Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut

Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Crazy that this book was written in 1961. When people have nothing special about themselves, and someone/something comes along to make them feel special, their willingness to adhere to that thing is indefatigable in the worst way. Like cult members who hold on to a belief because they want to be able to shout to people, “I told you so!” The aftermath of war and violence, and especially the idea of a “golden age,” accelerates these delusions, and people even try and co-opt the successes of those before them just because they came from the same country.

Campbell’s drift toward propaganda instead of writing is of note. It’s so easy to drift towards things that give positive feedback instead of those that might evoke criticism, like a theater piece. Propaganda, on the other hand, makes money, gives power, and true art is not likely to be as fruitful.

Aimlessness is to be taken advantage of. The devaluation of creativity removes people’s sense of self and blocks them from the interiority of others…

This book is immensely clever and an all-timer.

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