Reading the novel Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Quinn has impacted my understanding of climate change and its causes. I believe the story narrated by Quinn is of nature and makes its case for eradicating humanity’s destruction of the planet. The arguments made by the gorilla have enabled me to understand that humankind should not be separated and categorized as superior to the rest of living organisms. A framework for building a sustainable society is offered based on the ideas presented in the conversations between Ishmael and the narrator. I came to understand that beings are the primary cause of environmental destruction. The exact population is further categorized within the world into two distinct groups, with one marginalizing the other. Those in total control of the societies belong to developed and modern countries. My understanding is that the myths about creation have played a more significant part in making man believe they were superior to the rest. I think the deeds of people cause all the environmental changes currently experienced.
The reading made me think of how the world was before everything got complicated. I imagine life in the forest, practicing hunting and gathering without necessarily taking the inhabitants captive. I think of changing the mythology that seems to guide man’s actions. In finding a long-lasting solution to the problem, finding the leading cause is vital. The only possible resolution I believe can be a success is introducing a new belief that will eradicate the old misleading thought among future generations. Apart from this, adopting specific initiatives and guidelines can be implemented; it will help prevent the dominance from getting witnessed. A sustainable development plan can be developed that all humans must follow. Common ones that I see fit include starting campaigns against cutting trees and the need to adopt renewable energy sources. Having a clear vision helps us understand the need to care for our surroundings, as we are not the last to live within. I think it is time to find possible mediums to help communicate the risks of climate change.
The book has entirely changed how I view myself and my family and our impact on environment. Quinn’s work directs toward understanding the effect man has had on nature. Behavioral change is the only solution that can effectively work, and that is why climate change currently occupies a central part of public health communication. Looking at what my family and I do, we have significantly impacted change in the surroundings. We usually strive to make the world a better place to live in as we are the caretakers. Our particular liking for nature facilitates the good existence between us and the other life forms on the planet. Civilization is critical in contributing toward the flourishing of life; we already embrace it, but that is not enough. For our contributions to be efficient, we must sail in the same boat. Our thoughts and those of other beings must be the same. I believe this is the future where humans must coexist peacefully with other life forms on earth.
My view on my current lifestyle has been refreshed upon reading the book. With the primary sources of environmental degradation being identified as the people, this has made me reflect on my habits. The small deeds we tend to do every single time have potential repercussions if not handled effectively. As stated before, I take a great liking to the environment. I struggle to ensure even my action does not deter that. Sometimes mistakes occur, but I usually strive to make necessary amendments, such as recycling and reusing certain products. Ishmael, in the novel, suggests to the narrator that the only possible way to facilitate change in people’s actions is to start with their minds. With this, I believe maintaining a positive thought on limiting pollution helps achieve the goal. Consumption patterns are usually influenced by urbanization and social values. The book has enabled me to view the potential consequences the products I consume might have on the environment. Most of them, when getting developed, result in greenhouse gas emissions.
The book’s information can draw parallels with my current lifestyle. Unlike the taker society, my living style can be compared to the leaver culture, which accepts life as it is without further contradictions. I have total respect for the globe and always ensure I do not contribute toward its pollution whenever possible. In the book, this can be seen among the leaver who follows the law of life. On the other hand, the takers are ignorant and fail to see how they are doomed to succumb. The book outlines man’s relationship with the environment and how the interactions have contributed to global issues. Quin narrates that personal beliefs and lifestyles must be altered to promote the survival of other living things apart from humans. From this angle, changing my lifestyle has an outstanding contribution toward sustainable development. The author further states that he blames the culture and not man. Concerning my living style, my consumption patterns are likely not to change as they are considered a way of life. I must eat, drink and dress even if the items contribute to environmental degradation.
Quinn’s book is crucial in providing readers with distinct perspectives of the man about the environmental challenges faced around the world and how they contribute to them. He states that modern culture has been the resultant cause of the problems. In the past, humans and the environment coexisted peacefully, but changes started to occur as time progressed. Key ideas are identified in the novel, which play an essential part in determining what influences the state of our world due to lifestyles and individuals’ thoughts. The book portrays reality as what is indicated occurs. As stated, the wealthy are believed to be the prominent members contributing to pollution. It is accurate as they possess the large firms and companies that engage in the production of items—the novel further provides remedies to eradicate emissions which need to start with a tribal revolution. The book is critical in creating climate change awareness and provides solutions to limiting the re-occurrence.
What surprised me in this philosophical novel is the ironical opposition between the motives and priorities of humans, who are generally considered the most intellectually developed creatures, and the gorilla, which probably symbolizes all other animals. Interestingly, people are those who have to be concerned with the dying nature and all the negative factors that will soon make our planet inappropriate for living. However, most humans are precisely concerned with developing new technologies, buying new iPhones, and depleting the Earth of its environmental and biological resources. They do not want to support the fight for saving nature because their objectives are more material and selfish, aimed at achieving world and universal domination. These humans are not interested in the fact that soon they will have nothing and no one to rule.
Considering this side of the story, there is also Ishmael – an intellectually developed gorilla who finds spreading his teachings and ideas to be the main purpose of his life. Instead of living carelessly (like many people do), Ishmael explores the world and humans’ motives, dividing all individuals into Leavers and Takers. Indeed, it is ironic that an animal is more concerned with the survival of all living creatures and saving the Earth than most humans. It is even more ironic that Ishmael fails to find many followers and students who would be interested in learning about the gorilla’s discoveries and trying to improve the situation together. I believe that a significant and disturbing question arises: If animals are depicted to be more concerned with the negative environmental changes, is it too late for humans to become aware and save our planet? Hopefully, it is not too late, and I think that some efforts and interventions I mentioned earlier can help in case people abandon the culture of Takers and unite to solve the mistakes of previous generations.
It seems to me that the novel by Quinn has a sobering effect and can change the minds of many readers, which is why the book can be considered quite powerful. Spreading awareness and opening the eyes of humans to the surrounding environmental problems is a key to making our planet a better place. As mentioned earlier in the paper, Quinn (2009) does not blame all individuals in the current devastating state of the Earth – instead, it is the fault of Takers. This culture is venomous and selfish because it occupies and uses forests, oceans, and deserts, not paying attention to the fact that other living organisms exist there. Takers do not value others’ lives and feel they have the right to take them in order to continue the uncontrolled production of food, clothing, and other goods.
Interestingly, I get a notion that the death of the gorilla in the novel symbolizes how initiatives and efforts of some aware and conscious individuals fail because of the influence of Takers. Ishmael fails to significantly affect the world or get more learners because he is not free and does not have rights. The same happens to many humans who truly want to help the planet but get deprived of the required resources and opportunities because the world is dominated by Takers who are not interested in saving nature. This parallel between the initiatives of Ishmael in Quinn’s novel and conscious people in the real world once again proves that in order for global and impactful changes to happen, the root cause (the culture of Takers) should be eliminated.
The report I have written provides accurate feedback about the life my family and I embrace and the one identified in Quinn’s novel. Completing the work has enabled me to understand the contributions I have been personally making toward climate change. An analysis of my family’s doings also provides insight into the supplement they make toward environmental degradation. Through direct comparison and reflection of what the author states in the novel, I made sense of and concluded on its accuracy. No case of affluenza is in my family as we all appreciate the surroundings, unlike the takers driven by their affluence. My consumption pattern and lifestyle have limited negative influence on nature due to the steps I take. I highly recommend reading Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn. The novel correctly analyses the evolution of cultures and the resultant consequences on the planet. Man is entirely responsible for the global issues experienced, and he is the only one who can stop the destruction.
Reference
Quinn, D. (2009). Ishmael: An adventure of the mind and spirit. Random House Publishing Group.