This novel is a biblical allegory, although you don't realize that until the final sentence. The story follows the life of Eliot Rosewater, an heir to a fantastic fortune and son of a famous Senator who takes over control of the family foundation and decides to use it to live in poverty and help those deemed useless in society. It also details the attempts of a crooked lawyer to have him declared insane and profit off the transfer of the foundation to distant relatives.

In this book, Vonnegut continues to explore the value of human life and to call into question the notion of progress and societal advancement. I am not as much a fan of the plot and story details, but the book is well written, crisp, and witty. It's among Vonnegut's best, especially in his pre-Slaughterhouse 5 period, but just not one of my personal favorites.