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scarletohhara's review
5.0
Was I living under a rock all along, this being my first foray into the brilliance called Kurt Vonnegut?
Funny and insightful, these essays are a perfect introduction into what Vonnegut was like, as a person. And if his books have half the worth of the content of these essays, then I know I'll love them. Coz I love the person, Vonnegut. What's not to like - a liberal environmentalist education-loving old man talking about the freedom of speech, power of living in the now, feminism and gun control, he is a perfect combo , someone we can all do with, in times like this.
Funny and insightful, these essays are a perfect introduction into what Vonnegut was like, as a person. And if his books have half the worth of the content of these essays, then I know I'll love them. Coz I love the person, Vonnegut. What's not to like - a liberal environmentalist education-loving old man talking about the freedom of speech, power of living in the now, feminism and gun control, he is a perfect combo , someone we can all do with, in times like this.
maxstone98's review
4.0
Reading a bunch of speeches (mostly graduation speeches) in a row isn't ideal, there tends to be a lot of repetition. On the other hand, they are great speeches for the most part, kind of an ideal way to spend 15 minutes occasionally would be to dip into one of these. Vonnegut is, like Mark Twain, a really pleasing combination of wise and hilarious.
He has a few themes, one of them is the value of community and extended family, and how modern life suffers for lack of that. That's not original to him, of course, but I thought he made a really interesting connection when talking about nuclear families: "A husband, a wife, and some kids is not a family; it's a terribly vulnerable survival unit. Now those of you who get married or are married, when you fight with your spouse, what each of you will be saying to the other one, [because you're human,] actually is, 'You're not enough people. You're only one person. I should have [dozens or] hundreds of people around.'"
He has a few themes, one of them is the value of community and extended family, and how modern life suffers for lack of that. That's not original to him, of course, but I thought he made a really interesting connection when talking about nuclear families: "A husband, a wife, and some kids is not a family; it's a terribly vulnerable survival unit. Now those of you who get married or are married, when you fight with your spouse, what each of you will be saying to the other one, [because you're human,] actually is, 'You're not enough people. You're only one person. I should have [dozens or] hundreds of people around.'"
beatrixcesana's review against another edition
4.0
Witty. Inspirational. A light but brainy read. Ideal for young soon-to-be graduates like myself, who need some cheer and optimism, and who a-d-o-r-e sarcasm and a pinch of socio-cultural critique on the side. Lessons learned: be kind, practice art, start speeches with a joke, lose the resentment, choose peace, be with people, and above all notice when you’re happy and be effing grateful <3