If They Give You Lined Paper, Write Sideways

By: Daniel Quinn

Narrated by: Charles Bice

Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

In Ishmael, Daniel Quinn offered new ways of seeing and understanding human history and our collective future. His message was transformative for millions of people, and Ishmael continues to attract tens of thousands of new readers and listeners each year. Subsequent works, such as The Story of B and My Ishmael, expanded upon his insights and teachings, but only now does he finally tackle the one question he has been asked hundreds of times but has never taken on: "How do you do what you do?"

In If They Give You Lined Paper, Write Sideways, Quinn elucidates for listeners the methods behind his own thought processes, challenging and ultimately empowering them to view the world for themselves in creative, perhaps even revolutionary, ways.

If They Give You Lines Paper, Write Sideways also includes Quinn's never-before-published essays "The New Renaissance" and "Our Religions". There is a scientific consensus that global warming is approaching a tipping point beyond no return faster than had previously been predicted. Quinn has long portrayed humans as "a species of beings, which, while supposedly rational, are destroying the very planet they live on." So what are we to do? There has never been a plan for the future - and there never will be. But something extraordinary will happen in the next two or three decades; the people of our culture will learn to live sustainably - or not. Either way, it will be extraordinary. The sooner we understand this reality, the greater the chances that human society will transform itself, so that the human race might have a future.

©2007 Daniel Quinn (P)2011 Daniel Quinn

Critic reviews

"An originality and a clarity that few would deny." ( The New York Times)

A conversation should be just that.

I usually enjoy Quinn and his content very much, but this audio book, I found having only one voice reading both sides of a conversation hard to follow and at times annoying.

Must read!

Daniel Quinn’s book have been amongst the most influential and engaging books I’ve read! They are thought-provoking angst-producing. Many times I have been made to evaluate my current accepted beliefs and look at them from the perspective of an alien anthropologist.

Hand-wavy, but strong ultimate message

Would you listen to If They Give You Lined Paper, Write Sideways again? Why?

Yes. Listening to people analyze arguments is always a good training that can be repeated.

Any additional comments?

Enjoyable.

With Ishmaal, Daniel Quinn introduces a lot of new modes of thinking/perceiving that are interesting, but some of his arguments are built on scientific ignorance, namely his arguments about what animals do or don't do, and what humans do that animals don't.

If not properly understood, Ishmael can leave a reader with the impression that Quinn is a "return to nature" hippie.

"If They Give You Lined Paper, Write Sideways" brings you through his thought process, in a form similar to a Socratic Dialog, and really gives depth to his thoughts. He discusses his methods, and goals of his messages.

I do find however that he still often builds his narrations with unprovable assumptions, or assumptions that violate ockham's razor.. almost as if he is spoon feeding you a perspective. Despite this, this book does promote skepticism and deep analysis.

His grand point however, is strong enough to stand despite any of my criticisms.

Absolutely Amazing

I do not think I’ve ever heard/read such a good book. This was incredible. The narrated dialogue was a little dry but that’s so worth the concepts you will hear. This should be a required book for humans lol. And he drops the mic at the very end so beautifully, so be sure to listen to the appendix!

Great for those who like DQ books. A "how to"

for those of us who have read Daniel Queens books and wish to apply the readings and practices in their everyday life