Life of Pi by Yann Martel is about Pi Patel. Part 1 is about Pi’s high school and college experiences, and interests such as zoology; he is also very religious and his faith is always close with him. Pi's parents decide to leave India for Canada. They sell most of the animals and pack up their belongings. They board a Japanese cargo ship, along with the animals they will sell in North America. In Part 2, Pi’s ship sunk. He has to try to survive with a lack of food and water. On board with him, he soon discovers, is a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, who Pi is scared of at first. He learns that he had nothing to worry about. In fact, he even says, “It’s the plain truth: without Richard Parker, I wouldn’t be alive today to tell you my story.” (pg. 164).

            Religion plays a huge part in Pi’s life and in the story. Pi practices Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity. “‘Religion will save us,” I said. Since when I could remember, religion has been very close to my heart.” Pi says when talking to his teacher one day. His teacher disagrees and says that religion is darkness. This statement confuses Pi; he believes that religion is light and helps people through whatever life hand them. After his ship sank, he says that through God, he will be able to survive. Without his faith in God, maybe Pi wouldn’t have found enough strength in him to try to save himself.

            Storytelling is intertwined with the concept of religion in this book. In the author’s note, and elderly man goes to Yann Martel and says, “I have a story that will make you believe in God.” Henceforth came the story, Life of Pi. Also, he believes that like religion, stories require faith given to the storyteller by the listener or reader. Pi frowns upon agnostics, people who cant decide whether or not they believe in God. He believes that they have a lack of imagination. He prefers atheists, because at least they believe in something, even though their opinion disagrees with his.