When first published circa 1957, this exposé of the advertising industry caused something of a furor. (I was only seven years old, but I noticed people talking about it.)

Much of what it contains is old news now, almost sixty years later, but it still presents a fascinating snapshot of a time when America was in the process of losing its innocence.

The BrothersVonnegut: Science and Fiction in the House of Magic by Ginger Strand

Bernard, a research scientist at General Electric, and isworking on cloud seeding (making the clouds rain by introduction of chemicals).

 Kurt goes to war, college, get married and eventually finds employmentat GE as well, but in the public relations department.

It was interesting to see how many of Kurt’s experiences hisbrother’s work integrated into his stories. It was also quite a treat to readthe genesis of his characters and stories (what they were like at the roughdraft and what they became by the finished product).

I must confess though that I have never read anything by Vonnegut(though I will now). I heard an interview with the author last week and thebook sounded fascinating…and it was.