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If This Isn't Nice, What Is?  By  cover art

If This Isn't Nice, What Is?

By: Kurt Vonnegut
Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins,Scott Brick
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Editorial reviews

This selection of commencement speeches from legendary author Kurt Vonnegut will prove a thoroughly comforting companion for recent graduates as they move out into the so-called real world and attempt to determine their own place within that often overwhelming realm.

Vonnegut's advice, dispensed at countless graduation ceremonies over the course of his life, is by turns moving and comical, indelibly stamped with his unique outlook on the world, and voice actors Kevin T. Collins and Scott Brick take great pains to capture his distinctive authorial tone in their performance. Vonnegut is sometimes sardonic, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes straightforward, but he is always empathetic, a fact well-reflected in Collins and Brick's thoughtful narration of this inspiring work.

Publisher's summary

Master storyteller and satirist Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most in-demand commencement speakers of his time. For each occasion, Vonnegut’s words were unfailingly unique, insightful, and witty, and they stayed with audience members long after graduation.

As edited by Dan Wakefield, this book reads like a narrative in the unique voice that made Vonnegut a hero to readers and listeners of all ages. At times hilarious, razor-sharp, freewheeling, and deeply serious, these reflections are ideal for anyone undergoing what Vonnegut would call their "long-delayed puberty ceremony" - marking the passage from student to full-time adult.

This book makes the perfect gift for high school or college graduates - or for parents and grandparents who remember Vonnegut fondly and want to connect with him in a new context.

©2013 Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Copyright Trust (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Featured Article: 70+ Unforgettable Kurt Vonnegut Quotes


Kurt Vonnegut had an extremely productive career, penning everything from plays to short stories to full-length nonfiction. Drawing on his experiences of war, life, and love, Vonnegut’s powerful messages were delivered so creatively—and often quite satirically—ensuring that they stood the test of time. This assortment of Kurt Vonnegut quotes is just a glimpse of the gems found throughout the works of this great author.

What listeners say about If This Isn't Nice, What Is?

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Life advice from the ultimate cynic

Life advice from Kurt Vonnegut narrated by Scott Brick is worthwhile listening even if one disagrees with much of it.

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11 people found this helpful

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This IS nice

What did you love best about If This Isn't Nice, What Is??

The man! I love his wisdom, his simple way of telling truths we all need to hear. He is funny, also when he talks about serious topics

Who was your favorite character and why?

Vonnegut himself

What did you learn from If This Isn't Nice, What Is? that you would use in your daily life?

I wrote a blog post after listening to it, about following your dreams. I felt inspired to talk about my knowledge in psychology, and thought I must learn to say important things like he does. I will listen to it again, to use some of the questions he asks, with clients

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8 people found this helpful

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Lovely

This is a nice little collection of speeches from an excellent writer and thinker. If you're very familiar with the author, you probably won't find much new, but it is an easy and concise read that will stimulate your mind weather you agree with him or not.

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6 people found this helpful

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What can I say!

The master of pointing out the obvious that most people overlook said it all again.

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Wonderfully. quotable

Great ideas for new grads and also for anyone who is thoughtful about life. I'll listen tho this again and again because of this isn't nice, what is?

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Loved it!

Five stars all around! A wonderful book full of wisdom and thought provoking ideas. This ought to be required reading in college English 101.

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If this isn't nice, what is?

Great messages cleverly delivered by the author and well-performed by the reader. Some content repeats from speech to speech, but not at any detriment to the overall experience.

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Loved this book!

I found this audio book entertaining, thought provoking, and funny. I highly recommend this book.

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Very Good, Highly Enjoyable

This is a very good book, I really enjoyed it, Recommend for the young and old alike, a collection of commencement speeches from Kurt Vonnegut, There are fourteen speeches in all (11 at colleges; the Indiana Civil Liberties Union speech; the speech when he received the Carl Sandburg Award; and the anti-war speech he gave months after the publication of Slaughterhouse-Five. Kevin T. Collins and especially Scott Brick were awesome as narrators.

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My all time favorite book

This is a wonderfully uplifting collection, I listen to
It whenever I feel life stalling around me. And Scott Brick is a narrator that I seek out. Definitely worth a listen.

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