A Man Without a Country

By: Kurt Vonnegut

Narrated by: Norman Dietz

Length: 2 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the greatest minds in American writing, Kurt Vonnegut has left an indelible impression on literature with such inventive novels as Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions. Now this iconic figure shares his often hilarious and always insightful reflections on America, art, politics and life in general. No matter the subject, Vonnegut will have you considering perspectives you may never have regarded. On the creative process: "If you want to really hurt your parents...the least you can do is go into the arts. I'm not kidding." On politics: "No, I am not going to run for President, although I do know that a sentence, if it is to be complete, must have both a subject and a verb." On nature: "Evolution is so creative. That's how we got giraffes." On modern cultural attitudes: "Do you think Arabs are dumb? They gave us our numbers. Try doing long division with Roman numerals." And on the fate of humankind: "The good Earth, we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap and lazy." A Man Without a Country showcases Vonnegut at his wittiest, most acerbic, and most concerned. Beyond the humor and biting satire is an appeal to all readers to give careful thought to the world around them and the people they share it with.

©2005 Kurt Vonnegut (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Exactly the sort of misanthropy hardcore Vonnegut fans will lap up." (Publishers Weekly)

Kurt Vonnegut's Honest Humor

This is a reflection of Vonnegut's honest humorous views of life, writing, and America. Beautiful

Thoughtful and sincere work from a master

This book will make you think, as well as feel. I wish it were twice as long!

I Need More Kurt

Brilliant essays written late in his life. Still relevant and proving to be scarily prophetic.

Kurt Vonnegut is awesome

This autobiography is full of Vonnegut's hilarious observations and humor, and gets downright acerbic at points when he gets into the politics of its day - his creative tongue lashing at the Bush Administration is worth it all by itself.

Truth

KV held the truth out so clearly for all to see, too bad we’re blind.

Narrator made it sound condescending?

I love Kurt Vonnegut. I wish I had read this to myself instead of listening to the audiobook. I can’t decide if the reader colored my views of the writing or not.

Something I’ve always enjoyed about Vonnegut’s books is the accessibility of his humor. His writing is insightful, clever, observant, biting, and holds up over time. I’ve never felt condescended to while reading his words. The feeling is always more like having an inside joke with a friend.

But these essays… I really think it’s the way that they’re read that rub me the wrong way. The narrator’s voice is pleasant and he reads clearly and not dryly, but doesn’t come across as one speaking to a peer. It sounds like a pompous older man shaking their fist at the younger generation and at the country, etc.

Listening to the words and then repeating them in my head I can hear in my mind how they could be read with a different tone, and I really think that might be my problem.

That being said I would still listen to something else read by this narrator. Just not any more Vonnegut. I don’t think they’re a good mix.

Good but uneven collection of essays

Any Vonnegut fan will appreciate this satisfying, if uneven, collection of mostly auto-biographical essays. Now past 80, Vonnegut seems to have entered the "curmudgeon" phase of life (or perhaps he always was in that phase), but his observations are still amusing, cutting and mostly insightful. His description of how he still prepares his texts using the "primitive" method of typing, editing, and then having the final manuscript prepared by a professional typist (possible the last such member of that profession in North America), is a gem! And its nice to know he and "Kilgore Trout" are still speaking. Great narration, too. Norman Dietz clearly studied and captured Vonnegut's voice. Shortly after listening to this book I heard an interview on NPR with Vonnegut. His voice was weak and halting. I was shocked at how rapidly he had declined since recording this book last year . . . then I remembered that Dietz, not Vonnegut, had narrated the book. That's how closely Dietz was able to copy Vonnegut's accent and style.

Holy Fried Chicken

KVjr goes on and on like a writer writing a conclusion to a life well thought out. his knowledge in this selection is ; great, sad, thought provoking and darkly funny ; he is dead now. God bless him.

Yes it’s good- it’s Vonnegut

Boy I thought I was cynical. Ordinarily, I love Vonnegut’s sarcasm, but this felt more like a tired old man’s screed without a point than a biting satire. But I don’t find the cynicism objectionable; in fact it’s pretty well understandable and sad.

It’s still screamingly funny.

Out standing!

Vonnegut was a sage with a grand sense of humor. The world needs more people like him!!