Click to Go Back to search resultsBack to search results
A Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut...
Photo contributed by #M#.This product photo was contributed by the community member attributed here.
Enlarge
 
Product description:Full product description
Kurt Vonnegut's first new book in nearly 10 years is a collection of the essays he has published during that time, illustrated with his inimitable--and often hilarious--line d...Read more
Most relevant review:
See all reviews
rating
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007
This slim collection by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., A dozen short essays, a poem, and an author's note make up this brief work. Non-fiction, these essays range in topics from the prob...Read more
rating
crappy
I'm not sure why this book was even published. At 150 pages, with a lot of pictures and blank pages, it just isn't worth buying. It seems like a cynical exercise to make an ex...Read more

A Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (2007, Paperback, Reprint)

Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr. | Publisher: Random House, Inc. | Language: English

Product description

Synopsis
Kurt Vonnegut's first new book in nearly 10 years is a collection of the essays he has published during that time, illustrated with his inimitable--and often hilarious--line drawings. Vonnegut writes on such topics as death, literature, the state of the American soul, the necessity for making art, and, of course, the administration of George W. Bush. The book's title comes from his often professed sense of shame at the American presence in Iraq. Many of these pieces were published in the magazine In These Times.

Key Details
Author:Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Language:English
Publisher:Random House, Inc.
Format:Paperback
ISBN-10:081297736X
ISBN-13:9780812977363

Additional Details
Editor:Daniel Simon
Edition Description:Reprint

Size
Length:145 pages
Thickness:0.2 in
Weight:4 oz

Publisher's Note
In a collection of brief autobiographical essays, the renowned novelist offers his views on art, politics, and everyday life in America.

In a collection of concise autobiographical essays, the renowned novelist offers his views on his own life, from growing up during the Great Depression to his fame as a writer, as well as his reflections on art, politics, and everyday life in America. Reprint. 200,000 first printing.

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

Industry Reviews
"At times, he may slide toward Andy Rooneyesque or Grandpa Simpsonesque crotchetiness, but mostly, like his literary ancestor Mark Twain, his crankiness is good-humored and sharp-witted, and aimed at well-defended soft spots of hypocrisy and arrogance."
(10/09/2005)

"Very brief essays, displaying the indignant humanism, pacifism and generosity of spirit that made Vonnegut's SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE a touchstone of the Vietnam War era."
Kirkus Reviews (08/01/2005)

eBay Product ID: EPID54360125
Portions of this page Copyright 1995 - 2012 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.
eBay users' reviews
A Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (2007, Paperback, Reprint)
  • Average rating:
    Based on 6 user reviews
  • Rating distributions

  • 5 stars5
  • 4 stars0
  • 3 stars0
  • 2 stars0
  • 1 star1
Relevance|Newest|Popular

All Reviews

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007

Created: 23/05/07
This slim collection by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., A dozen short essays, a poem, and an author's note make up this brief work. Non-fiction, these essays range in topics from the problems with modern technology, to the differences between men and women. Most prevalent however, are politics, and issues of American society. Most were written during the past five years for the magazine In These Times. Each essay is illustrated with Vonnegut's own original art work.
In January 2007, Vonnegut indicated that he intended this to be his final work. Vonnegut died at the age of 84 on April 11, 2007, in Manhattan, New York after a fall at his Manhattan home several weeks prior. This was his last work. No matter how humorous or off the wall what he writes appears to be, he is very serious, or he is in this case. But in any case The essays are classic Vonnegut.

Vonnegut has been called the Mark Twain of our time, in this volume one can see why. It's a book that is brutally honest in its hopelessness, though it is also very funny. In it, he wrote this epitaph for the Earth: "The good Earth – we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap and lazy."

A Man Without a Country mourns the death of what we could have been but never tried become.
Everyone should read this book!

willtrib - EasyCityBooks NOLA
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Report this review

crappy

Created: 02/06/07
I'm not sure why this book was even published. At 150 pages, with a lot of pictures and blank pages, it just isn't worth buying. It seems like a cynical exercise to make an extra buck or two off the litmaster's good name. Get it from the library and read it in one or two days. Only those who must have a copy of every little thing Vonnegut wrote need apply. Vonnegut doesn't say anything here he doesn't say in his novels except his cynicism and disapproval are directly aimed at the Bush administration instead of life in general. One last shot across the bow from a tired old writer. Criticizing the Bush administration is like shooting fish in a barrel these days and nearly everyone seems to be shooting the limit. If you must have Vonnegut's 2 cents, then by all means.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Report this review

loved it!

Created: 09/03/09
This book was assigned for reading in my college history class. I didn't know what it was about and I had never read anything else by Kurt Vonnegut. I started reading it and immediately loved it. It's funny at times and serious at others, but always good. There are a ton of lines worth quoting within this short book. I'd say it's worth reading and worth reading again.
Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Report this review

Must for Vonnegut fans

Created: 02/06/07
This small book reveals the core of Kurt Vonnegut. All of his views on America, politics, the planet are insights into the underlying themes of his fiction. And he's funny as always, although the humor in this book is noticeably tinged with disappointment and at times anger. If you are a Kurt Vonnegut fan, you must read this book. It will make reading all of his other books again a new experience.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Report this review

Kurt lets out all the stops in this final book.

Created: 19/03/09
A must read. With quotes and cases for and against everything Kurt Vonnegut's ever pondered. This final book is a perfect close to a wonderful writer's career. God be with you (where ever you are), Kurt.
Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Report this review

Bubble Opens Help Start of layer
Bubble Help End of layer