I recently read this fantastic novel, and i wish to discuss its heavy philosophical qualities. Am I the only one who thinks it is full of Existentialism? I also adore it’s Anti-war, and moderate anarchism, and all the wonderful questions of live and death.
I’d love to be able to answer you, Seand, but I haven’t read the book. All I can say, then, is welcome to ILP and I hope you enjoy your stay. 
Maybe it’s because you cannot speak or read the language, you should 
Perhaps seand, if for those who havent read it, you put forwards some philosophical inquiries, conundrums and positions from the book, then we can discuss them? What did it say to you etc…
Thank you Quetz.
Before i read “Johnny”, the most meaningful, the most important book, i had ever read was “Animal Farm” by George Orwell.
A few months ago, me and a buddy were listening to Metallica’s And Justice For All, and the classic “ONE” came on. My buddy is much older than me, and he told me how he read “Johnny Got His Gun” In highschool, and thats what the song was about. He told me it was by far his favorite book, and that it changed his life, and his views on politics, war, and soldiers.
When I was younger, i was a definitive teenage anarchist. I didnt follow rules, didnt follow many laws, did drugs, all the typical rebellious overrated crap. Whenever i saw an R.O.T.C. kid, i made fun of him, gave him shit as we say around here. same with Army guys when they’d visit my highschool. I hated war, I hated our government, And i hated anyone who fought in the wars for our government.
Joe Bonham hit my softspot.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVENT READ JOHNNY:
SPOILER ALERT: (i will gave the same info my buddy gave me, and the same info metallica gives you)
Joe Bonham was a small town teen, With a loving family and a sweetheart. He gets drafted to ww1, and gets blown up by some sort of landmine or grenade. He wakes up completely bandaged, and he slowly realises that he has no arms or legs. He later realises he has no ears, and no eyes. his jaw is gone, and cannot speak. he is in what he calls the “womb”, living only off of tubes, much like a baby. Except he has his mind. Hell, all he has is his mind. The entire book is a trip through Joe’s life, and his everchanging ideas about war.
This book, vulgarly put, f*****d me up. I even cried at parts, especially the “Both arms kareen, i’m holding you here with both of my arms kareen, both of them, both of my arms, arms arms arms. But i have no arms kareen, they cut them off. I cant hold you kareen i have no arms” - paraphrase as best as i could.
This book is heavily philosophical, and it made me think just as much if not more, than Franz Kafka did in Metamorphosis, and Orwell did in Animal Farm, and even Bradbury in Farhenheit 451.
I will never spit at an militiaman again, or shun them. I have always had an antiwar attitude, though i acknowledge fighting and violence is indeed in human nature. This book displayed an attitude i picked up from a political band , Systwem of a Down, years ago, the idea of “why don’t the presidents fight the war”.
I like alot of these ideas, and I dont mind the idea of the old style duel, With two men of power with each a gun and so many steps between them.
Moreover, however, i dislike guns in general. Call me a nerd, but i much prefer older weapons, weapons such as the bow or the swords. much more hands-on, and weapons that will make you feel far more guilty for killing someone, or not.
Everyone else, go on fro mthere, bring in your own ideas about the topic. Those of you who have read Johnny, talk away about what you thought. People who havent, i want a response anyways. tons have viewed this post, and only an eighth or so have replied. i want to hear opinions. : D
Now that I’ve read reviews, I’m quite chastened and wonder why I’ve never read what has been hailed as an American classic. The book is on order.