Cat's CradleCat's Cradle
Score Classic
What it's about
A young writer sets out to interview the children of one of the scientists behind the atomic bomb, and ends up on a Caribbean island ruled by a dictator, where a substance called ice-nine threatens to freeze the world. Kurt Vonnegut's apocalyptic satire features an invented religion and a cast of unlikely heroes.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of Vonnegut's major works, a darkly funny satire of science, religion and human folly.
You'll love it if you liked
Breakfast of Champions
Catch-22
The Sirens of TitanGood to know
It's short, with very short chapters. It's funny and bleak at once.
By the numbers
- Readers69 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller36 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #124 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #156 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #392 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1334 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Moving, Dark
More by Kurt Vonnegut
Breakfast of ChampionsThe Sirens of Titan
Slapstick
JailbirdIf you like this, read next
Gravity's Rainbow
Franny and Zooey
Gormenghast
Infinite Jest
Cat's Eye
Point Counter PointExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Cat's Cradle worth reading?
Yes. It's one of Vonnegut's major works, a darkly funny satire of science, religion and human folly. It ranks #1,334 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Cat's Cradle about?
A young writer sets out to interview the children of one of the scientists behind the atomic bomb, and ends up on a Caribbean island ruled by a dictator, where a substance called ice-nine threatens to freeze the world. Kurt Vonnegut's apocalyptic satire features an invented religion and a cast of unlikely heroes.
How long does it take to read Cat's Cradle?
About 8 hours (306 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Cat's Cradle?
If you liked it, try Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller or The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.