Kurt Vonnegut wrote "A Man without a Country" when he was in his early eighties. He gives the reader a glimpse into his mind, talking about his experiences and how they have shaped his belief system. His thoughts on where we stand today are written with wit, humor, wisdom, and sometimes with a strong sense of melancholy. Vonnegut gives the reader excellent reason to take a moment of self-reflection and recognize that a life can be easily squandered if lived without a sense of mindfulness. The lessons he teaches encourage the reader to take stock of the good things and people around them and to try and find a way to live life with a sense of humor, empathy, and even a little humility. It is a wonderful book that draws attention to some societal issues that are obvious yet still ignored. As a veteran and a student of philosophy, I found Vonnegut's words to resonate quite heavily with my own belief system.
Gleaned from short essays and speeches composed over the last five years and plentifully illustrated with artwork by the author throughout, "Only Kidding" delivers Vonnegut both speaking out with indignation and writing tenderly to his fellow Americans.