Book Club
Set 1 (Simplified):
This discovery guide is designed to help you and your group members discuss the things you discovered while reading this book. You may begin with just a few questions or use all of them.
- The author encourages us to consider the idea of changing the world – one person at a time (Prologue). Is it possible? What have you witnessed as you or others have undergone powerful, personal change?
- Jason’s father counters the popular opinion that optimists are people who view the world through rose-colored lenses (pg. 47) with his statement, “Optimism is a recognition that the greater the problem, the greater the learning, and it’s up to us to uncover the learning.” Discuss how this idea can change the way we view our challenges.
- Before starting the climb, Clara cautions the team that their differences, when combined with common values, gives them enormous leverage; but without the common values, diversity produces only conflict and intolerance (pg. 89). Think of a current event or circumstance where you see the truth of this statement borne out.
- Clara uses the analogy of an avalanche to help Jason understand the importance of finding the real cause of a problem, rather than just responding to the symptoms (Ch. 13). Think of an example of how this would help in a business situation, in our personal lives, or in a marriage.
- Share an example of how a new understanding of the axioms (Compassion, Humility, Gratitude, Conscience) has helped you in the past week.
- Select one of the Practices (p. 315) you’d like to adopt. Share with the group what you chose and why.
Set 2:
1. Why is Jason, given his usual self-imposed emotional isolation, so drawn to Clara? What might that say about him? What might that say about Clara? What kind of people are you drawn to? What might that say about you?
2. Why does Jason always seem to want what he doesn’t have? What are the fruits of a life lived like that? What is the danger? Why do we seem predisposed to compare ourselves to others – and what is the outcome?
3. What was special about Clara? Have you ever known a Clara? What impact has that person had on your life? What did that person do to become a Clara for you? How could you become a Clara for someone else? Are you a Clara in hiding? If so, what changes would you need to make in your life in order to affect a positive difference for someone else?
4. Discuss the consequences of a life lived in constant violation of conscience. How might a person overcome that sequence? What are some of the steps necessary to come to grips with a problem like that? Where and how might that person get help?
5. What difference could the ideas that you read about in Snow Rising make in your family or community? What can you do, individually and collectively, to further the ideas presented in Snow Rising? How can you be an influence for positive direction in your family and in your community? What would that look like?
6. How do the ideas presented in Snow Rising differ from societal expectations? Does the application of the four axioms (compassion, humility, gratitude, and conscience) mean you’ll be run over by aggressive people and institutions? Discuss the characteristics of a person (living or dead) that you believe honored the four axioms. How did they impact people around them? Do you view them as someone who is strong, or someone who is weak?
7. What is the meaning of the sentence, peace works from the inside out, not from the outside in? How does that apply to you? Given that, what do you need to stop doing? What do you need to start doing?
8. There are metaphors buried throughout Snow Rising. What are some of your favorites and why?
9. What is the meaning of the sentence, life is a sequence that begins in choice and ends in consequence? Why do we seem to have little control over consequences? What do we have control over? Can you think of a circumstance in which you made good choices but the eventual consequences were bad? Can you think of a circumstance in which you made bad choices but the eventual consequences were good? What might that say about your understanding of choices? What did you learn?
10. How could the relationship between Jason and Anna be repaired? Who needs to change? How should that change come about? How has their marriage lasted as long as it has? What is the danger in assuming that the problem lies in someone else, and not in you? How can we overcome that perception? Who do you have the power to change?
11. What is the difference between Axioms and Beliefs & Values? Why is it important that we understand the difference between truth and what we believe to be true? What is the possible result if we don’t understand the difference? Do you consider yourself a prejudiced person? Why or why not?
12. Why are the four Axioms so important? Are they important individually, or does their power formulate only when combined with the other Axioms?
13. What are the first five virtues? What is their relationship to one another? Why is the order important? Is there a sequence? Is there a danger in trying to resolve problems outside the sequence? Why?
14. What is the fundamental source of personal esteem, and why? Why is it important to teach this principle, especially to teens? What can you do as a parent to teach these principles to your children?
15. What practices (beginning on page 315) interest you and why? How are they reflections of the Axioms? Discuss a practice in support of the Axioms that is not on the list. Discuss what your book club could accomplish as a group. What kind of community influence could your small group have if you collectively participated in one of the practices? How might participation in one of the practices influence your family, especially your children?
16. How has Joe Walker thrived in the seemingly acidic atmosphere of Northwest Design and Engineering? Joe seems to work for a much different company than Jason. How is that possible? How does that situation apply to you? How is your perception of the world around you reflected back at you, and does it become self-fulfilling?
17. How could the ideas presented in Snow Rising better your environment at home, work, etc.? Who/What would need to change for that to happen? Describe your current environment. What would the environment look like if the Axioms were adopted and engaged?
18. What is the danger in assuming that other people need to change before you can apply the principles in Snow Rising? How can you be an influence for good given your current life situation?
19. Snow Rising Book One has presented, in story form, five personal virtues (Axioms, Beliefs & Values, Action, Integrity, and Personal Esteem). Book Two will discuss three interpersonal virtues, characteristics that have enormous influence on other people. What might those three virtues be? Is there a sequence? Does one virtue lead to the next? This discussion will be interesting if you begin by considering people who have had an influence for good. What are/were their important personal attributes? By comparing several people of influence, are there common peculiarities that begin to stand out?
