I know I can't do this book justice, but with only one other review, I'll take my best shot.

I have read several celebrity autobiographies, but this one is by far the best. What a life! His father was half Irish and half Mexican. His mother was illegitimate and half Mexican and half Indian. He was conceived while "both" of his parents were fighting with Pancho Villa. He lived in a dirt-floor shed. His father became a migrant farm worker in the U.S. and later got a job at a studio. Quinn's father's arm was nearly torn off by a panther that Quinn had befriended. These are only some of the highlights in just the first 39 pages.

Quinn was originally planning on becoming an architect, but Frank Lloyd Wright sets into motion a serendipitous chain of circumstances, which leads to Quinn becoming an actor instead of an architect.

This book is much more than the story of Quinn, or even the film industry. Through out his life, Quinn seemed to come into contact, or into bed, with everyone that was anyone: anywhere. While still an unknown-unknown, he was in the frequent company and advice of such people as John Barrymore, Error Flynn, W. C. Fields, John Steinbeck, William Saroyan, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner. During this time, he married Cecil B. De Mille's adopted daughter, which resulted in a 20-year-conflict between Quinn and De Mille. Having De Mille as a father-in-law actually harmed Quinn's career.

Quinn tells of a clandestine meeting with Howard Hughes at 2:30 AM on Mulholland Drive and Hughes arrives with 3 cars. Quinn discusses his 3-year-old son drowning in W. C. Fields' swimming pool. Time and space cause me to only try to wet your appetite.

After reading this book, it's hard to tell if Quinn was playing Zorba, or if Zorba was playing Quinn. By the way, even the dance Quinn does at the end of this movie is a very interesting story.

As with all great books, it unfortunately didn't last long enough.

I really enjoyed this book by Anthony Quinn. At first, I was put off by the way his thoughts jumped around, but in retrospect, I realize that this was just his way of getting his point across, and I became mesmerized by his thoughts and the disparity of his early years. Mr. Quinn did not flower his book with how great he was, or even sound like a celebrity, in the description of his life. In his early years he was very poor, and really let the reader feel his thoughts on his poverty, and how he fought to stay alive. It is a great example of coming from a life of nothing, with seldom having food to eat, to become a great actor, artist, lover, and family man.

Although he would never receive accolades as a husband, he truly loved his family. He mentioned several times, his grief at the death of his son and the loss of father.

He made many friends along the way, and treasured every one. Not caring whether they were paupers or kings.

In 1983, we had the pleasure of seeing and meeting Mr. Quinn on Broadway, in Zorba the Greek. We had invested in several of his paintings and sculptures, and was invited to a party for him at the Helmsley Palace in New York City. We were really impressed with his ability to encompass a room with his presence, while giving every person a piece of his persona.

This book is excellent reading, which keeps the reader waiting for his next thought. The world will truly miss this great man.

I picked up this hard to find book after reading Daniel Quinn's cultural critiques ISHMAEL, THE STORY OF B, MY ISHMAEL, and BEYOND CIVILIZATION. He wrote DREAMER in 1984 before any of the aforementioned books. DREAMER was a book he wrote not to do anything like he did in his future books, but simply as a fiction-thriller. It's truly an excellent read. You follow a free-lance writer through the streets of Chicago and wonder whether he's dreaming or awake. This book really plays with the idea that you can sleep in a dream and even have dreams in a dream. What is reality and what is dream (or nightmare?!)? This book is a thriller because you simply don't know. It's a real page turner and shows that Daniel Quinn could have been a horror writer on the level of Stephen King and Peter Straub. I of course, am glad he didn't-- because his 1992 novel ISHMAEL changed my life forever.

Story of B is probably Quinn's best book to date (I haven't read After Dachau yet). He is struggling with the conundrum of how we've managed to turn our feelings and senses off to the point where we think it makes sense to convert the diverse biomass of the planet into human biomass. Every ecologist knows that if you destroy what you rely on to live, you destroy yourself. It's a direct connection, though the consequences may take some time to filter back to you. In Story of B, he grapples with how monotheistic religions have gotten so buddy-buddy with the mindset that allows us to think that it's right and proper that humans should live at the expense of all other life on Earth. He does a particularly good job in pointing the root of human overpopulation of the earth. It's simple, he says: every ecologist knows that if you increase food production in a population, be it mice, cougars, ferns, or humans, you will be rewarded with a population increase. Intellectually, we know this. So why is it that we continue increasing our food, while at the same time bemoaning overpopulation and hoping that distributing condoms will do the job?

As I say, ecologists know all of these things. So would anybody else who is really paying attention to life--not life as in that interval of time between your birth and your death which is generally occupied by distractions like school, marriage, career, and retirement--but LIFE, the whole grand panoply of flora and fauna, earth and elements, who share this planet with us.

Quinn doesn't really know how we got so alienated from this knowledge, any more than I do. That's what he seems to be saying in Story of B. That's why at the end of the story, he informs the reader that having read the book, it is now your responsibility to continue struggling with this problem.

If you're interested in putting some more pieces of the puzzle together, I reccomend The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry and A Language Older Than Words by Derrick Jensen, both of which are undoubtedly available from this fine, fine website.

This is, at the very least, an interesting book to read whether you end up loving or hating it, agreeing or disagreeing with the arguments. After reading some of the other reviews, I have a few comments. First, it is a work of fiction and not a historical narrative. Quinn doesn't use too much data to support his assertions, but as a work of fiction the story is just as effective in my opinion. I thought the two most interesting ideas the book offered were (1) the realities of the population explosion and how our culture is prepared (or not prepared) to deal with it and (2) the notion that the "fall" depicted in the Bible corresponds directly in time with the use of totalitarian agriculture. Some have interpreted the book as very anti-Christian, but I think his point is that "dogmatic" or "doctrinal" Christianity has contributed to our cultural problems. Quinn is not really criticizing the Spirit of Jesus' message (or the message of any other founder of the world's major religions), but rather the institutions that have been formed that don't permit a vision of any other way of life. Also, I don't think the book paints a picture of doomed planet as some have suggested, but rather a doomed CULTURE. There is still hope for humanity through changed minds (not, as Quinn points out, through more programs perpetuated by the same culture already in place).

I've read them all. I've done a lot to get them all, since I'm from Germany and it's not that easy to get American books here. Since Quinn is, in my opinion, the most important author right now and here, I can only recommend this book to everyone (even if he/she's a Christian). Compared to Quinn's other work I think this is his best one. The issues he explains are the most interesting, the story is better than before and the speeches contain nearly everything that is need to be said. It's great written and wonderful mind-changing. You'll never be the same again. I'm not. If you look for hope for this world, read it. Maybe it's good to read 'Ishmael' first, but in the end it doesn't mind. Just read it.

A terrific companion book to "Ishmael." My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough, but I think that's probably the point: Daniel Quinn doesn't claim to have all the answers, and he expects each of us to do our part in furthering these ideas. Ishamel was the first Quinn book I read, and it rocked my world. I don't go a single day without thinking of Ishmael in some way, large or small. I believe that every educator in the "civilized" world should be required to read My Ishamel; if they don't get it the first time, then they should read it a second or third until they do understand.

For a related but different slant on the ideas of Quinn's books, check out Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan. She takes us on a walkabout with the "real people," an aboriginal tribe in Australia. Five stars for that one too.

I wanted to write a positive review of My Ishmael but everyone else's reviews have covered all the great points. Instead I'd like to bring up the main character. She's a 12 year old girl named Julie. Perhaps its because Daniel Quinn was never a 12 year old girl, but it seems to me that her vocabulary and lines of thought don't exactly match the age. Even if you consider the character is 16 when telling the story. I thought this was annoying at first, then I realized something. The girl's age was perfect for the book. Her dialogues with Ishmael were perfect as well. It came to me when I considered that she was picking up what Ishmael was saying and taking it further because she had far fewer years of Mother Culture's taint on her. She still had the wide eyed quizical probing child in her. It made sense in that respect and I certainly didn't feel the same way towards her character after that. She did have a place, even if sometimes she seemed much older and wiser than she was.

Like Ishmael and Story of B, I am again absolutely amazed at what Quinn has accomplished here. Great job!

This is the "official" sequel to Ishmael. Basically, it is Ishmael revisited by a twelve-year-old girl. Although the first fifty pages of the book will bore you to tears if you have read the first novel, it deals with different issues and is definitely worth reading. Two main problems are covered in this volume. First, Quinn asks a very pertinent question: Why do we have to work hard eight hours a day, five days a week? Has it always been that way? The answer is a sounding "NO!" Many people are not satisfied with their life because of a job they don't really like. Just ask people you know if they would stop working if they won one million dollars. I'm sure most of them will say "yes, of course, my job is not fulfilling, I'd rather do something else!" But, still,they go to work every day just because they don't have the choice: no job means no money, which means no food. However, Quinn points out that it was not like that before food was put "under lock and key." That is, in ancestral cultures, you just had to go grab the food you needed where you knew you could find it. At one point in our culture, however, we produced so much food with agriculture that we needed to store it, thus leading to a new class of people: those who did not work in the field anymore as they had to manage the way food was stored. These people found that life was easier that way, and they soon realized that as long as they were in control of the food distribution, they could take it easy by letting the others work hard. And to protect this new "gold mine" they hired guards, who thus also had the priviledge not to work hard as long as they kept the food away from those who worked for it. And this is what led us to the way things are now: a large class of working people who spend many hours a day in an environment they despise, and a small class of priviledge people who have a much eaiser and enjoyable life. The second point of the book is the one of education. Have you ever wondered why you spent so many years of you life in school? Do you ever use just a tenth of what you've learned? Did not it bore you to death to go over the same things, over and over again? What our cultural myths tell us is that this is necessary in a competitive society like ours to learn about many things, and that repeating the materials is necessary for students to master everything, as they don't seem to get it the first go around. Quinn first explains why our education really takes that long, and then claims that if students cannot learn the materials properly it is because it is not meaningful to them. In ancestral cultures there is no formal education, but it is fair to say that tribal children know much more about life than "civilized" ones. Indeed, the education of the former kids is made in context, just by observing what adults do. However, in our cultures we are totally separated from the real world and thus we do not make the necessary connections to really master anything. Meaningfulness of what we learn is the essential thing we are missing; let's change this!

Anyone familiar with this author's work knows that there's no one quite like him writing today. It's as if he starts every book saying to his readers, "You think you've got me pegged, don't you. Well, take a look at THIS!" Then he proceeds to write something unlike anything you've ever read (and unlike anything he's ever written).

I've read all his books, most of them several times, and I can tell you that in THE HOLY he outdoes himself--and everyone else around. It's in a class of its own. The only book that comes close is John Fowles' THE MAGUS, and I personally think THE HOLY is a better, deeper, and more enthralling novel.

In my opinion, the thematic heart of Quinn's novels is not Saving the World (as many might say) but rather The Quest. Quinn's heroes aren't looking for love, happiness, or wealth. They want THE ANSWER--to the profound questions that trouble us all in a world that seems to be going mad. But not all his heroes are asking the same questions (or getting the same answers). Two seemingly unrelated quests drive THE HOLY--both strange, both even a little mad--but they ultimately converge in a maelstrom of passion, violence, death, and transfiguration that is unmatched in any book I've ever read.

This isn't just Quinn's best. I honestly can't name a novel that I'd rank above it.

Fans of Daniel Quinn's work won't have to be convinced to read The Holy. We've been waiting impatiently for its release. To entice new readers, I could list other, better-known authors by way of comparison, but other reviewers have done so. I predict that after The Holy, Quinn will be one of those better-known authors about whom comparisons are made.

The story is a chain of unexpected, entertaining, chilling events, leading to a conclusion that leaves some room for speculation, but not too much. That in itself makes the book worth reading. The tersely worded gems of "pure Quinn," scattered throughout are what make The Holy more than just another well-written novel.

When you read Stephen King or Anne Rice or Clive Barker, you know they're only kidding. They don't really believe in demon-possessed cars, immortal vampires, or faerie worlds hidden in large carpets. When you read The Holy--a novel as fantastic, as gripping, and as terrifying as any produced by King, Rice, or Barker--you'll know that Daniel Quinn isn't kidding.

In this regard (and this only), The Holy is similar to The Exorcist, another book by an author who wasn't kidding (it was based on the true story of a child's demonic possession in the 1940s). People reacted powerfully to The Exorcist, both as a book and as a film, because they perceived clearly that William Peter Blatty wasn't just giving them a fright they would later laugh about. (I've always believed The Exorcist probably brought more people to the Roman Catholic Church than The Song of Bernadette did.) Even if you aren't a believer, reading or seeing The Exorcist can make you teeter in your disbelief.

Quinn's book will have the same effect on you. It will have the same effect, because you'll recognize that the supernatural realm he's exploring is not one he just made up to give you a scare. It's a realm that humans have acknowledged and taken seriously for as long as there have been humans, a realm familiar to shamans in every land, a realm discussed in the scriptures of every religion (including the Bible), a realm that was alive and thriving before the first humans walked the earth and will be alive and thriving when we're gone. The jacket notes describe the inhabitants of the realm this way: "They knew us before we began to walk upright. Shamans called them guardians, myth-makers called them tricksters, pagans called them gods, churchmen called them demons, folklorists called them shape-shifters. They've obligingly taken any role we've assigned them, and, while needing nothing from us, have accepted whatever we thought was their due--love, hate, fear, worship, condemnation, neglect, oblivion."

The publisher describes this as a metaphysical thriller, and it is. But it's also much more. Like any really great book, it's one you'll definitely want to read more than once.

The book begins when the narrater find an ad in the Personals reading: "TEACHER SEEKS PUPIL. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person." The narrater responds to the add, thinking to discredit a charlatan, and finds instead an unlikely (or perhaps not-so-unlikely) teacher who proceeds to teach him HOW THINGS CAME TO BE THIS WAY. While the book follows the conversations of two fictional characters, these conversations could be transposed onto any two people on the planet and be no less truthful. Toxic pollution, global warming, species extinction--Daniel Quinn, through the teacher Ishmael, explains why our culture (and our culture only, not all of humanity) has played a role in creating the present environmental crisis. The explanation hides so well in plain sight (it's all around us, but it's hard to recognize) that when it's finally revealed, we at once say, "Well, of course!" and then leap to our feet while striking our brows and crying, "My God! This is incredible!" The group of people who read this book should be composed not only of environmental engineers or naturalists or ecologists, but also of truck drivers, potters, bricklayers, computer programmers, English teachers...For the message of Ishmael must be heard by all if there is to hope for the life that presently exists on this Earth.

There is no one out there thinking like Quinn thinks. His vision of human history, told through the voice of a sage, lowland gorilla named Ishmael, is the the most original, hopeful, sensible story I have ever heard. I have read countless reviews on this book, and I am facinated to find that poor reviews, without exception, reflect a cursory read of this simply masterful work. Ishmael is not a book to be read in one sitting and swallowed quickly. And it is not a book to be read only once. The strength of this book is in its ability to question in an engaging fashion our most fundamental assumptions and superstitions about "The Way Things Are." Never have I had such questions posed to me in any book, fiction or non. And now, mulling over those questions that I can no longer ignore, I find myself changed forever for the better. As a gorilla, Ishmael speaks from a different landscape, and the dialogue between Ishmael and his lead-headed student is a never ending delight. I understand that some people have turned away from the book because of a mistaken belief that novels---fiction---aren't "real." and cannot contain "real" discourse. Think again. And again. Don't miss this one.

Daniel Quinn's novel Ishmael is an electrifying adventure into the heart of human civilization. From the fertile crescent, to modern day, Daniel Quinn teaches us the fundamentals of human history and the stages of our developement. Whether you agree with his interpretation of history or not, there is much to be learned and understood by his earth-shattering conclusions. For most this book is life-changing. Many Universities use it in their curriculums. It takes an open mind to be taught by the books main character, Ishmael, an 800-pound gorilla that telepathically speaks to its students, but this gorilla has much to speak of, and humans have much to learn from him. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an open mind towards human society. And for those who can't get enough of this novel, the sequel My Ishmael will offer a myriad of new themes and topics. Surprisingly for a sequel, My Ishmael is just as good, if not better, than its predecessor. I give this novel a rating of Five stars, and suggest you read it today. To me the book was so good I read it in one sitting.

I felt the book was very rushed. It's rather short and I read it in one sitting in just a few hours. I really wanted deeper character and plot development and more details on Jason "finding out who he is" and Mallory/Gloria's transition into her new self and world. So many things seem to be lacking or brushed over, it almost feels like an hour tv-show instead of a enthralling novel. I was just getting into it when it ended. :-/

Don't get me wrong though, I think Quinn is an incredible writer and I enjoyed reading this book. I've read the Ishmael books and Story of B and there are very few books that have moved me like they did. But After Dachau is certainly not the same caliber material as his previous work, but I applaud Quinn for exploring.

I have read all of Daniel Quinn's books. Ishmael (the BEST), My Ishmael, The Story of B...I must say that the elements of this book from a thematic point of view is along the same lines as his earlier works. This book was kind of hard to keep up with though in my opinion. Different revelations about the setting and other elements that were not clear earlier in the story come at a rapid pace. I would suggest being prepared to read it twice...which is really the typical strategy to use when reading Quinn. He is very cerebral and you have to give his books maximum attention. Which is a good thing I might add. This book is not as ground breaking as his first books but I would definitely suggest this one for all readers. The only thing I would suggest is that if you haven't read Ishmael FIRST.....please do........the ride may not be as smooth as it could be if you don't........PEACE...........

As a reviewer, I prefer not to discuss plot details as that is one of the main reasons people read novels in the first place. That said, I would like to caution potential readers. I almost put this book down halfway through, as it didn't seem to be leading anywhere, and the lack of character depth was irksome. I'm glad I didn't, though, because about half way through, like fragments of a jigsaw, all the disparate parts of the story came together in one seamless twist of events that will give you a new perspective on history, self, and place. Although The Holy is now experiencing similar reactions from Quinn fans, this older novel also received mixed reviews when it came out. Some said it was his best, while others said it was his worst. Without a doubt, this book is fundamentally different from Quinn's priors, like Ishmael and Story of B. Unlike them, After Dachau's message (presuming Quinn had a message in mind) is muddled and opaque, the tone dark and mysterious, leaving it the possiblity of being read on many levels. In other words, this book makes you think - which makes it worth reading in my book.

I was surprised to see that this was a comic book(graphical novel thats what they called it) I thought I was going to be dissapointed for the first time by Quinn.
Having read both Ishmael books and the Story of B, I had high hopes for this one.
I wasn't!
The story moves fast you can probably read it in under an hour, but you'll probably want to take your time and check out the cool art work.
Bottom line is this is a story that I will remember as with Ishmael. Fans of Quinn's will not be dissapointed.

I have read most of Quinn's books and as an author he is extraordinary. All of his books have opened up new thought processes and gotten so many of my questions about our place here in this world answered.
In The Man Who Grew Young, Quinn gets help adding great visuals to a mind-boggling story. The main character, Adamn Taylor, is stuck in a world which goes backwards from the world we know. Life in this place in time goes from ground to whom, earth mother to flesh mother, and Adam is unique in that he cannot Find his mother. Without his mother to reunite with, he stays in time as every life ever lived is lived again, in reverse. He watches our resources returned to the earth, our cities dismantled, our weapons thrown away.
I love how Quinn gets the reader thinking in new ways - exploring different ideas and possibilities, and that's just what he did again here - magnificently.
I also have to say that Tim Eldred did a wonderful job of expressing Quinn's story. My kids are a huge fan of PBS's Dragon Tales, which i later found out that Tim Eldred produced. What a small world. :D
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to go on a wild journey of the mind - thinking thoughts we rarely dare to think.

Starr

THE MAN WHO GREW YOUNG - is a phenomenal and powerful book that illustrates the world moving in a different direction. Aside from the beautiful artwork - which in itself makes this book a great addition to any collection - the story itself borders on revolutionary and visionary. Challenging all levels and concepts of history and humanity, the story takes you on a truly amazing journey through time.
While this book is a must buy for any Quinn fan, it is also a superb introduction to his work and a new way of thinking for those new to his writing.
Do yourself a favor and add this book to your collection.

Usually when you read a review of a Daniel Quinn book you'll find that the reviews fall into two categories. The first sort of come from either loyal readers whose lives have been changed through reading Quinn's work, or from people who are intrigued with Quinn's concepts and ideas on how to save the world. The second type of review comes from those who are hostile towards his work and his readers because it scares them. Quinn writes with painful honesty about this modern world that we live in. His novels don't beat you over the head with ideology, but rather tell clever stories with important messages. Strangely, there are those that find these messages threatening as Quinn's writings ask the reader to challenge the conventional outlook on the world and "civilized" culture.
****WARNING!!!****
THE MAN WHO GREW YOUNG will make your mind move in directions you never thought possible. . .

This book is worth reading but I would recommend it only if you've read either Ishmael, My Ishmael or Beyond Civilization first. It is quite a thin book and not the most informative autobiography I've ever read but you leave it feeling satisfied. It's very concise and so easy to get through. Apart from the story of his life there are also some interesting sections in there about education and about how he lost his faith in reilgion (he lived in a monastery for a while). If you like Daniel Quinn's other books read this because it provides an insight into how he arrived at his beliefs.

In PROVIDENCE Daniel Quinn discusses what some might call the religious side of the ideas in his bestseller ISHMAEL. In this book, his autobiography, he talks about his childhood, his adolescence, his experience with the Catholic Church and his personal experience with Thomas Merton and the Trappist order. He talks about his years in educational publishing and how he began to work out the ideas that found their expression in ISHMAEL. In the process he delves deeply into his personal religious vision of the world. This is a very valuable work that gives people the opportunity to re-think their religious beliefs. Several people have said that Quinn has finally shown them a religion they can love. The way that Quinn lays out his life and ideas is unique and very intriguing.

If you want to know about the man behind Ishmael, The Story of B, My Ishmael,and Beyond Civilization. Quinn reveals his life story and ideas, which of course has led to Ishmael.

A great book!!!

I never used to be *that* concerned about the condition of the Earth and our civilization; I knew we had some great problems, but I figured they would be solved sooner or later and that humanity was in no real threat of going extinct. My God, what a naive view that was. Reading the Ishmael trilogy and Beyond Civilization has totally changed me. I used to be more or less apathetic about these issues, but after reading these books, I absolutely couldn't stay that way. We are in real trouble if we continue this way of life, and nothing less than a world with changed minds will save us. Everyone has to read Quinn's books, including this one. I'm not exaggerating when I say that. We all have to change our vision from the current one, or we'll end up stabbing ourselves to death (that's what we're doing now). Quinn makes these important facts very clear in this book, and his reasoning is so sound. These ideas were totally unknown to me before reading Ishmael. Now I can't believe how I got along without them. I know so many people who feel the same way after reading Quinn's books. They say their lives are changed. Some of these people were the most apathetic I knew towards environmental issues. It's *amazing* what effect these books have on people. I've never experienced anything like it. More than anything, this book is a tremendous inspiration, especially to those who have read Ishmael (they can appreciate the ideas more - so you read Ishmael too! :). It's straightforward, clear, and incredibly powerful. Please read this book.

In practical terms, this is an excellent guide to anyone who's read Ishmael, The Story of B, and My Ishmael. I reviewed and recommended it on my website, SustainableWays.com, because Beyond Civilization provides a new way to look at sustainability. Unlike most other books concerning the environment, Mr. Quinn doesn't call for self-sacrifice of any sort. To the contrary, he reminds us that living sustainably is in our own best interest.

I originally read Ishmael when I was in college, and upon reflection, it just blew my mind. I realized that humans CAN live sustainably, because they once did, and also that we can find a way to live sustainably without giving up comfort and happiness. This and other concepts are discussed and illustrated in The Story of B and My Ishmael, but sometimes are misunderstood. Beyond Civilization serves to clear up the misunderstandings.

I've done in-depth reviews on this book and others like it for SustainableWays.com because of their fresh take on sustainability. Most people think that living sustainably is about living in a cave and catching dinner at the end of a spear. Beyond Civilization is one of those books that shows how it can be otherwise.

BEYOND CIVILIZATION: HUMANITY'S NEXT GREAT ADVENTURE offers the people of our culture alternative ideas on how to make a living. It doesn't claim to be the only way, nor is it one way in itself. This book can get you thinking about how you might go about doing what you really love in life and gain security and what you really need at the same time. Every page is like a jewel of idea and thought. Quinn discusses why we can't take the "Mayan Solution" which was to walk away into the jungle since there is no longer a jungle for us and there are too many of us for that to be a viable solution, but he does show us that we can still "walk away". He likens the rat race that is our current way of life to dragging stones up a pyramid. And he insists that we do not have to continue to do this. He doesn't provide a way for us to sit around and get what we need, but helps us to rediscover the easiest and most workable way that humans have to make a living-- tribally. He notes that when left to choose-- humans gravitate towards the tribal life... not because it's "natural" or "right" but because it is the easiest way for human beings to make a living. He points out that wolves evolved as pack animals, birds evolved as flock animals, bees evolved as hiving animals, etc. and humans evolved as tribal animals. He refutes the critics claim that he is saying that we should go live in a cave with a spear and offers more realistic solutions. But we have to be inventive and do it ourselves. It's not magic-- which is what I think many people who have given this book poor reviews actually want.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for, another way to live, another story to be in, or an extraordinary thought provoking experience!