Cat's Cradle

by Kurt Vonnegut

192 pages

Published July 1, 1999 by Penguin Books Ltd.

ISBN:: 978-0-14-028560-4

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(204 reviews)

1 edition

Nick Barlow reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Great ideas, but dated in parts

4 stars

I love Vonnegut's style in both the way he evokes huge images and events with sparse words and in his ideas, like this most banal and final of apocalypses with the world ending in ice-nine. The problem is that as we get further from the period it was written in, the assumptions it was written under, especially about the role of women and non-white (and non-American) people in the narrative and society, jar even more with the inventiveness going on around them.

ghostchaser reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

A lighthearted tale of the end of the world.

Ika Makimaki reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

See the cat? See the cradle?

There is no cat and there is no cradle, but as humanity, we need to pretend there is. Because otherwise we cannot understand ourselves.

I think I'm converting to Bokononism.
Kurt Vonnegut's take on religion, technology, society and life in general is not only humorous and refreshing but also insightful. I found the ideas of ice-nine as the "end of the world" weapon, the role of government and religion in people's lives, and the place of lies as elements of hope and understanding in a hostile cruel world fascinating and compelling.
It is a book that doesn't take itself or the world too seriously, and I really believe the world needs a bit more of that.
So I will go and practice my Boko Maru with my karass.

“Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly;
Man got to sit and wonder 'why, why, …

David Swinstead reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I actually finished this ages ago but only just got around to logging in to here.

It was my first Vonnegut and I really enjoyed it. The pacing was slightly odd at times and the depiction of Mona didn't really work for me but on the whole I thought it was really good.

Looking forward to reading my next Vonnegut which I think will be Slaughterhouse Five.

M Is For Awesome reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Once upon a time, to a different audience - one which hadn't read the many books no doubt inspired by it- this book probably packed more punch. Vonnegut's characterization is amazing, his writing brutal and effective, but the book didn't contain any surprises and just didn't spark for me.

Matthew Royal reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

"Never index your own book."

nicknicknicknick reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on Goodreads

4 stars

1) ''The whore, who said her name was Sandra, offered me delights unobtainable outside Place Pigalle and Port Said. I said I wasn't interested, and she was bright enough to say she wasn't really interested either. As things turned out, we had both overestimated our apathies, but not by much.''

2) ''And I remembered The Fourteenth Book of Bokonon, which I had read in its entirety the night before. The Fourteenth Book is entitled, 'What Can a Thoughtful Man Hope for Mankind on Earth, Given the Experience of the Past Million Years?'
It doesn't take long to read The Fourteenth Book. It consists of one word and a period.
This is it:
'Nothing.'''

Sharyl reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Really, this is a novel that grabbed and fascinated me, all the way. I also think it was clever to write it in such short chapters, to imitate the way the Bible is laid out.

Jordyn reviewed Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

Review of "Cat's Cradle" on 'GoodReads'

5 stars

This is one of my favorite books! A darkly misanthropic, but somehow simultaneously generous and kind, exploration of how close to the brink humanity is.