One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Description
In this classic novel of the 1960's, Ken Kesey's hero is Randle Patrick McMurphy, a boisterous, brawling, fun-loving rebel who swaggers into the world of a mental hospital and takes over. A lusty, life-affirming fighter, McMurphy rallies the other patients around him by challenging the dictatorship of Big Nurse. He promotes gambling in the ward, smuggles in wine and women, and openly defies the rules at every turn. But this defiance, which starts as a sport, soon develops into a grim struggle, an all-out war between two relentless opponents: Big Nurse, backed by the full power of authority...McMurphy, who has only his own indomitable will. What happens when Big Nurse uses her ultimate weapon against McMurphy provides the story's shocking climax.
Show more

BUY THE BOOK

272 pages

Average rating: 7.65

136 RATINGS

|

10 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

Allison123!
Jan 09, 2024
8/10 stars
Well, this one is a classic as it should be considered. You’ll feel every emotion possibly navigating this institution with our boys. I would recommend every human read this.
margardenlady
Dec 27, 2023
6/10 stars
Well, this was on one of those lists. And i do like to cross things off lists. I wasn’t sure that I would make it through the whole book, there was so much violent treatment of the residents of this special ward. The story moves in a more empowering direction but a lot of the cultural expectations are mired in 1960s language and acts.
E Clou
May 10, 2023
8/10 stars
This book is amazing but often excruciating to read, especially at the beginning when it’s slow, and the end when it has become clear what is going to happen. Also it hasn’t aged well and the misogyny and racism feel brutal.
Anonymous
Apr 07, 2023
8/10 stars
Really brilliant book - I haven't actually read anything like it before so even though it was written 50 years ago it was refreshing, different! Very powerful investigation into life in a mental hospital but also has many allegories to life in the general and the systems which maintain/restrain us. Such an unexpected hero comes along to turn this whole world on its head; people start questioning the system, standing up for themselves, believing i...read more
Natlamm
Feb 16, 2023
8/10 stars
I listened to the audiobook and John c Reilly was an amazing narrator for this book.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.