Cat's Cradle

Kurt Vonnegut · 1922–2007 · USA

Why it matters

Ice-nine, a doomsday substance, and Bokononism, a religion of useful lies: apocalypse as deadpan farce. The Cold War's absurdity distilled into chapters short enough to read between shudders.

At a glance

Short punchy chapters and dry wit make Vonnegut's satire go down easily.