60 pages 2 hours read

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Player Piano

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1952

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Player Piano, set in a dystopian future where machines control nearly all jobs, follows Doctor Paul Proteus, head of the automated Ilium plant, as he grapples with societal inequality and the suppression of human purpose. Inspired by his freethinking friend Ed Finnerty, Paul begins to question and rebel against this mechanized world leading him to join the revolutionary Ghost Shirt Society.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. presents a dystopian future with a compelling critique of automation and its effects on human identity. Readers praise its prescient themes and dark humor but note some character development feels thin. The narrative's pacing can be slow, impacting engagement. Overall, it's a thought-provoking, if occasionally uneven, debut.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Player Piano?

Readers who enjoy dystopian tales and critiques of automation will appreciate Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Player Piano. Fans of George Orwell’s 1984 or Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World will find a compelling narrative exploring the dehumanizing effects of technology on society and individual agency.

Recommended

Reading Age

16-18years

Lexile Level

930L

Book Details

Genre

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

American Literature

Fantasy

Topics

History: World