The Body Keeps the Score: Discussion Questions for a Book Club

The Body Keeps the Score: Discussion Questions for a Book Club

Did you read The Body Keeps the Score? Are you looking for some questions that will generate thoughtful discussion? We tend to think of trauma in its most extreme forms, such as PTSD. But nearly everyone is likely to either suffer from trauma or know someone who does. In The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk explains that the physiological toll can be tremendous. Read on for The Body Keeps the Score discussion questions that will help you understand and internalize the book’s ideas and apply them where appropriate.

The Earth After Humans: Alan Weisman’s Thought Experiment

The Earth After Humans: Alan Weisman’s Thought Experiment

What effects, positive or negative, would the disappearance of humans have on the world? How permanent are the changes we’ve made? The human race has left a mark on our planet. In The World Without Us, science journalist Alan Weisman asks what would happen if the human race vanished overnight. Weisman’s goal is to address humanity’s environmental impact by imagining a world in which nature is allowed to flourish. Keep reading to learn how the Earth after humans would be significantly different than what came before.

The Law of Intentionality: The 4 Ways to Grow on Purpose

The Law of Intentionality: The 4 Ways to Grow on Purpose

Do you expect to grow as you go through life? How do you think growth happens? John C. Maxwell understands that growth operates by certain laws. One of those laws—the Law of Intentionality—says that growth doesn’t just happen by itself; it happens when you make it happen. You have the power to grow by planning strategically and taking thoughtful action. Read on to learn why thoughtful action helps you on your journey of personal growth and to discover four ways to take thoughtful action effectively.

How the Corporate Elite Quietly Rose to Power in America

How the Corporate Elite Quietly Rose to Power in America

What’s the “executive class”? How did corporations in the United States get so powerful? In The Power Elite, C. Wright Mills discusses how influential institutions came to control a majority of wealth and power in America. Corporations are one of the three main institutions where Mills believes the power elite developed. Mills explores the process by which their influence solidified over the years. Read more to learn about the subtle rise of the corporate elite in America.

Is the Western Concept of Self Just an Illusion?

Is the Western Concept of Self Just an Illusion?

What’s the Western concept of self? Was Plato right about the soul? Are some of us just fooling ourselves about our true nature as humans? Many people in the West internalize the idea that each of us is an individual—an entity separate from others and our surroundings. This basic understanding of identity is so foundational to Western society that most people never question it. But, British philosopher Alan Watts questions it in The Book. Keep reading to learn why Watts thinks the idea is misguided and what he believes our true nature is instead.

9 Designing Your Life Exercises That Will Help You Thrive

9 Designing Your Life Exercises That Will Help You Thrive

What’s your work philosophy? How would you spend your time if money were no object? Whom would you trust to help you design your life? In Designing Your Life, Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans share the content of their popular courses and workshops on life design. Using concrete principles and examples, they teach readers how to design a meaningful life in which they can truly thrive. Continue reading to find several Designing Your Life exercises that will help you apply the book’s concepts.

Keep Learning, Keep Growing: 3 Ways to Become a Lifelong Learner

Keep Learning, Keep Growing: 3 Ways to Become a Lifelong Learner

What’s the arrival fallacy? Do you have a mentor? What are you learning right now? No matter how successful you become, it’s vital to never stop growing—which requires a lifelong commitment to learning from your experiences. John C. Maxwell explains why continual learning optimizes growth, and he shares strategies to maximize learning and growth throughout your life. Continue reading to discover how to keep learning, keep growing, and become the person you dream of being.

The History of Civil Service in America the Elites Want to Hide

The History of Civil Service in America the Elites Want to Hide

When civil service in America expanded, how did power shift? What resulted from the reforms to the patronage system? C. Wright Mills argues that federal bureaucratic agencies in the U.S. have slowly gained more and more power than elected officials at every level—officials who are far more accountable to the American people. An important step in this process was growing the size and scope of bureaucracy over time. Keep reading for a brief history of civil service that exposes one of the ways the nation’s elites centralized power.

Is Everything Relative? Relationalism & Our True Identity

Is Everything Relative? Relationalism & Our True Identity

Is everything relative? If so, what does that mean for our identity as humans? Philosopher Alan Watts believes that each of us is the Cosmic Being. What we think of as “I” is just one expression of the Cosmic Being in a particular time and place. Our real identity is the entire collection of beings and their environments and their relationships with one another. Continue reading for an intriguing discussion of relationalism as Watts sees it.

How the Military Elite Became Part of America’s Power Structure

How the Military Elite Became Part of America’s Power Structure

What significant transformation did America’s military undergo in the 20th century? How does that transformation affect society as a whole? Sociologist C. Wright Mills exposes how the power elite came to control a majority of wealth and influence in America. The military is one of the institutions in which power has been centralized. Mills asserts that this happened in a subtle process over several years. Read more to learn how the military elite became one-third of America’s power structure.