Mark Laxer's Blog: The Monkey Bible, page 3
April 25, 2012
Indonesia visit
Gave a talk the other day at Mataram University, Lombok Indonesia, about The Monkey Bible and vEcotourism. Was wonderful! Excellent participation...there were about 45 students...one student asked, "Why do we love nature?"
I'd love to travel the world, giving such talks, gently challenging people to take a more active role in protecting our environment...hosting live vEco tours during the lecture!!
Traveled to Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, east of Lombok, to brainstorm vEco partnerships...people are very interested. But vEco is not the only idea from The Monkey Bible to be gaining currency in the real world. The sign-the-forest campaign from the book (read the book! share it with a friend! if you don't want to cough up a few dollars to pay for it, download it free at www.monkeybible.com/schools ...but read it!!!) may soon be applied to coral reefs--bagus sekali!!!!!!
I'd love to travel the world, giving such talks, gently challenging people to take a more active role in protecting our environment...hosting live vEco tours during the lecture!!
Traveled to Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, east of Lombok, to brainstorm vEco partnerships...people are very interested. But vEco is not the only idea from The Monkey Bible to be gaining currency in the real world. The sign-the-forest campaign from the book (read the book! share it with a friend! if you don't want to cough up a few dollars to pay for it, download it free at www.monkeybible.com/schools ...but read it!!!) may soon be applied to coral reefs--bagus sekali!!!!!!
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:43 am — Replies 0 — Views 17
Indonesia pic
http://remajaberiman.wordpress.com/
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:31 pm — Replies 0 — Views 17
Applied Monkey Bible
It says it's a work of fiction but there's much to The Monkey Bible that's "real".
For instance, the vEcotourism project. Check out http://www.vecotourism.org --
it's a real-world, very cool project and you're invited to get involved. Also, remember
the sign-the-forest idea from the novel? (if not, please read the book! buy a copy
or get it free from www.monkeybible.com/schools) Well, that idea is soon to be
applied, by the author and his wildlife organization (Chimp-n-Sea) to coral reefs,
starting in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, in Indonesia.
Want to get involved?
1) Read the book
2) Give the book a review on amazon.com
3) Contact author and help him with wildlife projects!
4) Invite author to give a talk / presentation on The Monkey Bible / vEcotourism at a school
or book group or museum or zoo or WHATEVER!
5) Invite author and the accompanying rock-band perform a reading / vEcotour / rock show as part of The Monkey Bible Show!!
So, as you can see, it's more than a book. It's a movement!
cheers,
Mark, Sydney airport
For instance, the vEcotourism project. Check out http://www.vecotourism.org --
it's a real-world, very cool project and you're invited to get involved. Also, remember
the sign-the-forest idea from the novel? (if not, please read the book! buy a copy
or get it free from www.monkeybible.com/schools) Well, that idea is soon to be
applied, by the author and his wildlife organization (Chimp-n-Sea) to coral reefs,
starting in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa, in Indonesia.
Want to get involved?
1) Read the book
2) Give the book a review on amazon.com
3) Contact author and help him with wildlife projects!
4) Invite author to give a talk / presentation on The Monkey Bible / vEcotourism at a school
or book group or museum or zoo or WHATEVER!
5) Invite author and the accompanying rock-band perform a reading / vEcotour / rock show as part of The Monkey Bible Show!!
So, as you can see, it's more than a book. It's a movement!
cheers,
Mark, Sydney airport
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Sun Apr 22, 2012 12:43 am — Replies 0 — Views 39
March 16, 2012
April schedule
April: Monkey Bible author giving talk at Sterling College, Vermont and heading to Lombok Indonesia to work on projects straight out of the novel, including vEcotourism, which is picking up momentum...
http://www.vecotourism.org
http://www.vecotourism.org
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Fri Mar 16, 2012 4:27 pm — Replies 0 — Views 3
February 2, 2012
Ian Redmond + BORGo video!
See video of renowned ape and elephant conservationist, Ian Redmond,
at headquarters of The Monkey Bible Project. BORGo, from The Monkey
Bible Show, makes an appearance...
http://youtu.be/vnu_hSxemvA
at headquarters of The Monkey Bible Project. BORGo, from The Monkey
Bible Show, makes an appearance...
http://youtu.be/vnu_hSxemvA
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:38 pm — Replies 0 — Views 2
December 23, 2011
Free download
was talking tonight with high school student in Northern Vermont about The Monkey Bible...he had heard of it (!!). DON'T TELL ANYONE, I said, but...students can download book for free: http://www.monkeybible.com/schools (shhhhhhhhhhhh!!!)...
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:32 am — Replies 0 — Views 3
5-star Review
Review of The Monkey Bible and The Line (companion rock opera CD) by Michelle Desilets (Oxford UK):
"Brave and brilliant book...as an orangutan conservationist, I was excited to receive this book, and it does not disappoint. Combining real science and imagined, with religious considerations, the Monkey Bible is in itself a journey of discovery, not only for the central character, but for the reader. The accompanying musical CD complements the introspective quality of the book. A must-read for those interested in science, our place in the animal world, ethics, religion and the meaning of life."
Note: Michelle Desilets is the Executive Director of The Orang Utan Land Trust: http://www.forests4orangutans.org/
"Brave and brilliant book...as an orangutan conservationist, I was excited to receive this book, and it does not disappoint. Combining real science and imagined, with religious considerations, the Monkey Bible is in itself a journey of discovery, not only for the central character, but for the reader. The accompanying musical CD complements the introspective quality of the book. A must-read for those interested in science, our place in the animal world, ethics, religion and the meaning of life."
Note: Michelle Desilets is the Executive Director of The Orang Utan Land Trust: http://www.forests4orangutans.org/
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:46 am — Replies 0 — Views 2
4-Star Review
I found this review on Library Thing:
Not everyone is going to love this book. Some, as reflected in the one review I've found so far, are going to hate it. I found the premise interesting but thought I might fall into the "hate it" camp.
The book is "a modern allegory," a novel about a young man who discovers that he is part ape. Because he is an animal instead of fully man, a "manimal," he believes his cherished Bible doesn't apply to him. He goes on a quest to find his ape family. And one of his friends decides to write a Monkey Bible for him to replace the Bible he has lost, both literally and figuratively. In the quest, a bogus ChimpCorps non-profit organization is created and evolves into a real organization, creating a novel way to save natural habitat. And Virtual Ecotourism is created.
The book is not anti-religion, nor is it anti-science. It does find a place for both in the world, and not as adversaries. It does emphasis the importance of protecting the environment and biodiversity. Some parts are laugh-out-loud funny, especially about CPAs (Cell Phone Activists) who combat obnoxious cell phone usage. I'm almost ready to raise my hand to my ear, with thumb extended up, three middle fingers folded in, and pinkie pointed toward my chin, to take the CPA pledge.
Towards the end, the environmental message gets a little bit preachy. The writing doesn't meet the standards of great literature. Still, this was a fun, silly, entertaining book with a serious message. Readers will enjoy it more if they keep an open mind.
Not everyone is going to love this book. Some, as reflected in the one review I've found so far, are going to hate it. I found the premise interesting but thought I might fall into the "hate it" camp.
The book is "a modern allegory," a novel about a young man who discovers that he is part ape. Because he is an animal instead of fully man, a "manimal," he believes his cherished Bible doesn't apply to him. He goes on a quest to find his ape family. And one of his friends decides to write a Monkey Bible for him to replace the Bible he has lost, both literally and figuratively. In the quest, a bogus ChimpCorps non-profit organization is created and evolves into a real organization, creating a novel way to save natural habitat. And Virtual Ecotourism is created.
The book is not anti-religion, nor is it anti-science. It does find a place for both in the world, and not as adversaries. It does emphasis the importance of protecting the environment and biodiversity. Some parts are laugh-out-loud funny, especially about CPAs (Cell Phone Activists) who combat obnoxious cell phone usage. I'm almost ready to raise my hand to my ear, with thumb extended up, three middle fingers folded in, and pinkie pointed toward my chin, to take the CPA pledge.
Towards the end, the environmental message gets a little bit preachy. The writing doesn't meet the standards of great literature. Still, this was a fun, silly, entertaining book with a serious message. Readers will enjoy it more if they keep an open mind.
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:58 am — Replies 0 — Views 3
December 12, 2011
Near riot video
http://youtu.be/lUWhJ4pQmmY
In this video, I'm addressing villagers at tense stand-off in Uganda last August over just-killed lioness. True story...read "Ishasha Journal" entry on this blog.
In this video, I'm addressing villagers at tense stand-off in Uganda last August over just-killed lioness. True story...read "Ishasha Journal" entry on this blog.
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:37 pm — Replies 0 — Views 3
December 7, 2011
Failed fiction?
A reader pointed out to me that the Monkey Bible, in terms of literary fiction,
was not the best book they had ever read. The same reader pointed out that
the book is deeply thought-provoking and challenging.
This is a common reaction. Some find it to be a page-turner with characters they
can relate to, others find it too experimental for their literary tastes. But nearly everyone
agrees that this book will challenge and teach (evolutionary biology, primatology,
genetics, anthropology, mythology...) and get you to think.
Which is pretty cool because that was my intent in writing it.
Buy a copy at--and support--your local bookstore and don't forget to add your
review of it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.
was not the best book they had ever read. The same reader pointed out that
the book is deeply thought-provoking and challenging.
This is a common reaction. Some find it to be a page-turner with characters they
can relate to, others find it too experimental for their literary tastes. But nearly everyone
agrees that this book will challenge and teach (evolutionary biology, primatology,
genetics, anthropology, mythology...) and get you to think.
Which is pretty cool because that was my intent in writing it.
Buy a copy at--and support--your local bookstore and don't forget to add your
review of it on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.
Statistics: Posted by marklaxer — Wed Dec 07, 2011 2:06 pm — Replies 0 — Views 4
The Monkey Bible
Dear friends, I'm just setting up GoodReads system now, and hope to participate in discussion about evolution, religion, wildlife conservation, storytelling and .....more soon.
best,
mark
...more
best,
mark
...more
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