Cat's Cradle
Kurt Vonnegut
22 people recommended it in 14 threads, 2008–2020.
What people on Hacker News said
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut. I enjoy all of Vonnegut's work, but Cat's Cradle is a magical perfect novel.
Above, in chronological order, are the books that changed my life. It is weird looking at that list, as each book is tied to such a fundamental shift in my life. They each taught me about something fundamentally new and different.
Re-reading Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle after being in Silicon Valley after a while really illuminated the character-type I found myself surrounded by: emotionally detached geniuses absentmindedly ruining the world.
His style of storytelling is just great. He leaves so much off the page with his short style that at the end you get that feeling you’ve experienced something profound that can’t quiet be put into words.
The story gradually unfurls itself from the first few pages and new layers are constantly being added. It was written a few years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki but seems even more relevant today.
Fiction: Cat’s Cradle by Vonnegut and Ender’s Game by Card have been transformative.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life? 2020 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading these days? 2015 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Please name two of your most favorite books. 2009 · 2 recommendations
- Ask YC: What's the most inspiring sci-fi book you've read? 2008 · 2 recommendations
- Klutz Press: books built for learning stuff 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift? 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2015? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2014? 2014 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which book are you reading? 2013 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best book you read in 2011 2011 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What was the latest book you read? 2009 · 1 recommendation