logo

99 pages 3 hours read

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Cat's Cradle

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1963

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Book Brief

logo
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Cat's Cradle

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1963
Book Details
Pages

179

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

San Lorenzo • 1960s

Publication Year

1963

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In the early 1960s, writer John investigates the day the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and delves into the life of Dr. Felix Hoenikker, whose invention helped create the bomb. His journey takes him to the fictional island of San Lorenzo, where he learns about the ice-nine substance Dr. Hoenikker created, and the perils it presents. The narrative explores themes of science, technology, and religion against the Cold War backdrop. This text addresses death by suicide and sexual assault.

Mysterious

Dark

Contemplative

Informative

Reviews & Readership

4.3

424,188 ratings

79%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s Cat's Cradle merges dark comedy with science fiction, exploring humanity's flaws through satirical prose. Critics applaud its wit and inventive narrative but note its fragmented plot can be disorienting. Its cautionary tale about technology and religion remains resonant, earning praise for Vonnegut's incisive social critique and memorable characters.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Cat's Cradle?

A reader who would enjoy Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is likely someone who appreciates satirical, thought-provoking literature with a blend of dark humor and science fiction. Fans of Slaughterhouse-Five by Vonnegut or Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, which also scrutinize societal issues through a critical and comedic lens, will find it compelling.

4.3

424,188 ratings

79%

Loved it

16%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

179

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

San Lorenzo • 1960s

Publication Year

1963

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.