Leavers were trying to understand why Takers had turned to agriculture and were trying to force their way of life on the Leavers.

Ishmael helps the narrator see that while Taker culture, through the dominance of Christianity, sees this myth as explaining its own creation, historically this myth was used by Leaver cultures to explain the expansion of Taker cultures. One of the main myths he discusses is the story of Adam and Eve. In addition to helping the narrator see the traits of Taker and Leaver cultures, Ishmael shows the narrator how various cultural myths have helped shape both cultures. Ishmael helps the narrator see that while it may seem that Taker culture has outwitted the ecological rules that govern other life-forms, in many ways Taker culture is in freefall, doomed to crash once it has depleted the planet of its biological and environmental resources. Leavers are members of tribal cultures that live more simply, following the same basic rules that govern other populations on Earth. Takers are members of the dominant culture, which sees humans as rulers of the world, whose destiny is to grow without check and dominate first the planet, then the universe, through technological innovations. Ishmael divides humans into two groups: Leavers and Takers. Ishmael and the narrator begin a series of meetings wherein Ishmael helps the narrator understand his cultural history. Ishmael, having been apportioned part of Sokolow's estate after Walter's death, is mostly independent and lives his life in the city, trying to find students to help spread his teachings.

Ishmael's primary investigation began with the issue of captivity but grew into a more comprehensive exploration of humanity and the shape of the world.

Sokolow get him books and help him educate himself. Through his telepathic connection, Ishmael was able to have Mr. He started out in a zoo, then ended up in a traveling carnival, and finally was purchased by Walter Sokolow, with whom he learned to communicate telepathically. He was caught in the jungles of Africa at a young age and has lived his life in captivity ever since. The gorilla is able to speak with the narrator telepathically, and the narrator quickly realizes that this is the teacher he's been searching for. He's sure the ad is a hoax, but he goes to the indicated address, only to find an empty office space with a gorilla in one of the rooms, looking at him through a glass pane.

For most of the narrator's early life, he had searched for such a teacher, and he's angry that only now is one looking for him. The ad indicates that a teacher is looking for a student interested in saving the world. Daniel Quinn's philosophical novel Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit opens with the narrator reading the newspaper and finding himself both disgruntled and intrigued by a personal advertisement.

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