“The truth was so terrible… provide the people with better lies,” So argues Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle. The meaning of the title is unraveled as the book progresses. Cat’s Cradle becomes more than a game; it becomes a way of seeing the world.

he novel follows aspirational writer, John “Jonah” Hoosier, as he collects material for his iconic book, The Day the World Ended. The novel within a novel refers to the day Americans bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Scientist, Felix Honniker, considered the ‘father of the atom bomb’ dies while experimenting with his newest invention ‘ice-nine’. Ice-nine is said to have the power to freeze any body of water it touches and any body of water that feeds into it. The dangerous weapon soon falls into the hands of his dysfunctional children, Angela, Frank and Newt, who split the tiny capsules between them. Jonah tracks down all three children in an attempt to gain better insight into the life of their odd but brilliant father and the elusive ice-nine.

What follows is a fast-paced novel that dares its readers to keep up and ‘stretch their minds’. The majority of the novel takes place on the imaginary island of San Lorenzo. On his flight there, Jonah is exposed to a group of people with varying beliefs and he later reflects on how they fit into the religion of Bokonism. Bokonism is a religion ‘built on lies’, arguing that lies allow people a better quality of life. Whether that’s true or not is left to the readers to decide.

With a large cast of characters, the voices can start to meld together, however, Vonnegut’s main cast speaks loud and clear, just like his satirical observations. A peculiar book that doesn’t just manage to bring you into the story, you can’t help but stay along for the ride. The language is simple and easy to understand, making the author’s ideas accessible to those willing to listen. For those looking for a sense of purpose or meaning, this book isn’t for you. But for others who are seeking a stimulating and thought provoking book, look no further than Cat’s Cradle.