Cat's Cradle: A Novel: Kurt Vonnegut: 8601400575338: Amazon.com: Books

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“A free-wheeling vehicle . . . an unforgettable ride!”—The New York Times

Cat’s Cradle is Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical commentary on modern man and his madness. An apocalyptic tale of this planet’s ultimate fate, it features a midget as the protagonist, a complete, original theology created by a calypso singer, and a vision of the future that is at once blackly fatalistic and hilariously funny. A book that left an indelible mark on an entire generation of readers, Cat’s Cradle is one of the twentieth century’s most important works—and Vonnegut at his very best.

“[Vonnegut is] an unimitative and inimitable social satirist.”—Harper’s Magazine

“Our finest black-humorist . . . We laugh in self-defense.”—Atlantic Monthly

Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publication date

September 8, 1998
Dimensions

5.19 x 0.64 x 7.98 inches
ISBN-10

038533348X
ISBN-13

978-0385333481
Lexile measure

790L
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Customer reviews

11,797 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining and penetrating. They describe the humor as ironic, idiosyncratic, and hysterical. Readers say the book presents many interesting points and thoughts that stimulate imagination. They appreciate the shortness of the story. However, some find the story not interesting and doesn't hold their interest. Opinions are mixed on the pacing, with some finding it fast-paced and mysterious, while others say it focuses entirely on vague themes.

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Readability Humor Thought provoking Shortness of story Pacing Narrative quality Character development Enjoyment

327 customers mention "Readability"289 positive38 negative

Customers find the book brilliant, penetrating, and enjoyable. They appreciate the incredible use of prose and imaginative chapter headings. Readers also mention the story is good and interesting.

"...And it's a fun fun fun and entertaining read...." Read more

"...Just the chapter headings are imaginative and fun, typical of Kurt Vonnegut." Read more

"Incredible prose - alive and thriving. Deep humanity and a recognition and love of the absurd...." Read more

"...The story starts out innocently enough, but one thing just leads to the next and the next and before you know it, you will find yourself enmeshed..." Read more

115 customers mention "Humor"110 positive5 negative

Customers find the humor in the book ironic, idiosyncratic, and hysterical. They also describe it as mesmerizing absurdity, dark comedy, and satire. Readers mention the book gives them a balm of laughter to help ease the reality pill.

"I enjoyed his satire in a fantasy. Refreshing to follow a writer of the 1960's, a veteran and a sentimental philosopher...." Read more

"...So, not too deep, but deep enough. Not too, too funny, but totally, irreverently so. Not too long, but not too short...." Read more

"...The writing was excellent: literate, trenchant and witty...." Read more

"...This is a wonderful book that has serious, yet comical, political,anthropological and religious messages...." Read more

105 customers mention "Thought provoking"97 positive8 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking. They say it presents many interesting points and thoughts about life. Readers also mention the book contains much that stimulates imagination and is a thought-provoking masterpiece.

"...Not too, too funny, but totally, irreverently so. Not too long, but not too short. You will most likely enjoy this book." Read more

"...Not much to say, other than I feel that this book is so consequential, had I read this when I was younger, it might have changed the course of my..." Read more

"...The story flows and, if one's interest is maintained through the story, the book is read quickly...." Read more

"...It was a page turner in the sense that the storyline was well done in the absurd...." Read more

26 customers mention "Shortness of story"26 positive0 negative

Customers find the story short and easy to read. They say the sentences are good and the book is a quick novel. Readers also mention it's a clever and non-pretentious story.

"...Not too, too funny, but totally, irreverently so. Not too long, but not too short. You will most likely enjoy this book." Read more

"...This book is divided into 127 very short chapters, which makes it not only easier to read and remember, but also made it easier, I'm sure, for Mr...." Read more

"...It is a quick read, few central characters and very short chapters...." Read more

"...It made for a quick read. Almost too quick because I find reflecting on the book difficult...." Read more

51 customers mention "Pacing"34 positive17 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's fast-paced, mysterious, and hilarious all at once. However, others say it focuses entirely on vague themes and unnecessary details.

"...Just the chapter headings are imaginative and fun, typical of Kurt Vonnegut." Read more

"...So about this book: it's a quick read. There are like 127 chapters in the story, but they all fit (in my edition) into just 287 pages...." Read more

"...I found disappointing in the story: First, there was no speculation nor explanation given as to why there would suddenly be purple-mouthed..." Read more

"...The possibilities are endless...." Read more

43 customers mention "Narrative quality"23 positive20 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative quality of the book. Some mention it has hilarity, pathos, wit, social commentary, and a special blend of tragedy and utter silliness. Others say the plot becomes absurd toward the end, confusing, and drawn-out.

"...This book is so disturbing, haunting, sickening, beautiful, hopeful, and everything else in between. There are no adequate words. Just read it...." Read more

"...Message and are so devoid of reality, that their idiosyncrasies feel arbitrary and manipulative rather than interesting...." Read more

"...I definitely enjoyed it. It wasn’t scary, and it did not include outer space themes. It is literally a science fiction. A novel about science...." Read more

"...my interest at the beginning, by midway through the book it was becoming quite odd and I had difficulty staying committed to finishing it...." Read more

26 customers mention "Character development"18 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book. Some mention the characters are interesting, strong, and hilarious. However, others say there isn't a lot of background or character development in the beginning, and the characters are thin and two-dimensional.

"...It is a quick read, few central characters and very short chapters...." Read more

"...more enjoyable than Slaughterhouse Five because I thought the characters were better and Vonnegut uses some black humour to push the story forward..." Read more

"...Characters in this novel are thin and two-dimensional (if that)...." Read more

"...I loved the unique narrator POV, as well as the ambiguity throughout...." Read more

37 customers mention "Enjoyment"3 positive34 negative

Customers find the story not interesting, epic, or redeeming. They say it doesn't hold their interest like other books they've read. Readers also mention that the plot is relatively aimless and random.

"...It's just sort of jaunty and tossed-off and having read SH5 previously, the writing in CC felt like a weak and unremarkable shadow of what Vonnegut..." Read more

"...entertained, please be aware that it is a very dry and boring book without much of a plot...." Read more

"...There is nothing redeeming about this book...." Read more

"...It does not read as serious fiction, but Vonnegut writes the story coherently enough to keep the reader skipping like a stone across the rigid world..." Read more

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sjgadlt

Kurt Vonnegut is a wonderful part of our American Heritage.

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2024

Verified Purchase

I encountered AN ENGLISH MAJOR with a graduate degree who had NEVER read any of Kurt Vonnegut's masterful works. None. Vonnegut's first novel, Player Piano, was so far ahead of its time that people still have not digested its message that unbridled complexity is beyond the control of humans, and it will eventually get us if we don't watch out! This novel is the starting point to enter Kurt's virtual reality. It's where he gives birth to a number of his recurring characters. And it's a fun fun fun and entertaining read. And you accidentally learn deep truths about the human condition that you don't even notice as you are exposed to them -- especially as applies to religion. Everyone should read this book. If they are normal -- or at least human -- they will want to go on and read more of Mr. Vonneguts fine works. Praise Bokonon, and may you all escape being crucified on The Hook!

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Kindle Customer Charlie 82

Humor and Fantasy on dark side

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2024

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I enjoyed his satire in a fantasy. Refreshing to follow a writer of the 1960's, a veteran and a sentimental philosopher. You'll take a wild adventure to San Lorenzo, but catch the small satirical remarks about lying, resentment and love scattered in each chapter. Just the chapter headings are imaginative and fun, typical of Kurt Vonnegut.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

JD Smyth

what is there to say?

Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024

Verified Purchase

Incredible prose - alive and thriving. Deep humanity and a recognition and love of the absurd. Always with Vonnegut the spectral universe in a grain of sand, a shard of ice-nine or the breath of the anguished living.

You could tease apart the works this book influenced, but that would be a bit too Bokonon…

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D. Griffin

a classic

Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2024

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So much wisdom in such a pleasant package. Classic Vonnegut. I you enjoyed this the consider slaughter house 6 as well…

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R. P. Cotta Jr.

Classic Satire

Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2018

Verified Purchase

Okay -- three stars. That's what I think OTHER readers will think of this book. I think it is worth four stars. But this review is supposed to try and be helpful to you, dear reader, so I do not wish to inflate how good YOU might think this book is.

But let's face it: It's Vonnegut. Satirical. Whimsical. Deadly earnest in a half-joking kind of way. Not particularly optimistic about the future of us People, and not, apparently, particularly fond of us either. Three stars of Vonnegut is worth maybe four stars of Wolfe, maybe five stars of Koontz. Just three stars of Twain, though.

So about this book: it's a quick read. There are like 127 chapters in the story, but they all fit (in my edition) into just 287 pages. 287 very spacious and roomy pages. The chapters tend to be about a page-and-a-half long, some just a couple of paragraphs. Vonnegut bounces right along, telling the story of John, as John seeks to write a biography of one of the father's of the atom bomb. (A fictional father.)

The work no doubt contains some of Vonnegut's more creative ideas: ice-9; Bokononism; Mona Aamons Monzano, the most beautiful girl ever; a completely incomprehensible dialect of what might have once been the English language; and, of course, the end of the World. The story starts out innocently enough, but one thing just leads to the next and the next and before you know it, you will find yourself enmeshed in a world of utter ridiculousness, but you had better take it seriously or you may end up on "the hook." Pronounced "hy-u-o-ook-kuh."

So, not too deep, but deep enough. Not too, too funny, but totally, irreverently so. Not too long, but not too short. You will most likely enjoy this book.

84 people found this helpful

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Phaia

Fantastic.

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024

Verified Purchase

I had read some Vonnegut over the years but had managed to skip this one, and I think this is the one I should have read the most.
I had learned the name of the publishing company of the Grateful Dead was “Ice Nine publishing” and I wondered why it was called that. I learned it came from this book, so I read it. Now so much makes so much sense. “If you plant ice you’re gonna harvest wind”

Not much to say, other than I feel that this book is so consequential, had I read this when I was younger, it might have changed the course of my life.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Amadís

“History!” writes Bokonon. “Read it and weep!”

Reviewed in Mexico on December 10, 2023

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A lady whose name I cannot recall suggested this reading after I blabbered my opinion on our species. Three years later I stand dipped in gratitude toward her. Maybe the notion of Rochester’s “Imperfect enjoyment” suits the emotion this book has delivered. An exquisite and irreversible imperfect enjoyment. I am not the same after reading this. I am now eager to indulge in my brand new vice and read everything Vonnegut ever wrote.

Ronaldo Aguiar

Probably on Kurt's top 5

Reviewed in Brazil on April 19, 2023

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Probably on Kurt's top 5 -- not as good as Slaughterhouse Five and Sirens of Titan, but definitely good

Bob

No, it's not Slaughterhouse five, but . . . .

Reviewed in Canada on August 28, 2022

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The first sentence in the ‘Books of Bokonon’ is this: “All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies,” and that pretty much sets the stage for Vonnegut’s satirical commentary that shifts with uncommon ease between fatalistic and funny.
I will quickly note – without a word of a lie – that ‘Cat’s Cradle’ is certainly one of Vonnegut’s best, while just as quickly adding that it is not on par to ‘Slaughterhouse Five” (IMHO).
‘Cat’s’ protagonist is a midget, but perhaps the starring role really belongs to adventurer, calypso singer, self-styled theologian, author, and the most beloved – though everyone professes the opposite – of all men, Bokonon! Seriously, this is the guy responsible for the best one-liners found throughout the book, like this gem: “When I am dead I’m going to forget everything – and I advise you to do the same.”
Vonnegut’s voice in this tour de force is Jonah who presents ideas but immediately questions them, almost forcing the reader to follow suit. The range of characters are (and this is typical of KV) in many cases quite bizarre, but strangely all have a way of resonating with the reader.
The book's 200 plus-pages are divided into 127 chapters making it a quick and easy read. Vonnegut’s imagination soars free and what it is allowed to create is really quite wonderful.

obarzke

Ein Meisterwerk ohne Verfallsdatum

Reviewed in Germany on March 29, 2024

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Das Buch ist nach über 60 Jahren immer noch aktuell, sein bitterer Humor unvergleichlich. Die wichtigsten zwei Themen - Wirkung einer "ultimativen" Waffe und die neue, unfassbar originelle Religion, sind auch heute noch faszinierend. Ein echter Geniestreich - uneingeschränkt empfehlenswert!

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Cliente Amazon

Fabulous

Reviewed in Spain on July 31, 2023

Verified Purchase

I have nothing to add, is a classic, easy to read, in a perfect penguin edition

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