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Description
We Are What We Pretend to Be: The First and Last WorksCalled our finest black humorist by The Atlantic Monthly, Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Now his first and last works come together for the first time in print, in a collection aptly titled after his famous phrase, We Are What We Pretend To Be. Written to be sold under the pseudonym of Mark Harvey, Basic Training was never published in Vonnegut s lifetime. It appears to have been written in the late 1940s
Called our finest black-humorist by The Atlantic Monthly, Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Now his first and last works come together for the first time in print, in a collection aptly titled after his famous phrase, We Are What We Pretend To Be.Written to be sold under the pseudonym of Mark Harvey, Basic Training was never published in Vonnegut s lifetime. It appears to have been written in the late 1940s and is therefore Vonnegut s first ever novella. It is a bitter, profoundly disenchanted story that satirizes the military, authoritarianism, gender relationships, parenthood and most of the assumed mid-century myths of the family. Haley Brandon, the adolescent protagonist, comes to the farm of his relative, the old crazy who insists upon being called The General, to learn to be a straight-shooting American. Haley s only means of survival will lead him to unflagging defiance of the General s deranged (but oh so American, oh so military) values. This story and its thirtyish author were no friends of the milieu to which the slick magazines advertisers were pitching their products.
When Vonnegut passed away in 2007, he left his last novel unfinished. Entitled If God Were Alive Today, this last work is a brutal satire on societal ignorance and carefree denial of the world s major problems. Protagonist Gil Berman is a middle-aged college lecturer and self-declared stand-up comedian who enjoys cracking jokes in front of a college audience while societal dependence on fossil fuels has led to the apocalypse. Described by Vonnegut as, the stand-up comedian on Doomsday, Gil is a character formed from Vonnegut s own rich experiences living in a reality Vonnegut himself considered inevitable.
Along with the two works of fiction, Vonnegut s daughter, Nanette shares reminiscences about her father and commentary on these two works both exclusive to this edition. In this fiction collection, published in print for the first time, exist Vonnegut s grand themes: trust no one, trust nothing; and the only constants are absurdity and resignation, which themselves cannot protect us from the void but might divert."
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Published: 10/08/2013
ISBN: 9780306822780
Pages: 161
Weight: 0.40lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.56w x 0.47d
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Great Book for 8 month old!
Format: Board book
This book is extremely high quality and was in great condition upon arrival. Our daughter loves this book. Its well written, and it has an actual plot for her to follow. I love that the book isn't overstimulating colors, it has a well balanced color profile.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great for young readers!
Format: Board book
Very cute book, just the way I remember it, with thick pages for easy grabbing. The colors are vibrant and the shiny scales are shimmery! Package arrived on time and just as described.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Adorable, sparkly little board book for youngsters!
Format: Board book
Quick book about sharing and friendship. Beautiful board book with sparkles on the fish. Including the cover, there are 6 pages to turn. I bought for the kids I babysit (age 11 months and age 4). Excellent little book for a child or teacher's library!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Came damaged due but great book
Format: Board book, Format: Board book
Came damaged and badly bent probably due to packaging but still usable. The book is great and fantastic nostalgic moments with our 1 year old.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Classic Kids Book
Format: Board book
The Rainbow Fish is one of those children’s books that has been around forever for a reason. The story is sweet and the illustrations are beautiful. It is a great book to read with kids and one that seems to stick around in family libraries for years.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2026