Jonathan K (Max Outlier)’s Reviews > Ishmael > Status Update

Convoluted is the best word I can think of..After countless pages of evolution theory it turns to analysis of the characters in the Bible, maps from thousands of years ago then Ishmael is sold to a carnival. Again, I haven't any idea how the studio turned this into a story about an anthropologist who studied mountain gorillas and was arrested and imprisoned

I'll be honest saying that while interesting, its borderline fantasy. A conversation between a journalist and a gorilla whose knowledge of religion, evolution and science is PhD level is a bit hard to swallow in some respects. In the film adaptation, Anthony Hopkins plays an anthropologist who studies mountain gorillas but unlike Ishmael, they don't speak nor are they college grads, LOL

While somewhat interesting I've yet to figure out how the studio that produced "Instinct" developed a script from this since this is a deeply philosophical discussion between a gorilla and a man about the laws that govern life..And while apes are intelligent, Ishmael is PhD level

Unfamiliar with the author, I just read his GR bio which makes this book's story understandable since he's highly educated and scientifically oriented. Definitely one of the more unique books I've come across

Not sure what to think..a gorilla probes the man to learn whether he's figured out that the universe is governed by laws but man hasn't been able to establish one for how he ought to live. I personally feel that expecting the reader to believe a gorilla has this level of knowledge is far reaching

At its core, this is a philosophical discussion. Since evolutionists say man evolved from ape, the author broaches the topic of creation/man using the ape as a highly intelligent being who seeks a human interpretation. Again, this has little to do with the Hopkins film; I'd love to speak with the studio that adapted it to see what they had in mind, LOL

Very curious indeed..the essence of the story is an intellectual conversation between a gorilla and man about what it is to be human. In the Hopkins film, he goes to Africa to study gorillas; here the gorilla refers to the humans as takers or leavers; so far that's the only element they have in common. I've witnessed numerous adaptations but none like this

Hmm...checked this book out from the library since it was used as bassis the Anthony Hopkins, Cuba Gooding film "Instinct"..so far I don't see the connection other than Ishmael the gorilla..in the film Hopkins plays an anthropologist studying mountain gorillas and is arrested for killing several poachers