Sharing Seven Ways to Disappear: The Book within the Book is a great way to connect with others to talk about life and how we might find ourselves shrinking, or disappearing, from who we truly are. Like yourself, a lot of people who read the book find the content and concept ‘thought provoking.’ A great way to share the book with others is to host a book club - or add it to the rotation of the book club you're currently in.
The great thing about Seven Ways to Disappear: The Book within the Book is that it’s a short and quick read, which makes it accessible even to those who are light on time or those who are not necessarily readers. Therefore, the book can be read without much of a time commitment.
Having a discussion about ways that people literally, symbolically, and metaphysically disappear can be a heavy topic to talk about. The discussion can easily bring up traumas, regrets, and revelations --- things we all have inside of us. For those who don’t quite grasp the fictional nature and concept of the book, it is a good idea to point them to the blog that gives readers a bit of background and context about the book. Also, it is a good idea to emphasize that the book is a work of fiction that is part of an unpublished novel about for friends in L.A. the weekend before 9/11. It’s not a ‘how to’ guide or a self-help book. However, the book can allow someone to reflect on ways that one may have disappeared from their life, at one point in time, that can bring about reflection, awareness, and understanding.
Below are a few guided questions you can use when hosting a book discussion:
1. Out of the seven ways to disappear that are outlined in the book, which way resonates with you the most?
2. How many of the ways to disappear have you done in your life?
3. Which of the seven ways to disappear have you seen others do in their life?
4. What themes of disappearing have you come across in popular culture like
a. Films – for example
b. Television shows
c. Books
d. Music – for example
5. What can we do if we feel ourselves disappearing or wanting to disappear from life?
6. What can we do if we find others disappearing or wanting to disappear from life?
7. What’s another way of disappearing that wasn’t outlined in the book?
8. Would you share the book with someone else? Why or why not?
If you aren’t aware, there is a playlist on Spotify that includes songs that have themes or lyrics about disappearing. A great idea is to share the playlist with others and ask them, during the discussion, what song(s) they would add to the playlist. Also, you can play the playlist during the book discussion to add a bit of ambiance.
Enjoy your discussion!