Ishmael by Daniel Quinn is regarded by many readers worldwide as an eyeopener to what is really going on in the world. This novel introduces a different approach to viewing the history of man and what man's purpose really is. For example, when the pupil says: "Get a job, make some money, work till your sixty, then move to Florida and die;" this paints a bleak picture of the average American's existence. While reading this passage I felt myself saying, yes this is what life is all about or at least what society leads us to believe.
This perception is what every single civilized person follows. I've learned that even I wish to be rich but at the same time I realized what does being rich really have to do with happiness. Everything that a wealthy person has is really just a better version of what I have right now and I"m satisfied with the lifestyle I lead now so what's the real point in trying to be rich? I guess what I've learned about myself is that money really isn't what makes me happy despite the way it appears that money can buy happiness.
What would really make me happy is making a difference in someone's life. This is one of the main reason's why I've decided to become a doctor. Despite the hard work, I feel that I would go home everyday feeling like I truly made a positive impact on someone's lie and it would give a purpose to my existence, which is to help others.
Reading Ishmael has reinforced my reasons for becoming a doctor but at the same time the story made me think twice about what I should believe is fact and what is fiction. In short, the story has taught me to be more skeptical or more scientific in my approach to things. For example when Ishmael says: "No creation story is a myth to the people who tell it. It's just the story," this makes me question our way of life and all of the facts that I have been taught. For example, in biology we are taught that we are the most developed species on the planet and therefore the "best.
