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

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

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

Don't see any correlation between a man who answers a classified ad seeking a teacher and discovers the student is a gorilla named Ishmael. Stranger still is how Ishmael articulates his story telepathically; he comes across as highly educated. Very curious indeed

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