Questions to consider:
The author writes about several songs that are meaningful to him. What songs are meaningful to you or the groups to which you belong? What about them is meaningful?
2. What value or significance do traditional art forms—like the paintings and drawings featured in three essays in this book—have in the modern world? Does the power of artificial intelligence to generate images make art less valuable? What is the role of an artist in society?
3. The author writes about one of his favorite films, Harvey. What films have had an impact on your life? Why are fictional stories so important to the human experience?
Questions to consider:
1. The author humorously describes his commitment to the Diet Dr. Pepper brand. To which products or companies are you loyal? What would potentially challenge your loyalty to a company?
2. The popular board game Monopoly is designed to demonstrate how capitalism creates inequality. Is Monopoly an accurate microcosm of a capitalist economy? Is it a fair representation? What could be added or removed from the game to make it more accurate or fair?
3. The Piggly Wiggly chain of grocery stores began as a small, family-owned business. What does it mean for a small business to be “successful”? What factors allow small businesses to succeed in a world dominated by franchises and popular brands?
Questions to consider:
1. The author writes that air conditioning is an unsustainable practice that contributes to climate change, but that it will also be important for the safety of people around the world as temperatures rise. How should we maintain the balance between our present comfort and happiness and the wellbeing of future generations? What other aspects of comfortable living come with negative implications?
2. In the essay, “Penguins of Madagascar,” the author argues that humans often choose which animals to preserve based on arbitrary preference. Is there an ethical way to choose which habitats or species should be prioritized in conservation efforts?
3. Several essays are themed around science. Why is the philosophy and practice of science such a big part of the Anthropocene era? How do we use or misuse scientific thinking?
Questions to consider:
1. The Anthropocene Reviewed was written at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. How does this affect the themes and voice the author uses throughout the book?
2. The essays connected to health and medicine are often about health-related anxiety. Why is the emotion of anxiety so strongly correlated with healthcare? If you were a healthcare professional, how would you respond to a patient who shared some of the same concerns as the author?
3. The author chooses to write about the discovery of penicillin as a major medical advancement. What other medical or public health advancement do you think deserves a review?
Questions to consider:
1. The author is a fan of professional sports, particularly football (American soccer). What about sports is compelling to different kinds of people? Why? Are sports meaningful or just simply entertaining?
2. What does it mean to be in awe of something? What was the last experience or work of art that truly left you in wonder? What about it was so powerful?
3. The author points out that humanity is bound to a temporal range—it won’t last forever! In what ways do people create meaningful lives with this knowledge? What makes a life meaningful?Presents multiple viewpoints and explanations on controversial events and issues in American and World history.
Covers historical events, people, and civilizations from the mid-15th century through the modern era. Includes primary sources.
Questions to consider:
1. The author gives the Internet a somewhat mixed review. How would you rate the Internet? Is the world better for its ascendency? Or worse?
2. While a powerful tool and important part of Western culture, Google also raises many concerns about privacy. Should we be able to, as the author says, Google strangers? Is freedom of information more important than individual privacy? How could we address these concerns?
3. What major technologic advancement would you rate and review? How would you rate, for example, Artificial Intelligence? Or the Playstation 5? Or the self-checkout station at the store?
