2 B R 0 2 B

First published in 1962, Kurt Vonnegut’s 2 B R 0 2 B is a sharp, darkly satirical short story set in a future where population control is strictly enforced: for every new birth, someone must volunteer to die. The title references a phonetic twist on Shakespeare’s famous “To be or not to be,” cleverly turned into the phone number for the Federal Bureau of Termination. Through the eyes of a father awaiting the birth of his child, Vonnegut explores themes of overpopulation, government control, and the value of life with his trademark wit and irony. Compact yet profound, this story remains a powerful commentary on society and human choice.