Jonathan K (Max Outlier)’s Reviews > Ishmael > Status Update
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 180 of 338
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
— 17 hours, 41 min ago
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Jonathan’s Previous Updates
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 164 of 338
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
— 18 hours, 8 min ago
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 119 of 338
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
— Feb 15, 2026 05:13PM
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 119 of 338
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
— Feb 15, 2026 04:46PM
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 89 of 338
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
— Feb 15, 2026 04:16PM
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 63 of 338
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
— Feb 15, 2026 03:47PM
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 41 of 338
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
— Feb 15, 2026 03:16PM
Jonathan K (Max Outlier)
is on page 27 of 338
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
— Feb 15, 2026 02:36PM
