Free for book clubs

Bring Wonder to your table.

Everything your group needs for an evening with the book — discussion questions for each of the four movements, an art exercise to open with, a mason jar to close with, and recipes that are all, one way or another, already in the book.

And an open invitation to have me join you.

Download the kit · PDF

What’s inside

Most of the questions turn back toward you rather than toward the page. Some of them invite you to argue with me, and I mean that sincerely — this book is about sharing our views of our lives with one another and learning along the way. A few could be uncomfortable. Skip those, or don’t. You know your group.

Discussion questions for all four movements, plus questions for the whole book
Two ways to run it — a single ninety-minute evening, or four sessions, one per movement
The art cards — an opening exercise adapted from my work with school and arts leaders
The mason jar — the closing exercise, and the one thing to do if you do nothing else
A listening list and a looking list, drawn from the art and music in the book
Recipes for the table, including Cheryl’s peas and carrots
A conversation with me — eight questions groups tend to ask anyway

The point is the reflection, and the quality of light by which you view your own life.

Downloads

Print what you need.

All of it is free to use and share for book club, classroom, library, and bookseller purposes.

23 pages

The Book Club Kit

The whole guide — questions, both session plans, the exercises, the lists, the recipes, and the interview.

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14 pages · 11 cards

The Art Cards

Eleven works, one per sheet, with no titles on the front. Lay them out and let the room choose in silence.

Download

1 page

The Shopping List

Everything the evening needs, with the mason jar at the top under “the one thing you actually need.”

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1 page · 12 slips

The Mason Jar Slips

Twelve to a sheet, ready to cut. One firefly each, folded into the jar, read aloud at the end.

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An Invitation

Let me join you.

This is a sincere offer, not a formality. I join book clubs by video anywhere, and in person when the geography cooperates — thirty minutes of conversation, or a full hour with questions, whichever suits your group. I have spent a career in front of rooms and would rather be asked hard questions than easy ones.

I’m glad to talk with schools, arts organizations, museums, libraries, and leadership groups too, and to discuss bulk or gift orders for graduations, retirements, staff appreciation, and volunteer recognition.

Email me

Tell me how many people are in your group, roughly when you meet, and which essay caused the most trouble. That last one is the most useful thing you can send.

What to put on the table

The kit has the full recipes. If you’d rather buy than cook, this is the short version — and it is still, unarguably, peas and carrots.

Pea crisps. A real supermarket category now — baked rather than fried, green peas as the first ingredient. Snack aisle, most chains.
Carrot sticks. Whole carrots cut into sticks beat pre-cut coins, because you want length for dipping.
A watermelon, cut, with lime and flaky salt — served while someone pulls up Kahlo’s Viva la Vida on a laptop.
One wide-mouth pint mason jar. The only item that is genuinely required.

Read the first essay free.

Join the Wonder list and the opening essay comes straight to your inbox — along with launch news and occasional letters about the art of paying attention.

Haven’t got the book yet? Order a signed copy.