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If This Isn't Nice, What Is?
- Advice for the Young
- Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins, Scott Brick
- Length: 2 hrs and 23 mins
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If This Isn't Nice, What Is?
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Summary
Master storyteller and satirist Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most in-demand commencement speakers of his time. For each occasion, Vonnegut’s words were unfailingly unique, insightful, and witty, and they stayed with audience members long after graduation.
As edited by Dan Wakefield, this book reads like a narrative in the unique voice that made Vonnegut a hero to readers and listeners of all ages. At times hilarious, razor-sharp, freewheeling, and deeply serious, these reflections are ideal for anyone undergoing what Vonnegut would call their "long-delayed puberty ceremony" - marking the passage from student to full-time adult.
This book makes the perfect gift for high school or college graduates - or for parents and grandparents who remember Vonnegut fondly and want to connect with him in a new context.
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Editor reviews
This selection of commencement speeches from legendary author Kurt Vonnegut will prove a thoroughly comforting companion for recent graduates as they move out into the so-called real world and attempt to determine their own place within that often overwhelming realm.
Vonnegut's advice, dispensed at countless graduation ceremonies over the course of his life, is by turns moving and comical, indelibly stamped with his unique outlook on the world, and voice actors Kevin T. Collins and Scott Brick take great pains to capture his distinctive authorial tone in their performance. Vonnegut is sometimes sardonic, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes straightforward, but he is always empathetic, a fact well-reflected in Collins and Brick's thoughtful narration of this inspiring work.
What listeners say about If This Isn't Nice, What Is?
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- Suzanne Lindberg
- 16-12-22
Absolutely loved it!
This is the first Kurt Vonnegut book I’ve read and it was so enjoyable. So frank and honest. Bleak honesty but also inspirational.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Saima Baig
- 25-01-24
Gems from Kurt Vonnegut
Really amazing thoughts from one of the best writers. Everyone should read / listen to this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Normas Yakin
- 27-04-22
i wish I had the same
Same wit and same way of talking. I imagine he was quite an inspiration.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dave Woodall
- 24-07-22
Excellent life advice with entertaining delivery.
Excellent life advice with entertaining delivery. The content was well shared between the two narrators.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Norma Miles
- 16-03-23
"
)
"Life is no way to treat an animal."
Taken from lectures given by Kurt Vonnegut, mostly to graduating students, this is a gentle look at his own sometimes eccentric but always very reasonable outlook on life as well as a brief biography of the man himself.
Beautifully narrated by Scott Brick, Vonnegut seems to come alive, talking to us, his audio audience. Would have been five stars but for the repetition towards the end of the book. Definitely recommended - and free to download with Audible plus.
'Goddam it, you've got to be kind'
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mr. S. B. D. Henderson
- 24-09-16
That was lovely!
I love being reminded of the brilliance and insight of Vonnegut... This did that perfectly!
Just wish it was longer...
May have to re-listen to Cats Cradle now...
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Mr Chris Green
- 11-04-22
Great but lots repeated
I wish they had edited it so we didn’t get the slightly different retelling of the same story or advice. Otherwise great
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Caroline S.
- 12-04-22
Confusing!
Although I did enjoy KV's commentary, I found it hard to follow (not from a logic standpoint, but that it seemed to be snippets of speeches that followed no logical flow). I think overall, this would have been better presented by themes rather than talks.
The narrator was good.
I've read KV's works before. Although I don't agree 100% with his POV, all the time, he is a legend of our time
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Duncan Russell
- 04-01-21
heartwarming freethinking compassionate funny
Kurt Vonnegut holds his wisdom and his childlike wonder in either hand and shows them to us so that we may marvel at both. It made me happy to listen to his speeches. True, there is repetition and not too many themes, but I didn't care. It's just so refreshing to hear such a cogent and brave American voice speak so well about the human condition and what is required of us as Planet Earth's most destructive tenants.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- H. Fosdike
- 16-03-18
Just wonderful
It's Kurt Vonnegut giving life advice. What's not to like? As his Uncle used to say, if this isn't nice, what is?
The narration is clear and makes for an easy listen. A lovely way to spend a few hours even if a few moments in the book are repetitive.
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