“A Man Without a Country”
by Kurt Vonnegut
Published: September 2005
ISBN: 158322713X

(Updated: June 10, 2006.)

From the Publisher…

A Man Without a Country is Kurt Vonnegut’s hilarious and razor-sharp look at life (“If I die-God forbid-I would like to go to heaven to ask somebody in charge up there, ‘Hey, what was the good news and what was the bad news?’”), art (“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”), politics (“I asked former Yankees pitcher Jim Bouton what he thought of our great victory over Iraq and he said, ‘Mohammed Ali versus Mr. Rogers.’”), and the condition of the soul of America today (“What has happened to us?”). Gleaned from short essays and speeches composed over the last five years and plentifully illustrated with artwork by the author throughout, A Man Without a Country gives us Vonnegut both speaking out with indignation and writing tenderly to his fellow Americans, sometimes joking, at other times hopeless, always searching.

Kurt Vonnegut is among the very few grandmasters of contemporary American letters, without whom the very term “American literature” would mean less than it does. His novels include Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five, among so many others. Projects with Seven Stories Press in recent years include God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian and, with Lee Stringer, Like Shaking Hands with God, a book about writing. His most recent novel is Timequake (1997). In addition to his writing, Vonnegut is a visual artist of note. His paintings and prints can be seen at www.vonnegut.com. He lives with his wife, photographer Jill Krementz, in New York City.

I am such a fan of Mr. Vonnegut’s writing. Definitely.

The world opened and expanded and was filled with such amazing “stuff” on discovering Cat’s Cradle through a satire course in high school. At the very least knowing that there was someone “out there” who thought about this stuff, took it to heart, expressed it through mind, continued to move it along in body was so what? “Reassuring” isn’t the right word. Just “good” I guess.

And… I have enjoyed the voyage of Mr. Vonnegut’s writing ever since. Actually, more than that, I have enjoyed, looked forward to, contemplated, reflected on where “we” now were according to his perspective, view, positioning, experience over and through the years. (And, yes, I write “we” given that I definitely feel part of Mr. Vonnegut’s “karass”… that group of beings who for whatever reason, towards whichever purpose, in whatever way find themselves linked.)

I will miss Mr. Vonnegut when he is gone. Perhaps an odd thing to write but not at all so if you read his work. He has struggled with “staying” — why, how — always. He has always carried and put forth the view of what he will leave behind. That is the largeness of his work… the ability to bring past and future so wonderfully into the present. This book is no exception. And again I am reminded how I will miss his “presence”.

Some quotes that stood out for me in this book…

“George W. Bush has gathered around him upper-crust C-students who know no history or geography…”

“…what made being alive almost worthwhile for me, besides music, was all the saints I met, who could be anywhere. By saints I meant people who behaved decently in a strikingly indecent society.”

“‘The good Earth — we could have saved it, but we were too damn cheap and lazy.’”

“…I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’”

And… I urge you to read this book if you have a chance. It’s short. It’s succinct. What would have taken maybe a whole book twenty years ago to examine and conclude on now is seemingly articulated in a line or two. It is so very, very worth the minutes.

And, that written, I actually don’t know what reading this book would be without the amazingly rich background of writing and experience and perspectives and concepts and short forms that come with knowing his body of work but… I’d sure take a shot at it “anyway”. Maybe you’re part of the club too and only didn’t know it yet :o)