JailbirdJailbird
Score Classic
What it's about
Walter Starbuck, a mild, forgettable man who once worked in Washington, is released from prison after a minor role in the Watergate scandal. Looking back on his life, from his idealistic youth through the labor movement and McCarthyism, he wanders New York and runs into a bag lady from his past who secretly owns one of the biggest corporations in America.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It's Vonnegut's gentle, satirical look at American capitalism and idealism.
You'll love it if you liked
Slaughterhouse-Five
Breakfast of Champions
The Sirens of TitanGood to know
It's episodic, with a long prologue about real labor history.
By the numbers
- Readers15 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller45 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #264 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #722 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2547 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Thought-provoking
More by Kurt Vonnegut
Breakfast of ChampionsThe Sirens of Titan
Cat's Cradle
SlapstickIf you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods ThemselvesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Jailbird worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,547 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 57.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Jailbird about?
Walter Starbuck, a mild, forgettable man who once worked in Washington, is released from prison after a minor role in the Watergate scandal. Looking back on his life, from his idealistic youth through the labor movement and McCarthyism, he wanders New York and runs into a bag lady from his past who secretly owns one of the biggest corporations in America.
How long does it take to read Jailbird?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Jailbird?
If you liked it, try Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut or The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut.