as was written in the preface to Welcome to the Monkey House, “a series of narcissistic giggles”

Classic Vonnegut philosophy packed in a rambling package. Good for fans, probably annoying for the uninitiated.

2.5

Jerry Bunin
Similar to an earlier book, Palm Sunday, Fates Worse than Death: An Autobiographical Collage of the 1980s is a 1991 collection of Kurt Vonnegut’s essays, speeches, and other previously uncollected writings. In it the great American 20th Century humorist, humanist and social critic discusses his attempted suicide, his upbringing and childhood in Indiana, his education at Cornell University, Carnegie Tech, University of Tennessee, and University of Chicago, and life experiences that are found in his novels. He describes it as a “collection of essays and speeches by me, with breezy autobiographical commentary serving as connective tissue and splints and bandages. Here we go again with real life and opinions made to look like one big, preposterous animal.” If you like Vonnegut and the conversational style he writes in both his fiction and memoirs, you will find this book funny, insightful, thought-provoking and entertaining. I did. He always makes me laugh and think. No one I have read does a better job of making me see what America is and should be.

Originally published in 1991.

This collection of essays is basically Vonnegut's commentary on the 1980's. It was interesting to note how many of his essays (or parts thereof) address current day problems. I don't know if that means there are some problems that are timeless or if it simply means that we have just ignored the problems and they have festered. I know what Vonnegut would say:

"We probably could have saved ourselves, but were too damned lazy to try very hard...and too damn cheap." (p. 116, Essay XI)

There are 21 essays (some are actually transcribed speeches), a preface and a lengthy Appendix with multiple essays. Like any collection, there are good ones, mediocre ones and even a couple of terrible essays here. But, I found this collection to be pretty good, especially if you space them out.

I rate this collection 4 stars out of 5.

See all of my reviews of Vonnegut's works here:
https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/sear...

A little boring, I skipped around in some chapters but there are some good essays in here worth reading.

3.5 stars. Vonnegut is always worth reading. Solid, not stellar.

“He told me off camera that he was despised by his neighbors for remembering when it was time to forget.”

“Non sono andato a scegliermi gli antenati e considero il mio cervello e il mio corpo come una casa che abito, costruita molto tempo prima che fossi nato.” (p. 28)
 
“Io so essere più svelto della Chiesa Cattolica Romana nell’annunciare chi è santo, dato che non richiedo prove da aula di tribunale sulla capacità dimostrata dal tal dei tali in almeno tre occasioni, di compiere magie con l’aiuto di Dio. Per me è sufficiente se una persona […] trova senza difficoltà che tutte le razze e le classi sono ugualmente rispettabili e interessanti, e non le ordina secondo il loro denaro.” (p. 219)

9/10
Zbiór esejów i tekstów krótkich wszelakich - jak zawsze w takim przypadku bardzo nierówny, ale kilka to absolutne "must read".

Rating: 10/10
I'm not much into Vonnegut's fiction, but his collections of essays and speeches, as seen in this book, Wampeters, Foma and Granfalloons, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage, and A Man Without a Country, are literally the best books I've ever read across all genres. They are my Sacred Texts. They're the only books that I'll insist my children read when they're a bit older.

Like most Vonnegut it's rambly, profound, and the intimate stories he tells about his life are incredibly insightful. Easy and engaging, it was a pleasure to read. Highly recommended to the karass of hardcore Vonnegut fans.