No Country for Old Men (Book) - Thug Notes Summary & Analysis

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From plot debriefs to key motifs, Thug Notes’ No Country for Old Men Summary & Analysis has you covered with themes, symbols, important quotes, and more.
No Country for Old Men (2005)
by Cormac McCarthy
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[@delilah022809]

+Wisecrack I just wanted to say thanks for making these vids. I have a younger nephew that isn't growing up in the best of neighborhoods, so he's at school hanging around with the wrong crowd, being a fool, being "to cool for school" I showed him your vid about The outsiders which is a book they're reading at school, and seeing you acting like a thug, talking about books, and analyzing them, he said maybe reading isn't that bad afterall. You might have changed someones point of view moving him in a better direction. Thanks

[@WisecrackEDU]

Thanks for watching, so happy to hear it helped your nephew. I've shared your story with the whole team here. Thanks! :)

[@VirtueInsightWebPage]

+Wisecrack Could you really please consider doing a Thug Notes for the short 18th century satire novel Candide by Voltaire? it'd be perfect material to review on Thug Notes, lots of people get Ghost'ed (or do they)? its an adventure, its morbidly funny, and has got some sick twist awesome shit to boot! Seriously though, like please?

[@shmupshmuppewpew5260]

+Virtue & Insight Great idea, seconded!

[@jaccuse4086]

+Wisecrack Aw that's cute

[@lu.ciel8770]

delilah022809 I'm glad to hear that! I'd also love to see a Candide video, its one of my favorite books.

[@rahjeel]

Anton Chigurh is one of the best villains ever created.

[@MrWiibetrollin]

*Hero

[@Emerald88]

If not THE best

[@aiden4163]

So cold and calculated one of the few vilians who in the end got what they wanted

[@jackburton3540]

@TakeoutLime47 he ain't wrong

[@centerfold8]

ARGENT 191 like Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction

[@waterdamnaged]

This analysis forgot to mention the antidepressants you'll need to read any novel by Cormac McCarthy.

[@BigBoss-sm9xj]

waterdamnaged lol

[@jackburton3540]

My English teacher said that the road changes a man and I believe him. I'm scared to read it. The guy had a thousand yard stare while talking about it. I had to write an essay for AP on just a clipping of one of his novels and I felt like taking a shower.

[@Ligierthegreensun]

Jack Burton honestly the road wasn’t as depressing as no country or blood meridian. Blood meridian will mark your soul.

[@jackburton3540]

@@Ligierthegreensun yeah, I haven't read any of those three yet, but I did see the ncfom movie which was fucking dark. I did read the crossing. That had me sad

[@winstonmiller9649]

Anti'D's really? So what you're trying to say is Cormac is a real head trip? I just had a image of Nick Cage and Kylie singing Eliza Day. Beautiful but... A real trip. Kna' mean?😊😊💕

[@franciscofalabella4644]

"Things are the way they are, and we are just passively participating in this cosmic clusterfuck" That was insanely hilarious and deep at the same time.

[@DEVILMATE1996]

One obvious problem. He didnt count his phat stacks. Otherwise he would have found the tracker device that gave him away and the movie would end in 15 mins.

[@DEVILMATE1996]

Oh book. Lol

[@gman52712]

Its funny though, because when you look at the common ways he is tracked, it makes me think that he wouldnt have gotten away. He would have had to remove the transponder without touching it and then burnt his boots and change the tire types on his truck AND never tell his wife about that money, so they dont have to go anywhere. The Mexicans and Chigurh could have just started looking at recently vacated homes and gone from there.

[@alsimmons3808]

Plus the shootout didn’t happen in Mexico. He crossed the border after Chigurh jacked him up.

[@mrghosting7217]

Very true

[@nateds7326]

Or 30 pages

[@AscensionOfAuriel]

" Is Carson Wells there?" " Not in the sense that you mean."

[@b0x1n9f4n]

Only I Will Remain one of the best lines ever.

[@AlltimeConspiracies]

Never got round to reading this one! Going to bloody have to now. Awesome.

[@goblair84]

Well..?

[@DaltMc]

Good read! Can usually be read in about a day or less.

[@philipsalama8083]

DaltMc I couldn't get through it. The story and characters are fantastic but the punctuation (or lack thereof) puts me off. We have commas for a reason.

[@DaltMc]

Understandable. I think that was why I was never able to finish The Road. McCarthy has a writing style that isn't for everyone.

[@wesleymitchell4698]

Alltime Conspiracies reminds me of sophomore year of college

[@Lily_Bun]

"Things are the way they are, and we're just passively participating in this cosmic clusterfuck." Truly words of wisdom.

[@homeiswonderland]

Finally Audible found a channel related to reading...

[@mario167100]

Call it.... -Anton chirgruh

[@Eddwardsroseresfoo]

mario167100 frendo

[@mario167100]

***** You need to call it, i can't call it for you.

[@mario167100]

***** You've been putting it up your whole life, you just didn't know it...

[@mario167100]

***** Well done.

[@matthew1882]

The Plains Jam "If the rule you followed brought you to this, what use was the rule?"

[@ambrosiaplatypus]

The book is much more interesting than the movie. After the hotel shootout between Moss and Chigurh, Carson Welles goes to investigate. He goes up into one of the rooms and finds an old woman with her now dried brains blown out, and it's implied that the bullet came from Moss' gun. I think this is what makes Moss realize that he's harming a lot of other people with his actions and call up Carson.

[@supakid3128]

All the innocent people who died were killed by Moss after he took the money. Anton Chigur couldn’t have killed them, no one could even prove he exists.

[@akhilnair1137]

That movie is as good of an adaptation this book could have ever got.

[@reservoirfrogs2177]

The movie and book offer equally good experiences. The movies ending is a lot better, the book drags out the ending too much and that's the only complaint I have

[@yonischott]

@@reservoirfrogs2177 right I gave up at some point kept going on and on with Bell’s thoughts

[@yonischott]

@@supakid3128 really? he kills the wife so how could he not exist?

[@Fakenit66]

Ooooh! Do "Blood Meridian" please!

[@mattfarber8478]

+Fakenit66 DO It

[@---wq9xp]

YEEEESSS

[@celestialangel666]

+Fakenit66 yes, please, do that one! or "All the Pretty Horses".

[@theninjainblack1237]

+Fakenit66 SOMEONE ELSE LOVES THAT BOOK?!?! I have been asking Sparky to analyze Blood Meridian for more than a year, but to no avail.

[@celestialangel666]

+Liam Griffin That was probably the first McCarthy book I read, and the fact that it's not being done...for shame, Sparky! Granted, that book IS dark, but still! we need to get it reviewed!

[@ShawnRavenfire]

Do Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!

[@WisecrackEDU]

Will do!

[@feynmans467]

+Wisecrack Can you take 2 strokes off of my golf game?

[@WisecrackEDU]

+dKim Look at meeeee

[@bradley8614]

+Wisecrack Can you do The Prince and the Pauper

[@kimberly8695]

+Wisecrack Can you do "Age of Innocence"?

[@jones520]

Right now you HAVE to do The Road

[@gwkonyoutube]

Where does that profile picture come from? I see EVERYONE with that damn picture!

[@azorazan]

+George W Kush it's the cover from madvillainy, check it out if you're into any kind of hip-hop

[@MyogaReyao]

+George W Kush I think it's MF DOOMs album art for Madvillany

[@joypopoola6115]

yes!

[@jonreed7104]

+George W Kush One of the most critically acclaimed rap album.

[@esim101]

awsome job you did.

[@tynoguchi7450]

Yoda?

[@esim101]

+Ty Noguchi most excellent homie, he is.

[@Hambuga97]

+Roy Wolf this is amazing lmao

[@jaccuse4086]

+Freddie Fonda Call it.

[@EC-uc3lr]

"I can't call it for you, it wouldn't be fair."

[@legoinsomniac]

Earthling Cinema on No Country next!

[@imyourhuckleberry7692]

You guys deserve a lot more credit than you get. This was exceptional!

[@hackfraud7842]

You should do a video series where you guys analyse lyrics

[@WisecrackEDU]

+The King Slayer oo Check out the Michael Jackson vid to hold you over: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4Tdo6CBmbmpeqs

[@Lowkey-NoPressure]

+Wisecrack I liked that video. Thriller is a great album! What do you think of doing more poetry on this show? It's a bit confusing because a large part of the show is humorous plot summaries and a lot of poetry doesn't have a plot, but I feel like we're missing out on a bunch of important literary figures. Anyway, I love this show, keep up the good work. My suggestion for the next topic: Stranger in a Strange Land! Or Hyperion.

[@haroldgar1]

I into what you do! Really great stuff, I'm already an Audible member so I will be listening to No Country For Old Men, next.

[@VincoMalus]

Worth the wait, as always! Great episode

[@SlamifiedBuddafied]

Another book I should read. I've only seen the film version of No Country for Old Men and that was a truly excellent film. Great analysis. Looking forward to what's next.

[@gambit37]

Do Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"!

[@christinamichelle8023]

I just found your page I really enjoy it I can't believe how professional it is good work!!

[@ravenk7149]

these episodes are binge worthy....good stuff!

[@bpleitez]

I miss this dude.

[@Splurgendii]

awesome episode! more Cormac would be great! COG or BloodM?

[@72thekel]

My new favourite YT channel! Awesome content

[@seen921]

Good work, Friendo

[@HighPeerAeon]

"The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" by Laurence Stern would make a great episode.

[@puglosipher1666]

"The Road" by Cormac Mccarthy

[@cas04aa]

How am I just now finding this channel?? I love this guy.

[@jaybofa617]

I like how he did a long analysis to really explain the book better because it is really deep.

[@liamwhinery5749]

The Master and Margarita; It would be nice for the channel to tackle this one, and bring much needed awareness to such a magnificent book.

[@creasetv]

Amazing book, incredible book!!!

[@dionysus7811]

Yeah, I’ve read that narrative once. It was very fascinating - especially the interpretation of the devil and Jesus. Wish Thug-Notes covered it…

[@callkaramazov9399]

Please do Cat's Cradle, love that book! Would really like to see you guys go in depth on the significance of the title. Anyway, you guys do a great job, your channel definitely deserves more views!👍🏻

[@bbhahaloljk]

Wow you guys did it! This was one of the first books I commented for! What's funny, is I thought it would be a great thug notes, but I'd never read the book, only watched the movie, so just a few weeks ago, I finished the audiobook, which is very well read by the way, and here it is, Sparky Sweets dials it in on what has become one of my favorite stories! Thank you Wisecrack team! Keep it up!

[@patrickdrury1480]

WOW, unbelievable perfect rendition of the story.

[@fabianstummer9378]

Do Blood Meridian next! Another great work by McCarthy

[@chesterstevens8870]

My list of books I'd like to see reviewed: 'Fight Club' - Chuck Paluniak 'Musashi' - Eiji Yoshikawa 'In the Mountains of Madness' - HP Lovecraft 'The Dark Tower' - Stephen King Altered Carbon - Richard K. Morgan 'Congo' - Michael Crichton

[@shards0fwords]

Already did that lovecraft story

[@chesterstevens8870]

Which leaves five more stories to go, unless my math is off..

[@mergele1000]

+Devin Mcclanahan Which 'Dark Tower'? The whole series or a specific book?

[@chesterstevens8870]

Any of them, honestly. If Sparky reviewe the entire series, we'd be here all day. Perhaps 'The Gunslinger' just to start off.

[@b0x1n9f4n]

That Asshole in The Comment Section For Michael Crichton I would prefer, “Eaters of the Dead”

[@omnic1000]

Oh hell yes. I discovered thug notes a couple weeks ago and I was disappointed when I came to the conclusion that there wouldn't be any new videos. This has made my day.

[@hadenplouffe3976]

YEEESSSSSSSSSSS! I've been waiting for a McCarthy novel a while, lol. Great analysis!

[@jojomadgnome]

You should definitely do "requiem for a dream"!

[@marianaknoo]

I think you just saved me from failing a class this semester... THANKSSSS!!!

[@zacmcgrady2020]

very nice video enjoyed it thanks for doing it

[@NinjaBusCow]

My brother sent me a link to this video and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Thanks! Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.

[@anagabysanban6648]

Hey, The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exuperrey is my favorite book and I think it would be really funny if you talk about it.

[@joeyeckley8012]

Hey Mr Thug, when you read the books for the show do you actually read the books or do you listen to it with an audio book?

[@mauricedavis2160]

Professor, you're the best, thanks to you and the crew!!!

[@EdD-ym6le]

These are great- keep it up

[@sems1193]

Keep doing A Song of Ice and Fire!!

[@robagui55]

Could you do fear and loathing in Las Vegas

[@kaktotak8267]

It's good that you have subtitles.

[@siemprepalante773]

Another killer episode. Thanks.

[@l.tc.5032]

Do the Martian by Andy Weir please!

[@pramood21]

Please do McCarthy's Magnum opus "Blood Meridian"

[@darkashtar]

How have I not known about this series? This is brilliant

[@TheReidmeister96]

Favorite episode thus far.

[@mikolavskalavenchko5131]

Could you do 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami?

[@saidf.3868]

yes, please

[@TakeThisification]

+Mikolav Skalavenchko God, I still need to finish that monster.

[@fluffy-hellhound]

+Mikolav Skalavenchko What's it about?

[@briannaMBrown]

Who else thinks it would be cool if he did Journey to the West?

[@GustavtheNinja]

+Freddie Ma A word of advice, don't read 1Q84 as your first Murakami, read Kafka on the Shore / The Wind-up Bird Chronicle / Hardboiled Wonderland. 1Q84 is very long-winded, and generally not regarded as one of his best books. You would need to get into the universe etc., if you were to fully enjoy 1Q84, I'd say.

[@andrewtickel6804]

Anton Chigurh is basically Two-face

[@JustinMurta]

Dude.. these videos are legend. Subscribed..shared and supported!

[@davidcarter5257]

that was an awesome episode you did Thug Notes Nicely Done keep up the good work and let your haters be your motivators.

[@btslamp]

Can you do House of Leaves?

[@CT-se8vn]

I'm trying to read that and cannot get past chapter 1

[@redwarpaint]

+CharliTries It's tricky at first, but definitely worth the effort! Think of the format of the book as kinda like a maze: there's a main path that gets you from beginning to end (the main body of the story - both Zampano's and Johnny's), and the footnotes are sort of like alternate paths that sometimes better illuminate the right direction and sometimes lead to dead ends. Also, keep in mind that the way the text appears on the page often stylistically mirrors the content of the story at that moment. Don't get discouraged! Once you get a feel for it, you'll realize it's actually not that difficult at all to follow and it's also a lot of fun.

[@jackburton3540]

The short answer is no

[@Ace1stClass77]

Please do "The Yellow Wallpaper"

[@ahorsewithnoname9354]

Jesus Christ thank you so much I got to present this book to my class in 2 days, you saved my ass I didn’t have time to finish the book and you just CLEARLY and UNDERSTANDABLY summarized it. You are truly a god

[@UntitledGameShow]

great video

[@NodDisciple1]

Analyze "Dune" By Frank Herbert!

[@OctopusWilson]

"Interview with the vampire" by Anne Rice

[@Frankenhound]

This was a good one! Well thought out.

[@andrewleibs]

Well done!

[@adamfenton9630]

Can you do 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote next? One of my favourite books!

[@cymophanous8193]

Read that last year for my literary journalism class... A compelling read!

[@adamfenton9630]

For sure!

[@SteveJobzz]

Am I the only one who was like " There is a book...!!?!"

[@SHiTJuFro743]

+Eric Cartman yes

[@calipanhead]

The movie is absolutely phenomenal but even still I think the book has it beat.

[@Lioness_Es]

The book is even better. It actually humanized Anton Chigurh not that I'm a fan of his.

[@GippyHappy]

There’s _always_ a book

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@GippyHappy lol just no, not "aLwaYs" at all.

[@toddboothbee1361]

Best reading of No Country for Old Men I've encountered.

[@seminaborisi9134]

haha just found your channel, love it already :D. KEEP IT UP BRAH

[@charlesalexanderdavison2398]

Great video! But is it worth mentioning that Chigurh is potentially apart Ed Tom's imagination, an entity he thought up of as something that's commit all these crimes. Truth being, these were all separate crimes. How can I back this up? Ed Tom NEVER encounters Chigurh, only through word of mouth. Yes, he speaks about him to his old war veteran, however the conversation does not suggest Chigurh exists, whereas something righteous and symbolic exists in the criminal acts he's investigated. Finally, a couple pages connect eerily; where Ed Tom first hears the name Chigurh, he repeats "Sugar?" Earlier in the book, he's described to be reading the paper whilst stirring his coffee cup, even though there's no sugar in the drink. His he merely stirring this story up in his head?

[@SHiTJuFro743]

+Charles Alexander Davison Interesting thought. But it's not all narrated by Ed Tom. There are sequences that he's not involved in.

[@charlesalexanderdavison2398]

Yes there are. However that can support my theory as much as prove it wrong; I'd like to think any other dialogue other than his narration or long winded speeches is a combination of crime scene investigation and his mind. But still, I could be completely wrong haha

[@annonnie]

+Charles Alexander Davison Very interesting. I always enjoy reading further analysis from fans in the comments. More viewers should contribute. Thanks for the thought provoking theory!

[@charlesalexanderdavison2398]

annonnie thank you :)

[@Earbly]

are you sure it's ed tom that says sugar? cause i'm pretty sure it's moss in the hospital who says 'sugar', when carson wells tells moss the name

[@Advent3546]

4:16 And then I woke up.

[@acajudi100]

you are so talented!

[@Matt-ey9vy]

I wish I could cite this for my research paper. Bravo sir.

[@thisisthenewpoop]

please do Their Eyes Were Watching God

[@whitetuxmafiaandfilms5042]

The idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky

[@LimeGreenNewb]

great one!!!

[@bi0lizard1]

I love this dude!!! He actually makes me want to read books!!! I wish I could learn to read faster. Hey, please do 'Wind up Bird Chronicles" by Murakami

[@samConnellchannel]

Can you do a Thug Notes on "Dr. No"

[@msablouwill]

Waiting for Godot?

[@SHiTJuFro743]

+msablouwill YASSSSSSS!!!!

[@SaskatchewanICE]

That’d be dank

[@jackburton3540]

I would like to hear his take. Seems everybody has a different analysis for that play.

[@greenrabbit05]

Always like these videos Thug Notes are awesome!

[@posterboyrob]

Read the book. Finished it today. Awesome review!!

[@SwagXMcNasty]

Hi, I'm using internet explorer. I hope this comment gets here on time. Happy New Year 2008.

[@mergele1000]

+Phobic Tribe Holy shit. Internet explorer may have terrible response time, but on the other hand it can load websites that don't even exist yet!

[@MertSu66]

+Phobic Tribe You just got logic roasted son

[@tysond.3735]

Oh cool! An "internet explorer is slow" joke!! You must REALLY be from 2008! Because those aren't funny anymore, at all.

[@tysond.3735]

***** 1) I wrote that shit over two months ago, get out my fucking face 2) People have been slamming internet explorer since 2012. It's been unfunny for three years.

[@noemogjiiohc6134]

we will find you💉📸♎

[@PencilSticks]

I watched this film today, and was horribly surprised to find that I absolutely hated it. Don't get me wrong, I REALLY want to like this movie! I mean, it won best picture! But I just couldn't like it. The film certainly had its moments, both coin toss scenes being fantastic, but the cons outweighed the pros for me. Woody Harilson's character dies after maybe five minutes of screen time, and many scenes ended before they should have. I didn't find Anton to be this captivating performance. He just felt like a terminator with slightly more personality. I also didn't like how the sheriff never met Anton. I'm okay with Anton winning, but when the movie ends with the sheriff monologuing about a dream that's barely connected to the story, I feel like nothing really happened. Those are just a few of my complaints.

[@remembertotakeshowerspleas355]

the stuff with the sheriff was intentional, as it tied into the themes of the film.

[@trebot9292266]

only thing i didn't care for in the movie was Anton got out of it with very few negatives, he did his job and disappeared. I don't care that he killed the dude he was chasing and the guys wife/girlfriend, just that nothing really happened to him.

[@WashOfCascadia]

GoAwayGoogle thats the point of the movie. Justice doesnt always prevail. There is an interesting video you should watch by ScreenPrism. Its an analysis of No Country For Old Men.

[@francisemv1788]

I love this!

[@funnyfyr]

Ok - Audible now purchased. Thanks for the good content!

[@ButtersCCookie]

You are missed and made this channel relevant. Problem with this channel now tells how horrible the World and future is. No solution or hope, no warning to the monsters that created this dystopian. No, true meaning, rhyme or reason. More of the same. Tooting their own horn while society falls. These elitist "good" people.

[@helleborechigurh2158]

I'm obsessed with the movie and ordered the book, which should be here soon and I'm so excited to read it!

[@johndavis6482]

Thanks for this cormic wrote parts of the book in my computer science class in the 90s ! I should read it

[@kevinmontoya7318]

Well done

[@jordanrussell7484]

Great episode! Could you do Neuromancer?

[@---wq9xp]

THANK YOU

[@caffeinatedbuffalosauce883]

Vincent from colateral and Chiqure are the best movie hitmen. Their calm and haunting demeanor made their stories great.

[@joelcarterroolz]

I'm tripping balls on a tab right now and this guy literally solved the nature of why shit happens. cuz. shit happens.

[@masterhidsert1043]

Brilliant!

[@jpalpharo4304]

I've seen this review like 5 times I just love the story

[@m.hernandez1404]

Another fine critique Professor Thug. As Anton would say, "well done.".

[@gregotox]

it kind of makes me happy to see every1 in the comments suggesting interesting titles