The History Book Club is reading Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln by John Stauffer.
We will be discussing the book on January 27, 2010 in the Community Room at Wood Library. A Pot Luck at 6:30pm precedes the discussion at 7pm.
Our book choice is in conjunction with "Abraham Lincoln: Self Made in America." a traveling exhibit that will be at the Ontario County Historical Society in February and March 2010.
In the meantime, watch this excellent discussion from the Smithsonian.
Uneasy Partners: Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, LBJ and Martin Luther King Jr.
(Smithsonian Videos|1 hr 37 mins|June 03, 2009)
John Stauffer of Harvard University and author of Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, and Nick Kotz author of Judgment Days: Lyndon Baines Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Laws That Changed America discussed the relationships between these two presidents and two legendary Civil Rights leaders.
Welcome to the History Book Club co-sponsored by the Ontario County Historical Society and Wood Library. The group meetings are open to registered members only. The group is currently closed to new members.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
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Giants Discussion
Here are a few discussion topics to consider while you read. If you have topics or questions you would like to add, send them to Nancy Parsons or Barbara Henry. Nancy will no doubt add more questions around the self-made man concept.
Ice breaker: Douglass and Lincoln--what words do you associate with each man?
1. Why did John Stauffer write the book "Giants?" What did he hope to accomplish?
2. Talk about the author's biography. What does author bring to the book? What is his background and how does it influence his perceptions and approach? Why did he write it?
3. Why a dual biography? Compare Giants to what Doris Kearns Goodwin did with Team of Rivals.
4. Does the author favor one man over the other? Or is he pretty even-handed?
5. What sources does Stauffer use? Does he substantiate his conclusions? Do you agree or disagree with his conclusions? Which ones?
6. How are Lincoln and Douglass alike? How different?
7. Which of these similarities and differences matter the most and what effect did they have?
8. How did each of the Giants approach these topics:
- a fight
- opponents, rivals and enemies
- race
- emancipation and abolition
- the Union
- the Civil War
- the South
9. L and D met only 3 times. Can we really say that they were "friends?" How would you describe the nature of their relationship? Each man was known to manipulate and use subterfuge. In what other ways might we describe their relationship? or interaction?
10. Compare and contrast how L & D became self-made men?
11. What did you learn something new from this book?
Ice breaker: Douglass and Lincoln--what words do you associate with each man?
1. Why did John Stauffer write the book "Giants?" What did he hope to accomplish?
2. Talk about the author's biography. What does author bring to the book? What is his background and how does it influence his perceptions and approach? Why did he write it?
3. Why a dual biography? Compare Giants to what Doris Kearns Goodwin did with Team of Rivals.
4. Does the author favor one man over the other? Or is he pretty even-handed?
5. What sources does Stauffer use? Does he substantiate his conclusions? Do you agree or disagree with his conclusions? Which ones?
6. How are Lincoln and Douglass alike? How different?
7. Which of these similarities and differences matter the most and what effect did they have?
8. How did each of the Giants approach these topics:
- a fight
- opponents, rivals and enemies
- race
- emancipation and abolition
- the Union
- the Civil War
- the South
9. L and D met only 3 times. Can we really say that they were "friends?" How would you describe the nature of their relationship? Each man was known to manipulate and use subterfuge. In what other ways might we describe their relationship? or interaction?
10. Compare and contrast how L & D became self-made men?
11. What did you learn something new from this book?
General Discussion Questions
These questions can apply to any history book we read.
1. For the person who chose this book: What made you want to read it? What made you suggest it to the group for discussion? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
2. How has this book changed or enhanced your view of the subject or events it portrays? Did the book seem adequately researched?
3. How well does the author convey the era in which the events take place? Did the author provide enough information for you to understand the relevance of these events in a larger historical context?
4. What did you learn about the time period in which the book is set that you did not previously know? Discuss the time period in history that each person in the group enjoys reading about most, and why.
5. Discuss the author's use of language and writing style. Does the book read like a collection of facts or more like a well-written, engaging narrative?
6. Is the dialogue in the book believable? Does it seem to be indicative of the period being discussed?
7. What did you find to be the most interesting events in this book? What, if anything, surprised you?
8. What impact did the events in this book have on the course of history?
9. Did this book inspire you to want to do more research on the subject and time period discussed?
10. Compare this book to others your group has read. Is it similar to any of them? Did you like it more or less than other books you've read? What do you think will be your lasting impression of the book?
11. What did you like or dislike about the book that hasn't been discussed already? Were you glad you read this book? Would you recommend it to a friend? Do you want to read other works by this author? Are you inclined to read more books on this topic? Why or why not?
1. For the person who chose this book: What made you want to read it? What made you suggest it to the group for discussion? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?
2. How has this book changed or enhanced your view of the subject or events it portrays? Did the book seem adequately researched?
3. How well does the author convey the era in which the events take place? Did the author provide enough information for you to understand the relevance of these events in a larger historical context?
4. What did you learn about the time period in which the book is set that you did not previously know? Discuss the time period in history that each person in the group enjoys reading about most, and why.
5. Discuss the author's use of language and writing style. Does the book read like a collection of facts or more like a well-written, engaging narrative?
6. Is the dialogue in the book believable? Does it seem to be indicative of the period being discussed?
7. What did you find to be the most interesting events in this book? What, if anything, surprised you?
8. What impact did the events in this book have on the course of history?
9. Did this book inspire you to want to do more research on the subject and time period discussed?
10. Compare this book to others your group has read. Is it similar to any of them? Did you like it more or less than other books you've read? What do you think will be your lasting impression of the book?
11. What did you like or dislike about the book that hasn't been discussed already? Were you glad you read this book? Would you recommend it to a friend? Do you want to read other works by this author? Are you inclined to read more books on this topic? Why or why not?
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