This enjoyable and easy-to-read book about the end of the world and about a weapon worse than the atom bomb highlights Vonnegut’s dismal view of reality. The fictitious religion in “Cat’s Cradle”—Bokononism—is theological, but is both deistic and nihilistic in nature. The proverbs of Bokonon riddled throughout the book show the inner-connectedness of all things, but also to the meaninglessness of all things, too.

Much of Vonnegut’s pessimism resulted from his time in World War II and the atrocities he witnessed. Throughout the book, the futility of human violence and war, and the brutal way in which humanity interacts with one another, is presented purely as evil and twisted. A few ironic and poignant moments in the narrative point to the false ways in which we cope with and even glorify war and battle, and I found these little nuggets rewarding—along with the many humorous outtakes and mishaps in the story!