1. What does Quinn gain by starting with a fable? What effect
did reading this fable have on you? The fable is a mixture of
realistic elements and fabulous elements. Which are which? What
events and stages in our cultural development correspond to the
events of the fable? How do you think the leaders of our society
would respond to the challenge posed by the masses in this
fable?
2. Do you agree that "there''s nothing the people of our culture
want more than change"?
3. According to Quinn old minds think "How do we stop these bad
things from happening?" while new minds think "How do we make
things the way we want them to be?" What difference do you see
between "stopping bad things" and "making things the way we want
them to be"?
4. Choose for discussion an example of some bad thing (for
example, school shootings like the Columbine High School tragedy).
Consider various ways the bad thing might be stopped. Then consider
instead how you''d like things to be and how you might go about
making them that way. Which way of discussing the matter seems more
productive?
5. The term "manifest destiny" was coined by historian John
Louis O''Sullivan, who wrote: "The expansive future is our arena.
We are entering on its untrodden space with the truth of God in our
minds, beneficent objects in our hearts, and with a clear
conscience unsullied by the past. We are the nation of human
progress, and who will, what can, set limits on our onward march?"
Discuss these ideas in the terms presented in "Conspicuous success,
invisible source" on page 13.
6. Put together a list of memes (for example, relating to
success) that you grew up with. How do these memes compare with the
ones your parents grew up with and the ones your children are
growing up with? What memes relevant to family life were reinforced
by television fare in the fifties? How do these compare to memes
being reinforced by television fare in the nineties?
7. A well-known folk song announces that "This land is your
land, this land is my land...this land was made for you and me."
Has your reading of these "patriotic" sentiments been colored by
the ideas expressed "Holy work" on page 50?
8. In "Pyramid builders," on page 51, Quinn cites his
impressions of how today''s young people feel about the prospect of
entering the world of work. Do your impressions agree with his?
When you were in school, how did you feel about the world of
work?
9. Is it fair to compare the building of a company like Bill
Gates''s Microsoft to the building of Khufu''s pyramid? How are the
ventures similar? Different?
10. Did such a thing as running off to join the circus ever
cross your mind when you were young? If so, can you remember and
describe what the attraction was for you?
11. Quinn describes three ways the people of our culture have
traditionally dealt with their place within the hierarchy. They''ve
justified it as karmic (as something they deserve); they''ve
transcended it by looking for justice in a better existence after
death; and they''ve worked to overturn it by revolution. What are
your own strategies for dealing with the discontents of the
hierarchical life (if you experience any)?
12. On page 82, Quinn describes tribal life as "the gift of
natural selection to humanity." We usually think of natural
selection as a process that in some way weeds out unsuccessful
traits. How does this process end up bestowing "gifts"? What are
some other "gifts" that have been bestowed on humanity or other
species by natural selection?
13. How do you think you''d like living in a system like that of
the Natchez?
14. Quinn says that in Houston he and his wife have upped their
standard of living tenfold over the one they enjoyed in Madrid, but
adds that what has not been upped is their "overall feeling of
contentment and well-being." Most of us experience changes in
standards of living in the course of our lives. Discuss the effect
such experiences have had on you.
15. Quinn says he wasn''t surprised to hear from many youngsters
who feel "just like Jeffrey." Are there any such in your own
personal experience?
16. Quinn characterizes our "overriding response to failure" as:
If it didn''t work last year, do it AGAIN this year (and if
possible do it MORE). What didn''t work last year in our "war
against crime" or in our effort to "fix the schools," is exactly
what we''ll do this year, predictably spending MORE on it. Can you
give any examples of this from your own sphere of experience -- at
work, for example?
17. As you began to read Quinn''s proposals aimed at "helping
the homeless succeed while being homeless," what were your initial
responses? Did these responses change or remain the same as you
read on?
18. Do you think Quinn makes a realistic assessment of the
likely "objections" to his proposals for the homeless (page
135)?
19. Among Quinn''s examples of modern-day, non-ethnic tribes is
that of team of con-artists. Do you think this example was chosen
to make some subtle moral point about tribalism?
20. Have you encountered any businesses that operate in a tribal
way?
21. In his discussion of the Columbine massacre, does it seem to
you that Quinn is offering an excuse for killers Eric Harris and
Dylan Klebold?
22. Back in the 1960''s Timothy Leary set off an explosion of
"flower power" with this famous formula: "Tune in, turn on, drop
out." In deliberate juxtaposition to this formula, Quinn has
elsewhere articulated the formula presented in this book as: "Walk
away, go tribal, think incremental." Leary''s formula led to a dead
end. Is Quinn''s more promising?
