Vonnegut claims that "God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater" is a novel about people whose leading character is money. The protagonist, Eliot Rosewater, has inherited millions of dollars (earned from robber baron ancestors) in a charitable foundation used as a tax shelter. He, however, uses it as an actual charitable foundation. His father thinks he's crazy for giving away money; a lawyer and a cousin want to prove he's crazy to get his money; his wife doesn't think he's crazy, but can't stand it in any case.

However, while money does feature prominently, it would be a mistake to think that the novel is about money. A recent Goodreads review describes it in terms of Occupy Wall Street: "If you belong to the one-percent economic bracket, prepare to be mocked by Kurt Vonnegut. If you are a 99-percenter, prepare to realize that the joke's still on you." However, money is just the flavoring, not the dish itself. The rich folks range from charitable to greedy and industrious to lazy and ignorant, and being charitable is the experiment of someone who is far from normal.

I see this, like many of Vonnegut's works, as a humanist novel. The book is about loving people even if they're useless, annoying, greedy, or ignorant. Even if they hate you. Even if they say "God bless you, Mr. Rosewater" ironically egotistically. His baptism was also great: "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies -- God damn it, you've got to be kind."

Some people criticized the ending, but I liked it. I can understand the criticism -- it was abrupt. However, it was also fitting. It felt right for the characters, right for the story, and right for the message. Also, the musical rendition of the ending was pretty fun (don't listen to it if you don't want a spoiler).

God bless you, Mr. Rosewater.

'God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater' is a novel about conflicting social viewpoints, specifically, socialism vs. capitalism (although, to be fair, I would have to say ultra-capitalism, considering the vast wealth of all the people involved). I am a huge Vonnegut fan, and although this book was good, and had many quotable lines, it was missing a key element that most Vonnegut stories have in abundance: a plot. There is no actual plot here, nor is there really a resolution. The psuedo-plot follows the attempt by Eliot Rosewater to use his inherited vast fortune to help the less fortunate, while his father attempts to bring him back into the fold (start using his money for what it was intended, making more money), before an opportunistic lawyer from the firm that handles the Rosewater fortune declares Eliot insane, thus putting the money in the hands of another branch of the Rosewater family. In reality, the book is mostly a social commentary centering mostly on debates/arguments between Eliot (the "socialist") and his father (the "capitalist"). What I found really amazing in the book, is how it illustrates the genuine fear that the rich have of any type of socialism, not because it threatens their vast wealth (that is pretty secure), but because it runs contrary to the way they believe things are supposed to be, the most extreme type of social darwinism. The rich in this novel don't consider the system to be unfair and they don't consider themselves "lucky", in fact, they look at the fact that they are rich as proof that they actually ARE better than everyone, and that their fortune is actually given to them in a divine manner, as if God himself chose them to be rich and above everyone else. Most of the characters in this book, especially the Rosewaters, are all on the extreme side of their coin, probably not reflecting any sort of reality, but it does make the book fun to read. Who will like this book? Only Vonnegut fans probably, or anyone that wants to see capitalism and the rich portrayed in the worst possible way.

This book is a rather interesting one, with a fair dose of humor and philosophy. This is the first book by Vonnegut which I've read and I found his writing style easy to read and very entertaining and witty. I can't say I agree with his economic philosophy - I tend more toward capitalism than socialism - but I appreciate the unique way he put his ideas across. The titular character, Eliot Rosewater, is in charge of administering the family fortune with power to do whatever he wants with it. At one point in his life, he decides to abandon the trappings of a rich lifestyle in favor of a more modest one. He moves to a backwards county home to lots of people labeled as worthless by upper society. While there, he offers to help anyone in need however he can, whether it includes providing money or other types of support.

While the people in need are very grateful to Eliot, most outsiders seem to look on his actions as evidence of his insanity. Eliot seems to be an alcoholic, but that bothers his father and others far less than his concern for the welfare of strangers. It's clear from Vonnegut's portrayal of Eliot's critics - his father and others each have their own issues - and the way they voice their criticisms that he's firmly on Eliot's side. Who wouldn't be - he's just a regular guy using his inheritance to help out the less fortunate. I find it interesting how Vonnegut seems to be pushing for people who can to help out the less fortunate, rather than having the government handling it. This approach to socialism is quite different - it's voluntary and individual. Even more importantly, Vonnegut makes a case against class distinction. The people Eliot helps need simple recognition as human beings and emotional aide even more than money. Too many people are like Eliot's father - too aloof and snobbish to give common people a second thought.

A fun read. A moral lesson. Didn't end well. For any of us.

You'll have to read it see what I mean.

But superficially: the ending just quit. Vonnegut had to wrap it up somehow, and I don't much like how he did it. But it was probably the only way he could. (I must confess to have kept reading it, in part, just to see how he was going to get out of it!)

More from me without ruining it for you? Ummm, don't think so.

Let's just say this: What if you were born filthy rich and realized that that was unthinkably unfair? What if you actually acted like Jesus said we should act -- and, as a result, people thought you were crazy?

Fortunately it's a problem almost none of us will ever have to face.

The joy of caring for humans, who will crucify, draw-and-quarter, or sell you out to the highest bidder is behind Eliot Rosewater’s mad dash through the Hoosier heartland. Funny, sad, and remarkably insightful, God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater is a profoundly important book on the human condition. I HIGHLY recommend it for anyone who’s ever had to deal with human beings…..

Great book but was bent in shipping.

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater is a book about an extremely wealthy man who inherited his money from his father. Eliot has no real purpose in life and becomes obsessed with volunteer fire fighting after a tour of a firehouse. He trades his expensive suits for those like the firefighters wear because he wants to be more like them. Eliot begins to find purpose in life by spending his money, through his foundation, to help those less fortunate than himself. He takes it to the extreme, even allowing someone to live in his mansion while he lives in a small apartment and giving cash to anyone who asks for it at any hour of the day. Others on the foundation do not support these decisions as they feel some people are taking advantage of his untethered generosity. He believes that everyone deserves help, regardless of socioeconomic status. He may be extreme in how he handles this revelation that helping others makes his life much more fulfilling, but he doesn't care if people think he is insane for doing it. Overall, this is a good book and Eliot makes the point that no one person is better than another and it is right to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

I lost my copy and this is a favorite of mine. Had to replace this unforgettable book!

Getting to know about Kurt Vonnegut is one of the fewer sweetest things ever happened in my life. This is my 15th book of Vonnegut for the record and it primarily deals with the most humane lesson I could ever think which is being kind and loving to the people one is not familiar with, irrespective of who they are and why they do or don't. I know it all sound like an emotional outburst but it's honest and pathetically genuine. God bless you, Mr. Vonnegut and I'm glad to have found you in this vast crazy universe.

This is in my opinion one of the better Kurt Vonnegut books, where he brings all the insight and razor sharp criticism of the (modern) US society to bear like Duerrenmatt does for Switzerland (Meine Schweiz.: Ein Lesebuch) or Ryu Murakami does for Japan (but without the latter's violence). The book is focused on an inherited fortune, the people living off it and those wanting by all means to acquire it.

You have mental instability, sleazy lawyers, parodies of the moneyed classes and generally an indictment of both inheritance as a mechanism and the mediocrity it often (though by no means always) breeds. Yet it is not a one sided tirade against the rich or an uncritical endorsement of those financially less fortunate - mediocrity is addressed irrespective of what social strata the subjects are from.

The book is also a typical Vonnegut in its writing style, which may well make it a love it or hate it piece of work. It has plenty of quotable lines, is funny as well as somewhat chilling in its occassional prescience, and it definitely draws you in, in spite of the wealth of disparate characters and nothing so conventional as a linear storyline.

I found the book similar in style to the author's Breakfast Of Champions (Vintage Classics) and am sure that everyone who liked that one cannot go wrong here. It certainly requires being able to take a critical look at oneself to truly enjoy but is definitely well worth it.

Great product, fast delivery

Having heard about KV on, (of all things) a TV quiz show, my curiosity was aroused. I like subtle comedy, intrigue and something different. Kurt delivers on all three. The story is both inane, yet compelling, laughable yet with a contemporary message for society, and the style of writing kept me connected to the characters completely. I shall be reading more of Mr Vonnegut.

Droll in the way all of Vonnegut's books are..