Fates Worse Than Death: An Autobiographical Collage

FATES is Vonnegut near his best. Fully exhibiting a deft ability to shift through subjects, decades, moods and viewpoints, the work is a tour de force. Subtitled "A Collage of the 80s" it, like all of his better works, is a collage of his life and much more. Written during the "don't worry, be happy" Reagan era, the author reveals deep concern over the direction of this nation and the world, and offers personal glimpses of human suffering in Africa and Southeast Asia which reveal a profound humanitarianism. Asked to contribute to a 1988 time capsule destined for our heirs a century hence, he wrote that we should have carved this in "great big letters on a Grand Canyon wall," WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE SAVED OURSELVES, BUT WERE TOO DAMNED LAZY TO TRY VERY HARD. And then the afterthought, AND TOO DAMNED CHEAP. Something to think about as we count the probable cost of taming global warming, if it isn't already too late.

These essays give us a rare look in to the mind of a genius. He expounds on subjects ranging from mental illness, family relationships, death and war. Sounds depressing, but an optimism shows through. Vonnegut masterfully points out the adsurdity around us and shines the light of sanity on it. The essays are as relevant and mind opening today as they were when he wrote them over a decade ago. Although this is not the Veonnegut work I would recommend to someone unfamiliar with his work, anyone will benefit from reading it.

I prefer non-fiction works and this one from Vonnegut is very entertaining and presents his views of society and the world. His social commentary is very funny and I highly recommend it. The absolute worst part of this book is that it ends.

Here in this book we get Vonnegut's cynical but honest commentary on everything from talk show hosts to his own experiences with suicidal depression. Some of the chapter's are extremely pessimistic in their outlook, but hit home so well that they can leave you feeling quite down about the human race and it's apparent race headlong towards suicide. However, Kurt's dark sense of humor is here as always and even more prevalent than usual. You'll be laughing out loud at things that are really anything but funny. But that is the genius of Vonnegut, he can have you laughing and wryly amused while reading, but after done, his greater impressions stick in your head and leave you provoking thought. He is truly a gifted writer. Although not as fast-paced as his fiction, this book is a fine and interesting read. Most notable to many readers, surely, will be his perceptions and thoughts on his experiences in World War II and the effect it has since had on him. His religious observations are interestings as well, and funny, to wit: "In order not to appear a spiritual quadripelgic to those trying to get a hold on me, I sometimes say that I am a Unitarian Universalits (I breathe.)" This is certainly a must-read for any Vonnegut fan, but you will want to have devoured a significant amount of his fiction and know a little bit about the man before tackling it.

This is a great book for anyone who likes Kurt Vonnegut. If you enjoyed Slaughterhouse Five, you will enjoy hearing him recount stories about his experience in WWII, and also others. The thing that I love about Kurt Vonnegut is his ability to make you laugh on the surface, but hours after you have read his work, you think about the more serious issues raised. There are some parts of this book that are somewhat slow, but if you stay the course you will enjoy this one.