Ishmael by Daniel Quinn is a novel about a man seeking knowledge of human fallacies andhow to save the world. It is about teacher who is a gorilla named Ishmael who has studied human nature for much of his life. Ishmael teaches the man about the two human cultures, the Takers and the Leavers. It gave a lot of insight into human nature and why Takers feel the need to conquer the land. The manner in which Quinn portrays his ideas through question and answer relation instigates self and social analysis. It bashes our culture which is a uncomfortable but necessary. Te reader is involved in the learning process. The format is tiring after awhile, and the book lascks plot. The realizations about everyday life make the book worthwhile and a very good read.