the world?” ↗…improvement The Phoenix Project The Four Hour Work Week - Tim Ferriss (ignore the outsourcing bit, listen to his podcast) Books on breaking out of your thought bubble. Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell Ishmael - David Quinn Books for understanding how sales works Ultimate Sales Machine - Chet Holmes Negotiate As If Your Life Depended on It - Chris Voss Any of these books are great starts. If the leadership…
on “Ask HN: Recommend one book I need to read this summer?” ↗Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Just a short conversation between a man and an ape that explains the unsustainable path our society has taken.
on “Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before?” ↗Four observations like this, and more, I suggest Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. It’s a phenomenal book about inspecting humanity from an outsider perspective
on “Human-monkey chimera embryos created in lab” ↗…are some books that have had the strongest residual effects (whether that's changing how I think, changing what I think about, changing my values, or simply getting the thought ball rolling faster): Ishmael (Daniel Quinn) 1984 (George Orwell) Brave New World (Aldous Huxley) Godel, Escher, Bach (Douglas Hofstadter) The Republic [imp. "the allegory of the cave"] (Plato) The Genealogy of Morals (Friedrich…
on “Ask HN: Which books do you consider real gems in your field of work/study?” ↗If you ever get the chance, I recommend the book Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn.
on “Craniopagus Twins Share a Brain and See Out of Each Others Eyes” ↗"Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn.
on “Ask HN: Books that teach you to think” ↗Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. Explains an ethical viewpoint in a very clear style. Changed the way I think about human progress.
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance The Fountainhead Ishmael by Daniel Quinn The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
on “What is the book that has completely changed your way of thinking?” ↗You should read the book "Ishmael" and see if it changes your view. http://www.amazon.com/Ishmael-Adventure-Spirit-Daniel-Quinn/...
on “Aerial footage of uncontacted Amazon tribe” ↗…about hunter gatherers I strongly recommend Elizabeth Marshall Thomas's The Harmless People and The Old Way. For an intersting philosphical treatment of hunter gatherers vs agricultural societies, see Ishmael by Daniel Quinn.
on “Defining Property” ↗