Here were some of the questions we used on Sunday morning, and some we didn’t get to:

CHAPTER 3: THE MYTH OF ADOLESCENCE

• Alex and Brett begin this chapter by talking about pets they had (and didn’t have) growing up. What is the strangest pet you’ve ever owned?
• What did Alex and Brett mean when they suggest that today’s teenagers might be like elephants?
• Were you surprised to learn that teenager is a fairly new word in the English language? Why did that surprise you?
• What are some of the ways our “modern understanding of adolescence allows, encourages, and even trains young people to remain childish for much longer than necessary”?
• Alex and Brett explain: “Once we have satisfied the minimum requirements, we tend to stop pushing ourselves.” What are the minimum requirements in your life?
• What are some was that young men do hard things differently than young women do hard things?

From the Official Do Hard Things Study Guide:

• Have you ever visited a zoo, seen beautiful and powerful animals caged by glass or bars, and felt that something was terribly wrong? If so, talk about it. Why do you think some teens might identify with a wild but caged bird or animal?
• Do you think that harmless-sounding lies about the teen years could be holding back both you and other teens you know? Talk about it.
• What was your reaction to the stories of George, David, and Clara (pages 31-32)? Have you ever thought you could accomplish a lot more than you are now?
• What do your parents expect you to do at home in an average week? Do you deliver? Be honest. How much time and effort does it take to do what’s asked of you? Do you think your parents require too much or too little?
• Have you ever found yourself behaving very differently—and accomplishing a lot more—simply because someone expected you to? Describe the experience.

Categories: Discussion Questions, Summer Reading '08