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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest  By  cover art

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

By: Ken Kesey, Robert Faggen - introduction
Narrated by: John C. Reilly
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Editorial review


By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST CONTINUES TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO

My introduction to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was certainly not a standard one. Rather than starting with the novel by the counterculture writer Ken Kesey or watching the iconic film starring Jack Nicholson, I was cast in a high school theatrical production of the work. Having only done lighthearted musicals up to that point, Cuckoo’s Nest was my first taste of dramatic acting. I remember feeling both shocked and intrigued by the script, pulling from my one year of AP Psychology to try to understand the medical terminology peppered through the pages.

Though I had been exposed to politically motivated works in school before (classics like 1984, Animal Farm, and Fahrenheit 451), I had never experienced one that addressed these issues with such realism. Rather than creating a world that is close to home yet different in some way, Kesey transports us to what feels like a real-life psychiatric hospital in the 1950s. Nurse Ratched and her gang of nurses, orderlies, and security personnel rule over the ward with an iron fist, threatening anyone who steps out of line with electroshock therapy or, for those "beyond fixing," lobotomy treatments. With the arrival of upstart patient Randle McMurphy, the lives of everyone in the hospital are changed forever.

Our narrator in this story is Chief Bromden, a larger-than-life Native American inpatient who is always sweeping the halls. Other standout characters are Dale Harding, an insecure man who hides his homosexuality by voluntarily committing himself, the nebbish Billy Bibbitt, and the overly talkative Charles Cheswick. McMurphy—who enters the ward as a means of dodging the draft, not because of overt mental illness—challenges the status quo, bringing a rebellious spirit to these men and others in the ward, while slowly driving Nurse Ratched up a wall.

Continue reading Seth's review >

Publisher's summary

A 50th-anniversary edition of Ken Kesey's searing American classic.

Boisterous, ribald, and ultimately shattering, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has left an indelible mark on the literature of our time. Turning conventional notions of sanity and insanity on their heads, the novel tells the unforgettable story of a mental ward and its inhabitants, especially tyrannical Big Nurse Ratched and Randle Patrick McMurphy, the brawling, fun-loving new inmate who resolves to oppose her. We see the story through the eyes of Chief Bromden, the seemingly mute half-Indian patient who witnesses and understands McMurphy's heroic attempt to do battle with the powers that keep them all imprisoned.

Hailed upon its publication as a "glittering parable of good and evil" (The New York Times Book Review) and a "roar of protest against middlebrow society's Rules and the invisible Rulers who enforce them" (Time), Kesey's powerful book went on to sell millions of copies and remains as bracing and insightful today as when it was first released. This new deluxe audio edition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the original publication of the novel on February 1, 1962, and will be a must have for any literature lover.

©1990 Ken Kesey (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks

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What listeners say about One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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Good

This was a good book although a bit dated. It was written about the time after the 2nd world war so some terms made me cringe. Racial terms. But I think it was meant to reflect that era not the present. I saw the movie and so I knew the ending. The story and what it says is still very valid and well worth a read.

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Powerful book, read excellently by John C. Reilly

This book is a story about dignity and indignity. It's compelling and beautifully told. John C. Reilly makes every personality come alive.

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Excellent Narration to an Amazing Book

The narroration for this book was superb. This book is a must listen for all audible users.

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John C Reilly kills

one of my favorites and John C. Reilly absolutely kills production and performance are really top notch

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A phenomenal story.

Going into this book I had a bit of a struggle with it since, I am not a person who reads often. That being said though, I enjoyed this narration with different voices for each character and the wonderful scenery described.
I have seen the movie dozens of times although, this book brings more weight to the characters that the movie couldn't have time for. However, now I will have a deeper appreciation for a great movie that is based off a terrific book.
I highly recommend One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest if you are curious at all about it.

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Excellent in every regard

Amazing writing, perfectly narrated. Riveting. In a day and age where mediocrity reigns, this is even more obviously brilliant in every way.

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Amazing voice for this story!

Amazing telling of the story. Really made it come alive! I can't imagine hearing anyone else read it.

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Incredible!

Granted, I’m a John C Reilly fan as it is, but this was hands down the best reading of a book I’ve ever listened to. From beginning to end, he made every word feel genuine and engaging. This tragic comedy is a perfect reflection of how broken our mental healthcare system used to be, but still allows the audience to feel the joys and struggles of making the most of a bad situation. It’s an eye opening perspective into the lives of those suffering with mental illness, and shows how they are just as human as all of us. This book was already a classic and an amazing read on its own, but the added touch of an actor of John’s caliber takes it to a whole new level. I highly recommend.

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Listening to a book I read years ago

The narrator is one of the best I've heard on Audible. Very animated. This book has so much hidden meaning. It is one of my favourites. I recommend this book.

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Amazing

Better than I remember! John C. Reilly is outstanding.

Hollywood needs to remake this and give Chief Bromden his due. There’s so much more to his story in the book. I was expecting his character to be offensive given the time this was written, but he was wonderful.

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