Hey I'm Kyrin and I review books of all genres/styles but with an emphasis on those that have stood the test of time (i.e., not recent releases). Join me as I cover the basic details before diving into the themes, ideas and learnings we can take away from the fascinating realm of literature. Weekly live episode on Thurs 10am AEST (Wed/Thurs Midnight UTC+0) plus bonus episodes from my cohost Juan every now and then.
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episode 66: Cat's Cradle (Kurt Vonnegut) - Book Review
Looking for a book full of truth that is actually full of shameless lies?
'Cat's Cradle' by Kurt Vonnegut is a satirical novel of black humour that treats of a dangerous situation similar to the Cold War. It follows the writer John as he researches Felix Hoenikker; one of the fathers of the atomic bomb & the inventor of the insanely dangerous Ice-Nine. Along his journey he meets an enigmatic midget, the most beautiful girl in the world and the mysterious Bokonon. The underlying themes of the book centre around the possibility of Armageddon due to rampant technological increase and the absurd religion designed to give purpose and meaning.
I summarised the book as follows. "It's a fun easy read that will have you laughing. Totally ridiculous with biting dark humour on actually serious issues. Some of the finest satire I have read. The book has a unique style of extremely short chapters, there being 127 in only 206 pages. I would recommend it to those who enjoy the series of Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy or The Diceman."
I hope you have a fantastic day wherever you are in the world. Kyrin out!
Timeline:
(0:00) - Synopsis
(2:07) - Armageddon: The price of technology and development
(5:19) - Bokonism: The religion of the absurd
(8:36) - Personal Observations
(10:58) - Summary
(12:18) - Pragmatic Takeaway: Have some absurdity
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