Cat's Cradle,   ISBN:9780783892672

Customer Rating: 

Not quite my normal taste, but I enjoyed it all the same. Perhaps I will come back and reread again. A second reading might reveal more to me. Nonetheless, I do recommend this book.

Customer Rating: 

The end of the world has always been a difficult topic for discussion, probably because there is no saying when or how it will take place. In 'Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut, it is a topic that keeps coming up. And if you are at all familiar with Vonnegut's dark humor, you would not be surprised. The cause? Religion verses science. It starts when the main character, John Hoosier (who is telling this story in the first person) is researching for a book to be called "The Day the World Ended," about Dr. Felix Hoenikker, the man behind the atomic bomb. This sparks a fascination, and leads him to contact this late scientist's children.
This book is full or random coincidences that seem to make no sense when you are reading it, but they all come together in the end. All the characters, seeming slightly exaggerated, are not at all what you would expect. There is a radical religious figure, Bokonon, and a Minister of science, Frank, who are all thrown together with ICE-NINE, a chemical that freezes everything upon contact. The world ends when they are all on San Lorenzo, a made up island with a murderous dictator. It is very fun and also interesting.

Customer Rating: 

Fascinating story that puts forth some very interesting ideas on the purpose of religious belief. Highly Recommended. Quotes from the text: "All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies." "Anyone who cannot understand how useful a religion based on lies can be will not understand this book either." "Live by the harmless untruths that make you brave and kind and healthy and happy."

Customer Rating: 

I ordered this book as a Christmas gift for my sister, she gave me instructions to purchase a "used copy" because a new copy would be a waste. When the book arrived, very quickly by the way, I was pleasantly suprised. The "used" copy that I purchased
looked like new. My sister scolded me on Christmas morning for purchasing a new copy, only I new that it was used. I definately
recommend buying books from this seller, the shipping is reasonable and very fast, the books are of better quality than advertised. I'll be back! Thank You!!!

Customer Rating: 

I am glad this wasn't the first Vonnegut book I read. Had it been I probably wouldn't be enthusiastic about reading another. Fortunately, my first was Slaughterhouse-Five.
There are plenty of reviewers here who gave great, detailed synopses of the book, so I will skip that.
What I found good about the book was it's commentary on religion and, more specifically, the relationship between religion and political power (Papa and Bokononists/Bokonon). I also enjoyed the reactions John had to some of the absurd things people would say, especially on the plane. And the elevator scene was a riot, funny and thought provoking. Vonnegut is a master at providing us with funny and ridiculous characters, and there are some in this book (although not enough to make it a great book, but still enough to make it worth a read).
But...the book got slow in many places, and after a while it seemed almost like a chore to read. I enjoyed the message, but not the way it was told. If this is your first Vonnegut book please don't use it against him if you find it boring, many of his other books (like Slaughterhouse-Five) are awesome.