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Please join us for the first-ever League of Women Voters of Richardson's Discussion Group!

• How does the author structure the information in this book? What are some of the issues that he addresses, both past and present? How does he explain America’s history with racism, nationalism, and division?

• Talk about a specific passage that struck you as significant, surprising, intriguing, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing or sad?

• What is the central idea discussed in the book? Do the issues affect your life? How so— directly, on a daily basis, or more generally?

• How does he connect issues in the 21st century to those of the previous centuries? Are there long- or short-term consequences to the issues raised in the book? Are they positive or negative...affirming or frightening?

• Meacham’s introduction to the book is “To Hope rather than to Fear”. At this point in our national dialogue concerning race are you more inclined to be filled with hope or fear? Why?

• Why does Meacham think that America's ''better angels'' ultimately triumph? How does this frame his perspective of modern events in the 21st century? How does this frame his perspective of the years to come?

• The Reverend Martin Luther King recalled that he “could hear an inner voice saying to me: ‘Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And, lo, I will be with you even until the end of the world. I heard Jesus saying still to fight on. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me along’.” Who or what prompts you personally to take a stand for righteousness, justice, or truth? How does this play out in your day-to-day living?

• Noting that we have been here before, Meacham tells us we can find our way out by avoiding tribalism, respecting facts and listening to history. What one thing are you willing to do to help our country find its way out of the current polarization and lack of civility?

• What have you learned after reading and discussing this book? Has it broadened your perspective about a difficult issue—personal or societal?