Discussion Guide for Reading Groups
- What do you think is meant by the statement on the Generous Spoon menu, “I’d rather be insane with the truth than sane with lies”? This is an exaggeration, but what idea is it trying to express? Would visitors from another planet consider our society sane?
- Sensei tells Mark, “You are not who you think you are.” What do you think is meant by that? Does Mark finally discover who he really is? Do most people know who they really are?
- Erma says, “I get richer every day by wanting less.” Do you think money is overvalued in our society as a measure of success? What do you think is a good relationship between money and happiness?
- Alvin tells Mark to “possibilitate.” What does he mean by that? Do many people overlook the possibilities and opportunities surrounding them? Has that happened to you? What do you think your life would be like now if you had used those opportunities?
- To have a happy marriage, Alvin suggests that Mark should find a happy mother and marry her daughter. Does this imply that happiness runs in families? Do you think Alvin is right? If it does run in families, why?
- Mark did not tell Janet about his leukemia until the relationship was serious. When should he have told her? What do you think the result would have been?
- As the story progresses, Tino has a change of heart. During a gang fight, he tries to help Sensei, but this has an unfortunate result. How did this make you feel? If you were the author of this story, would you have changed the outcome?
- What are some lessons Mark learned from Sensei? Have you or anyone you know had a mentor to help in career choice or personal development? What were some of the benefits?
- Sensei teaches primarily by involving Mark in activities that are new to Mark. Do you think experience is a better teacher than words? Why? In what way are words also useful?
- How did you feel about the ending of the story? Would you have ended the story differently? If so, how?