I just finished reading The Story of B, a book sent to me by a coworker whose daughter is also reading Daniel Quinn. It’s a pretty interesting novel that anyone into anthropology, history, world religion, and science should read. If you’re mainly into fiction for plot and character, however, this isn’t really well written in that respect. 
The guy basically makes a good argument for why agriculture is the root of all our problems–in short, because it allowed human population growth to exceed what our natural surroundings could provide for us, hence why we have starvation. I get what he’s saying, maybe even agree that some of it is true, but I have issues with a number of his statements because he leaves out important facts that would argue against his point. There are things he said never happened, but did, such as how tribes never warred for territory or mates or other goods. He claims they only warred to keep each other in check; that war as we know it only developed after agriculture. I disagree. There were tribes that took members of other tribes as slaves from what I remember reading.
The biggest problem with this book is his suggestion that we do away with agriculture, which would basically mean the death of millions and millions of people. He doesn’t believe in food aid, which is really saying we should just let those people starve to death because that’s the way things were in the beginning. I can’t stand behind an argument that at the core means more than half our world population of men, women, and children will die from starvation and everything we know will fall apart, including health care and scientific research, while humanity turns chaotic until it can re-stabilize in tribal form.
The main character does recognize that his theory for saving the world is the antithesis of religions based on soul salvation, and at one point claims to even be the antichrist. The plot of the book is a priest being sent to spy on a man who is spreading this theory. The church wants this man dead. I’m not a fan of organized religion or salvation-preachers, but I can understand why they’re scared of this guy.
I’m all for keeping the world from shrivelling under pollution and species extinction, but this guy is nuts if he thinks ending agriculture is the key. Yes, agriculture plays a big part in the problem–just look at what it and development are doing to the Chesapeake Bay. But there are other solutions, ones that don’t require mass murder and the collapse of everything we know.
But a truly interesting story. Really makes you think. It’s a work of fiction, but it’s obvious the author has an agenda. His other books are the same way, from the reviews and summaries I’ve read.
