Discussion Questions

The following are some discussion questions that are tied to our books.

Beginning. When approaching a book, here are some initial questions that are always helpful:

Who is the author? When did they live? Where was their academic and/or professional training?
What it the book about? Why was the book written?
In your own words: What is the book's thesis? What does the author do to develop and support the thesis?
What do other people have to say about the book?
What, if anything, does the cover say about the book?
Who does the author thank in the acknowledges? Why?
Who published the book?
What's in the table to contents? What do you notice about the the overall structure of the book?
How are citations, footnotes, and endnotes used to support the book's ideas?

Words, sentences, paragraphs, sections, chapters, structure. In the opening few pages and thereafter:

What do you notice about the authors vocabulary? Do you encounter unusual words? Do you encounter familiar words used in particular ways? It's never too late to go to the dictionary and to learn a new word?
How does the author construct sentences? Is there a sentence you particularly like or do not like? Why?
How does the author use paragraphs and sections? What makes a good paragraph for this author?
Is the writing stimulating or boring? Why?
How are conceptual metaphors used, if at all, to make the writing vivid?

After you have finished reading a section, chapter, or the book:

In the best possible light, what was the author trying to achieve?
Do you have any questions for the author?
What would you like to discuss with others about the section, chapter, or book?
What was the structure of the writing? How, if at all, might you borrow that structure?

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Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. New York: Random House. [ISBN-13: 978-0399592522]

What does vulnerability have to do with leadership?
What does "Clear is Kind" mean?
Why is this quotation from US President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919; president, 1901-1909) relevant to leadership: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweet and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again ... who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly (Brown, 2018, p. xviii).

Graeber, D. (2018). Bullshit Jobs: A Theory. New York: Simon & Schuster. [ISBN: 978-1-5011-4331-1]

What is the definition of BS Job?
What do BS Jobs harm people?
What is the connection between BS Jobs and automation?

Also, see: Goldberg, E. (2024, August 3). Will A.I. kill meaningless jobs? And is that so bad? New York Times. link Links to an external site.

Also, see: Solnit, R. (2024, November 7). "It does not have to be this way": The radical optimism of David Graeber. The Guardian. link Links to an external site.

Pinker, Steven. Enlightenment Now: The case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 2018. [ISBN 978-0143111382]

What are the key components of The Enlightenment?
Why do people not believe in "progress?"
How, if at all, is The Enlightenment and progress related to Information Management?
Can you identify a favorite sentence, paragraph, page, and chapter? What about its structure and language makes it a favorite for you?
What has Pinker sought to achieve? Was he successful? Where, if anywhere, did Pinker fall short?
How, if at all, will you use Pinker’s ideas in your life and work? How has he impacted your ideas for the world?

Also, see "Can science justify itself?" Harvard Magazine. link Links to an external site.

Sinek, Simon. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Penguin Books, New York, 2011. [ISBN-13: 978-1591846444]

What is the big idea of Sinek's book?
How would you do characterize the difference between "why," "what," and "how?"
Is the framework of "why," "what," and "how" meaningful to individuals or organizations?
What evidence does Sinek bring forward for his views? Is the evidence strong?
How, if at all, might you use Sinek's ideas to help develop your identity as an IM professional?
How, if at all, might you use Sinek's ideas to lead a group or organization?

Kane, G. C., Phillips, A. N., Copulsky, J. R., and Andrus, G. R. (2019). The Technology Fallacy: How People are the Real Key to Digital Transformation. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [ISBN-13: 978-0262039680]