Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons (Opinions) is a rare opportunity to experience Kurt Vonnegut speaking in his own voice about his own l... read full description
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Jan 23, 2012
MJ
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This collection of nonfiction demonstrates amply why so many people fall headlong in love with Vonnegut—all aspects of his cranky humanity, his unimpeachable morality, his hard-won cynicism are on show over these twenty-five pieces. The title isn’t particularly catchy: readers of Cat’s Cradle will recognise the terms which Vonnegut says represent his dabblings in nonfiction. Not so. Among the brilliance here includes his take on SF as a literary art, his ornery take on the moon landing and a lov
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Nov 01, 2011
Anne
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I enjoyed the Playboy Interview at the end of this book the most. But here are some other great passages:
"Well - it would be a drab world without meaningless social aggregations. There would be a lot fewer smiles, and about one-hundredth as many publications."
"Earthlings who have felt that the Creator clearly wanted this or that have almost always been pigheaded and cruel. You bet."
"Kids don't learn nice manners in high school anymore. If they met a More...
"Well - it would be a drab world without meaningless social aggregations. There would be a lot fewer smiles, and about one-hundredth as many publications."
"Earthlings who have felt that the Creator clearly wanted this or that have almost always been pigheaded and cruel. You bet."
"Kids don't learn nice manners in high school anymore. If they met a More...
Nov 15, 2010
wally
rated it: 
....ooooo....opinions.....
give it a shot. you get some idea of vonnegut, the man, where he came from, what his obsessions include, what he ignores and so you wonder why...he had a sheepdog named sandy. sandy sounds like an interesting dog. he took a trip down the inter-coastal waterway aboard a yacht owned by joe kennedy...the trip consumed 1,522 gallons of gasoline and elsewhere vonnegut worries about the planet, all we're consuming. and so on.
interesting tale about biafra.. More...
give it a shot. you get some idea of vonnegut, the man, where he came from, what his obsessions include, what he ignores and so you wonder why...he had a sheepdog named sandy. sandy sounds like an interesting dog. he took a trip down the inter-coastal waterway aboard a yacht owned by joe kennedy...the trip consumed 1,522 gallons of gasoline and elsewhere vonnegut worries about the planet, all we're consuming. and so on.
interesting tale about biafra.. More...
Jan 13, 2012
Harold
rated it: 
Nothing less than five stars will do for this one.
I wanted to have a better concept of Vonnegut’s personality in preparation for reading Kurt Vonnegut’s biography “And So It Goes.” I thought a book of non-fiction by KV would be appropriate so I revisited this after nearly 40 years since my first reading. I remembered virtually nothing from my original read. My intent was to read a chapter now and then and to alternate with several books of short stories and non-fiction I’ve been read More...
I wanted to have a better concept of Vonnegut’s personality in preparation for reading Kurt Vonnegut’s biography “And So It Goes.” I thought a book of non-fiction by KV would be appropriate so I revisited this after nearly 40 years since my first reading. I remembered virtually nothing from my original read. My intent was to read a chapter now and then and to alternate with several books of short stories and non-fiction I’ve been read More...
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Jan 06, 2011
Kate
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I loved this book because I love Kurt Vonnegut and reading his opinions made me feel closer to him as a person, which may sound weird, but I really admire him. I also really enjoyed this book because, even though it was a book of his opinions, he wrote them in a fictional way. I really liked the story "Fortitude" because it was a story about the evils of technology (at least, that's how I read it) and how people succumb to it without realizing that it's happening. I also really liked h
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May 01, 2011
Patrick
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‘Wampeters, Foma & Granfalloons’ is a collection of essays, speeches, and reviews from Kurt - along with one piece of fiction and one interview. Certainly, it isn't on par with his fiction, but neither does it pretend to be. This is a book for those who have already read most of what else Kurt Vonnegut has written. The reviews are nothing to write home about, though some of the essays are quite good - but his public speeches, as always, make for excellent reading. There is a handful of them in h
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Jan 31, 2012
Jim
rated it:
Good stuff here for fans and for future fans. A good read if you're a writer or want to be in the future.
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Oct 31, 2010
Erik
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I like Kurt Vonnegut not only for his humorous and imaginative novels and short stories but also for his politics, his values. Not only has he added his name to many a worthy petition and appeared on many a plstform, but when The Nation, the oldest news weekly magazine in the USA, was in financial trouble, Vonnegut, Doctorow, Vidal and other writers bailed them out without demanding editorial control. This collection represents something of where Vonnegut came from and what he believed in, muc
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Oct 01, 2011
Hansen
rated it:
WFG includes Vonnegut’s gripes from Biafara to capitalism, religion and poetry—an amalgam of pessimistic gold in a wooden world…
On religion, it suffices to read one page. Morality? “We don’t need bigger brains. We don’t need more information. All that is required is that we become less selfish than we are.” (166) Spirituality? “The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy: To teach the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to console the sad, to reprove the sinner, to forgive the offender, to bear with More...
On religion, it suffices to read one page. Morality? “We don’t need bigger brains. We don’t need more information. All that is required is that we become less selfish than we are.” (166) Spirituality? “The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy: To teach the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to console the sad, to reprove the sinner, to forgive the offender, to bear with More...
Sep 06, 2007
Tracey
rated it:
It seems somewhat appropriate to be reading Wampeters, Foma and Grandfalloons at this point in time as several of the enclosed essays deal with war.
Specifically, Vietnam, but also a heartbreaking piece on Biafra, which existed "for three Christmases and a little more"; a country that most of my generation have probably never heard of. Vonnegut also writes about the Cape Cod mutilations of 1968-69 - for which I could only find one passing reference on the web. (Most of the B More...
Specifically, Vietnam, but also a heartbreaking piece on Biafra, which existed "for three Christmases and a little more"; a country that most of my generation have probably never heard of. Vonnegut also writes about the Cape Cod mutilations of 1968-69 - for which I could only find one passing reference on the web. (Most of the B More...
Aug 24, 2007
Traci
rated it:
Vonnegut has some amazing things to say in this book. It's a collection of opinion or essay pieces rather than a novel. One or two of the pieces are kind of boring but the rest I highly recommend.
On America, Vonnegut says:
"And her dad (Nixon) would say in an acceptance speech that night among other things, 'We covet no one else's territory. We seek no dominion over any other people. We seek peace not only for ourselves but for all the peoples in the world.' This More...
On America, Vonnegut says:
"And her dad (Nixon) would say in an acceptance speech that night among other things, 'We covet no one else's territory. We seek no dominion over any other people. We seek peace not only for ourselves but for all the peoples in the world.' This More...
Dec 12, 2007
Paul
rated it:
While this compilation consists mainly of what seems to be speeches to the intelligent, sensitive elite there are moments where Vonnegut's voice tenders on single events and themes, something his books avoid.
Whereas his novels have diverse intricate morals, Wampeters, Foma, and Granfalloons often gives the reader the opportunity to read exactly what was ravaging Vonnegut's opinion. The most personal event comes in his report of the doom in Biafra. Writing with the intimate conviction tha More...
Whereas his novels have diverse intricate morals, Wampeters, Foma, and Granfalloons often gives the reader the opportunity to read exactly what was ravaging Vonnegut's opinion. The most personal event comes in his report of the doom in Biafra. Writing with the intimate conviction tha More...
Jul 26, 2009
Billie
rated it:
This was a good, little book by an angry humanist. He was a man who liked to upset expectations. He told people who were concerned with truth to believe in myths and seek extended families in complete strangers, and he reminded folk that fiction is so effective because it glorifies aspects of humanity we would never think to glorify and never would otherwise. Even if you disagree with the man, he was nothing short of candid. I couldn't recommend this book enough. This is my second favorite book
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May 04, 2011
Emily
rated it:
I really liked this book because it was a culmination of the author's own opinions on cultural issues and situations during noteworthy times in history. It also contains speeches, addresses, a play, and an interview that he conducted with Playboy. Ever the satirist, Vonnegut isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks even if he knows it will upset you. It is my goal to read all of his work, fiction or nonfiction. I may even go back and re-read some of his work that I read in high school.
Mar 15, 2009
Chris
rated it:
I learned from this book a good bit of what was already apparent to me from reading Vonnegut's fiction. He had seemingly little faith in humanity and a learned pessimism that came in part, probably, from serving in the military and possessing more than half a brain. This book is a collection of essays and written versions of speeches that he gave after becoming a famous author. It's an interesting glimpse of the thoughts of someone I consider to be a master. It wasn't an amazing reading expe
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Aug 02, 2011
Vonnegut was right: his nonfiction is not as good as his fiction. But though it is at times dated, didactic, and repetitive, this breezy little collection of essays is still worth picking up, for several interesting takes on events of the 1960s and 1970s and for a slightly different angle on the author's worldview.
Jan 02, 2009
Vince
rated it:
I'm not a humongous fan of Vonnegut, but I do enjoy his essays. His honesty in his writing struck me. I can't recall a contemporary novelist with a political outlook and philosophy that is so relevant and clear even today. I might go back and give some of his novels a new look.
Jul 22, 2011
Mynameisandycostello
rated it:
I will never read Vonnegut the same way again. I feel I understand him with so much greater focus now. Perhaps it is due to changes in my own life, but nonetheless, this book is a welcomed dose of the voice of an friend and fellow American that I dearly love.
Apr 03, 2010
David
rated it:
Wampeters offers a look at Vonnegut the man, a sort of back-stage pass to how his brain works. The first-person writings include essays, reviews of other authors' work, speeches, and the collection-ending Playboy interview—the latter of which he alludes in the introduction to having doctored.
The book is almost as much a window into the contemporary political climate (and Vonnegut's views thereon) as it is a collection of the author's works. What I enjoyed most were the speeches, whic More...
The book is almost as much a window into the contemporary political climate (and Vonnegut's views thereon) as it is a collection of the author's works. What I enjoyed most were the speeches, whic More...
Feb 09, 2011
Catherine
rated it:
I wish more people would read Kurt Vonnegut instead of wasting their time on Dan Brown and Twilight. Vonnegut was such a compassionate, thoughtful, and wise individual. He had an extremely perceptive understanding of humanity and our society. All of his stories are filled with important messages regarding the way we treat one another and what will come of lives driven by greed and materialism.
This book is a compilation of short stories, speeches, and interviews. I enjoyed every page. More...
This book is a compilation of short stories, speeches, and interviews. I enjoyed every page. More...
Jan 07, 2011
Jason
rated it: 
An odds and sods collection, this is like the Dead Letter Office of Vonneguts career. Lacking a clear focus (public speeches, nonfiction journalistic articles, etc.) maybe its more like his Rattle and Hum.
Oct 08, 2009
Lindalee
rated it:
I rated all the Vonnegut books I read 5 because he was my favorite author for years. What I remember most about this one is his essay on Biafra that was orginally published in McCalls. It really moved me.
Feb 01, 2010
Travis
rated it:
This is the last Kurt Vonnegut book I had to read. Now that I am finished with this one I have read everything ever published by Vonnegut. It's such a bittersweet moment.
This, like Fates Worse Than Death and Palm Sunday, is yet another collage of opinions, speeches, and essays but Vonnegut. A little, quirky play is even thrown in. There are maybe one or two dull chapters, but this is still a book that lets you delve even farther into Vonnegut's brilliant mind. And it just makes you w More...
This, like Fates Worse Than Death and Palm Sunday, is yet another collage of opinions, speeches, and essays but Vonnegut. A little, quirky play is even thrown in. There are maybe one or two dull chapters, but this is still a book that lets you delve even farther into Vonnegut's brilliant mind. And it just makes you w More...
Jun 16, 2009
Short writings of Kurt Vonnegut. Mostly speeches and interviews. It is him being him. In other words, it isn't fiction (except for one story I believe).
Sep 17, 2009
Sarah Anne
rated it:
I really like his Playboy interview at the end of the book. Some of the other essays/speeches were very good, but some weren't so great.
Aug 31, 2011
Edmund
rated it:
Several interesting non-fiction pieces, curious to know more about Biafra. Love the humanism of Vonnegut.
Feb 05, 2009
Cody
rated it:
This is a great collection of short essays and speeches made by the writer. It explains some of his linguistic references (i.e. the title) and it shows Vonnegut's insights into life, marriage, and other things. Good for light reading.
Jan 21, 2009
Mark
rated it:
At one time, Vonnegut was not only the world's greatest novelist, but its greatest essayist, too.
Oct 01, 2009
Alex
rated it:
Not much connective tissue holding this random collection of reviews, speeches, interviews and essays together. For Vonnegut devotees only.
