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A Man without a Countryby Kurt Vonnegut
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:A Man without a Country is Kurt Vonnegut's hilariously funny and razor-sharp look at life (If I die — God forbid — I would like to go to heaven to ask somebody in charge up there, Hey, what was the good news and what was the bad news?), art (To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.), politics (I asked former Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton what he thought of our great victory over Iraq and he said, Mohammed Ali versus Mr. Rogers.'), and the condition of the soul of America today (What has happened to us?). Gleaned from short essays and speeches composed over the last five years and plentifully illustrated with artwork by the author throughout, A Man without a Country gives us Vonnegut both speaking out with indignation and writing tenderly to his fellow Americans, sometimes joking, at other times hopeless, always searching. Review:"In his first book since 1999, it's just like old times as Vonnegut (now 82) makes with the deeply black humor in this collection of articles written over the last five years, many from the alternative magazine In These Times. But the pessimistic wisecracks may be wearing thin; the conversational tone of the pieces is like Garrison Keillor with a savage undercurrent. Still, the schtick works fine most of the time, underscored by hand-lettered aphorisms between chapters. Some essays suffer from authorial self-indulgence, however, like taking a dull story about mailing a manuscript and stretching it to interminable lengths. Vonnegut reserves special bile for the 'psychopathic personalities' (i.e., 'smart, personable people who have no consciences') in the Bush administration, which he accuses of invading Iraq so America can score more of the oil to which we have become addicted. People, he says, are just 'chimpanzees who get crazy drunk on power.' Of course, that's exactly the sort of misanthropy hardcore Vonnegut fans will lap up — the online versions of these pieces are already described as the most popular Web pages in the history of In These Times. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Review:"Vonnegut...is either the world's most optimistic pessimist or its most pessimistic optimist, and his new collection of essays...is filled with his usual contradictory mix of joy and sorrow, hope and despair, humor and gravity." Chicago Tribune Review:"Vonnegut seems to find renewed fire in our dire situation: the attack on civil liberties, the reduction of social safety nets for those who need it most and the unpleasant spectacle of our nation thuggishly squabbling over fossil fuels even as the world roasts in global warming." San Francisco Chronicle Review:"Again and again in this new book, Mr. Vonnegut instructs his readers not to neglect their own minds, to nurture them, indulge them even. The best thing one could say about this book is that it would be a great place to kick off that necessary decadence." Dallas Morning News Review:"Vonnegut actually proves to be whip smart and razor sharp throughout this thin volume....[And] writes with an assured wit and a layer of doom that is more a resigned warning than a full-on sermon." Oregonian Review:"[This] may be as close as Vonnegut ever comes to a memoir." Los Angeles Times Review:"Like [that of] his literary ancestor Mark Twain, [Kurt Vonnegut's] crankiness is good-humored and sharp-witted....[Reading A Man Without a Country is] like sitting down on the couch for a long chat with an old friend." The New York Times Book Review Review:"For all those who have lived with Vonnegut in their imaginations...this is what he is like in person." USA Today Review:"Filled with [Vonnegut's] usual contradictory mix of joy and sorrow, hope and despair, humor and gravity." Chicago Tribune Review:"Fans will linger on every word...as once again [Vonnegut] captures the complexity of the human condition with stunning calligraphic simplicity." The Australian Review:"Thank God, Kurt Vonnegut has broken his promise that he will never write another book. In this wondrous assemblage of mini-memoirs, we discover his family's legacy and his obstinate, unfashionable humanism." Studs Terkel Synopsis:Gleaned from short essays and speeches composed over the last five years and plentifully illustrated with artwork by the author throughout, "Only Kidding" delivers Vonnegut both speaking out with indignation and writing tenderly to his fellow Americans.
Synopsis:In a volume that is penetrating, introspective, incisive, and laugh-out-loud funny, one of the great men of letters of this age — or any age — holds forth on life, art, sex, politics, and the state of America's soul. From his coming of age in America, to his formative war experiences, to his life as an artist, this is Vonnegut doing what he does best: Being himself. Whimsically illustrated by the author, A Man Without a Country is intimate, tender, and brimming with the scope of Kurt Vonnegut's passions. Synopsis:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER “[This] may be as close as Vonnegut ever comes to a memoir.” –Los Angeles Times “Like [that of] his literary ancestor Mark Twain, [Kurt Vonnegut’s] crankiness is good-humored and sharp-witted. . . . [Reading A Man Without a Country is] like sitting down on the couch for a long chat with an old friend.” –The New York Times Book Review In a volume that is penetrating, introspective, incisive, and laugh-out-loud funny, one of the great men of letters of this age–or any age–holds forth on life, art, sex, politics, and the state of America’s soul. From his coming of age in America, to his formative war experiences, to his life as an artist, this is Vonnegut doing what he does best: Being himself. Whimsically illustrated by the author, A Man Without a Country is intimate, tender, and brimming with the scope of Kurt Vonnegut’s passions. “For all those who have lived with Vonnegut in their imaginations . . . this is what he is like in person.” –USA Today “Filled with [Vonnegut’s] usual contradictory mix of joy and sorrow, hope and despair, humor and gravity.” –Chicago Tribune “Fans will linger on every word . . . as once again [Vonnegut] captures the complexity of the human condition with stunning calligraphic simplicity.” –The Australian “Thank God, Kurt Vonnegut has broken his promise that he will never write another book. In this wondrous assemblage of mini-memoirs, we discover his family’s legacy and his obstinate, unfashionable humanism.” –Studs Terkel About the AuthorKurt Vonnegut is among the very few grandmasters of contemporary American letters, without whom the very term American literature would mean less than it does. His novels include Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five, among so many others. Projects with Seven Stories Press in recent years include God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian and, with Lee Stringer, Like Shaking Hands with God, a book about writing. His most recent novel is Timequake (1997). In addition to his writing, Vonnegut is a visual artist of note. His paintings and prints can be seen at www.vonnegut.com. He lives with his wife, photographer Jill Krementz, in New York City. Daniel Simon is founder and publisher of Seven Stories Press and served as editor on two previous books by Kurt Vonnegut, God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian and, with Lee Stringer, Like Shaking Hands with God. Simon is also co-author of a biography of Abbie Hoffman, Run, Run, Run: The Lives of Abbie Hoffman. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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