By Sometimes, in my more narcissistic moments, I wonder what it would be like to become a famous writer, as has always kind of been my dream, and to write a collection of essays all about my thoughts on life. But I don’t think I could do it better than Vonnegut.
About the Book
Title: A Man Without A Country
Author: Kurt Vonnegut
Published: 2005
Genre: nonfiction, essays
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Thoughts
A Man Without a Country is a collection of short essays written by Vonnegut towards the end of his life. Actually he makes specific mention of his 82nd birthday which is actually the day I was born. The essays span a variety of topics, from Jesus Christ to socialism to rantings about Bush and Iraq. (there was a lot of that; the upheaval and disappointment from the Iraq War is what the title references)
Vonnegut is one of my favorite writers, and I read seven of his novels before this essay collection, but I still believe it can be enjoyed by someone who has no prior familiarity with his work.
I found this essay collection very funny, but it also left me feeling pretty sad because a lot of the things Vonnegut rails against are still going on today. It seems that in 20 years we haven’t really solved any of these issues. I’m inclined to agree that it seems like the people in power just don’t give a damn about the climate crisis, for example.
Yet through all of this the collection is full of glimmers of optimism:
“And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”
I also agree wholeheartedly that music is one of the things that makes life worth living. Listening to music is the closest thing I’ve ever felt to a spiritual experience.
Kurt Vonnegut really was the ultimate humanist. I always wish I could’ve met him, but he’s up in heaven now…
Have you read A Man Without A Country by Kurt Vonnegut? What did you think of it? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
Other Vonnegut reviews:
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I read it early last year. I really didn’t like it. I think I said to my wife “This is where Vonnegut jumped the shark.” It’s been so long and for me was unmemorable, so I can’t give any specifics. I never met him, but in the eighties, I got to see him speak at University of Maryland.
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