Technological Innovation: God Bless You Mr Vonnegut!

Seen today on Time’s website the expected yet sad announcement of Mr Vonnegut’s death at 84 today, April 24th, 2007. I know that – apparently at least – it hasn’t much to do with innovation, but in fact it does. Vonnegut was an amazing satirist who had captured the spirit of the 20th century, and the next one too, amazingly well.

Technological Innovation: God Bless You, Mr Vonnegut

Technological Innovation: God Bless You Mr Vonnegut
Technological Innovation: God Bless You Mr Vonnegut!

His sense of humour will be deeply regretted, as well as his critical view on science (Cat’s Cradle, 1963) and innovation (in his visionary novel Player Piano, 1952). So, as parting words, to paraphrase you, God Bless You Mr Vonnegut! and thank you for all these wonderful books.

PS: Incidentally, last night I finished my night-time reading and I was only a few pages from the end of Slaughterhouse-five (1969), his fascinating account – through fantasy characters such as Billy Pilgrim namely – of the insanity of war and the bombing of Dresden at the end of WWII. This is my second reading of this book, by far his most popular one, the one that made him famous.

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