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PLAYER PIANO
 
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PLAYER PIANO (Mass Market Paperback)

by Kurt Vonnegut (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)

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4 new from CDN$ 43.49 7 used from CDN$ 9.88

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Product Description

Vonnegut's spins the chilling tale of  engineer Paul Proteus, who must find a way to live  in a world dominated by a supercomputer and run  completely by machines.


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Vonnegut's first novel spins the chilling tale of engineer Paul Proteus, who must find a way to live in a world dominated by a super computer and run completely by machines. His rebellion is a wildly funny, darkly satirical look at modern society.
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Customer Reviews

61 Reviews
5 star:
 (25)
4 star:
 (22)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:
 (4)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (61 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars top 2, Jan 9 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Player Piano (Paperback)
This is one of my two favorite Vonnegut books (along with Galapagos), but I disagree with those who have posted the opinion that the true value of the book is Vonnegut's earily prophetic vision of social dinamics in post-industrial America. I believe that Vonnegut's intent was to convey his opinion of what constitutes fundamental human dignity (usefullness to others, in Vonnegut's opinion). Read in such a way, this book flawlesly illuminates the indignity of social welfare and mechanization.
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1.0 out of 5 stars A disappointingly dull book, April 29 2004
By K. Bergherm "Katilo" (Westmont, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Player Piano (Paperback)
As a fan of Vonnegut's writing, I was extremely disappointed with this book. It has a good story premise but it doesn't really go anywhere. The basics of this story: Vonnegut depicts America as a land run by machines. All the humans must have a doctorate in order to be considered qualified for any jobs because machines have been built that efficiently replace lower workers. There is very little mention of children, but the few that are brought up merely point out the struggles of trying to pass tests for degrees and then fighting 500 others for the one job opening available. The protagonist, Dr. Paul Proteus, gets fed up with his machine dominated environment but doesn't have the will to commit himself to opposition until he is forced into it. There is a second story line with a diplomat from another country touring America as his host tries to convince him of the need to replace humans with machines in his own country. The host fails in his mission as things fall apart in the end.

Basically, I thought there were too many strings left hanging in this book. Vonnegut would start off on a tangent, with such extreme description, but then there was no real resolution. Like, what happened to the farm? I was especially disappointed in the ending, expecting more out of Dr. Proteus than was given. So many things were left unexplained that I felt like I was wasting my time reading this book. I would become interested in one aspect only to find myself filled with more questions left unanswered.

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5.0 out of 5 stars One to add to my collection, Aug 11 2003
By Tom Roberts (Sacramento, California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Player Piano (Paperback)
Some books I can plow through in an afternoon, regardless of the number of pages. However, every time I read something by Vonnegut, it becomes so deeply philosophical and thought-provoking that I can only take it in small bites.
It's about the future of America. It was written in 1952, as his first novel. In the book, a computer takes over the U.S. and most of mans' work has been taken by machines. Citizens are split into two groups: the ones who have high IQs and the ones who don't. In an almost communist society (where the government takes certain steps to ensure a person's well-being through provisions), a few people decide to call for a revolution against the machines, with surprising twists and an ironic ending.
It made me consider how much of my life seems automated--wake up, go to work, go home, repeat--and how much more I need to be less mechanized and more human.
This is a book that I think I'll buy so I can re-read it.
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Still relevant in 2004?
The scenario of Player Piano is just a little unrealistic, when compared to today's reality: yes, computers seem to be taking over much of the work formerly done by humans (or... Read more
Published on April 14 2004 by Kris

5.0 out of 5 stars one to add to my collection
Some books I can plow through in an afternoon, regardless of the number of pages. However, every time I read something by Vonnegut, it becomes so deeply philosophical and... Read more
Published on Aug 11 2003 by Barbara Reynoso

3.0 out of 5 stars A Too-Successful Revolution
Player Piano is the story of an unlikely uprising against an over-industrialized society, which proved to be too successful and reminds the reader to "be careful what you... Read more
Published on May 20 2003 by buddyhead

4.0 out of 5 stars Vonnegut's First Novel
His writing style was not fully developed, and the series of events went in order, but for his first novel, Player Piano is a great book about a totalitarian soicety, a revolt... Read more
Published on April 23 2003 by K. Bentley

5.0 out of 5 stars Still a good read after many years.
This book offers an interesting view of social politics as they were in the 50's, and still are. This book tells us what we are all rather blind to see, which is that we really do... Read more
Published on Mar 26 2003

1.0 out of 5 stars Out of line
I'm slowly working my way throught the Vonnegut library; I've read about 12 books so far. Player Piano is far, far below the rest. Read more
Published on Feb 12 2003 by Michael D. Fleetwood

5.0 out of 5 stars Golden Satire
I agree with a professor of mine when he told me that Slaughterhouse Five is better written, but Player Piano is more entertaining. Read more
Published on Jan 14 2003 by j_kane

4.0 out of 5 stars player piano
player piano is vonnegut jr.'s first novel describing the completely automated future of illium new york. Read more
Published on Jan 7 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars brilliant.
This book was really thought provoking, and despite my suspicions that it would be just another 1984 type book, it wasn't at all. Read more
Published on Nov 21 2002 by S. Bell

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Vonnegut book
Perfect read in today's society. I'm an engineer and it is very humorous, yet enlightening.
Published on Nov 19 2002

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