i have the following comments:

this connection is a somewhat commonly known part of the pearl jam mythos. however, it is not often discussed here, and i sue as hell havent seen anything of it for a while now.

also, i really like your SoH sig.

perhaps cal can direct us towards a link?

I really enjoyed the book when I read it a while back. I may have to reread it.

I was originally going to do my dissertation on Daniel Quinn. My first major paper (still one of my favorites) in grad school was on his thought. I ended up going with something else, so I won't be able to reference pearl jam in it.

if you're going to read his stuff the first cycle of four books is the best

Ishamel
Story of B (my favorite)
My Ishmael
Beyond Civilization (this is non-fiction)

i didn't like story of b as much stip.

that's okay. I'll forgive you.

The Story of B has more depth to it if you really want to take the ideas seriously, but Ishmael has a little more immeidate impact since you are getting the central arguement for the first time.

I just bought Ishmael only a couple of weeks ago. I'm liking it so far.

I'm not much of a reader...but I enjoyed Ishmael.

My girlfriend wasn't too impressed by it though.

Story of B was good too. I have to try My Ishmael again. I started it and since it started just like Ish...I gave up on it.

I didn't know of the fourth book.

I read My Ishmael first, because it's the only one that was available at the library at the time. I actually enjoyed it more than Ishmael, probably because it was my introduction to DQ's writing and because I was 17 at the time and particularly liked the chapters about learning and education.

I now own a bunch of his books and The Story of B is my favourite as well. Of the ones I've read, I'd rank them:

The Story of B
My Ishmael
Ishmael
Beyond Civilization
The Holy

After Dachau is a better novel than The Holy. Worth getting. His graphic novel the man who grew young is an interesting read once. Sit down with it in a barnes and nobles for an hour.

yeild has always been a favorite album and when i read ishmael it was instantly one of my favorite books. i did not know that they had anything to do with each other until a couple of years ago.

can someone give me a synapsis on what this book is about?

I was wondering the same. I tried looking at that site to see what it was about, but it was just vague "It's not what it's about. It's what it does to you." crap.

Explaining the plot won't really do the books justice. They're (Ishmael & My Ishmael) about an ape who speaks telepathically to students who are interested in saving the world. But that's not really what the books are about at all.

If you have some time to read, check out some of Daniel Quinn's essays and lectures on his website. They present some of his ideas in a different format. I'd suggest this one to start:

http://www.ishmael.com/Education/Writings/environdesign/

or this one:

http://www.ishmael.com/Education/Writings/kentstate.shtml

Explaining Ishamel is tough. If anyone is really interested I can e-mail you a paper I wrote going through the politics and social critique that is in there. I was going to make it an article but lost interest in Quinn.

If I had to define it in a sentence the books are about the way in which humanity has emancipated itself from the laws of nature, how it happened, and what the consequences will be.

I'd be interested in reading your paper. I'll PM you my email addy.

-Travis

That is a good one sentence description. Quinn's books are basically his views on the state of the world, covering such topics as the history of mankind, population increases, the cross over from hunter-gatherers to agricultural nation-states, third world nations, ancient/modern tribes, environmental issues, increased obesity issues, wars, and prophets/religion.

When reading his books, you are the student and Quinn is the teacher. The actual plots just make his teacher/student technique more interesting and effective, but barely add to the teachings themselves.

In my opinion, the only downfall of his books is that there is not much one could personally do to make a real change. It seems we are beyond the point of return as a planet. But the enlightenment factor makes it worth reading alone.

I first read Quinn about five years ago and loved it. But having learned a lot more about philosphy in general and looking back I'm not impressed by his work at all and don't think there are many original ideas at all in them. I appreciate his ideas but think his work is amatuerish now. Anyone else agree?

do the books have to be read in any particular order?