Book Club Discussion Questions and Guide for Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis

1. How do you understand the nature of Nadia's relationship with Rosy? Why has Nadia engaged in this relationship, and how does her perspective on Rosy change throughout the book?
2. How does Nadia's academic background prepare her for the UN's rehabilitation program in Iraq? In what ways does it leave her underprepared?
3. Nadia is told by Sherri that the entire deradicalization program is "career suicide" and that they are, in fact, "on the wrong side of history." What do you think about the ethics of the program Nadia helms?
4. When Nadia visits the camp, what is her first impression of the ISIS-affiliated women? Why is she immediately drawn to Sara?
5. The novel depicts many characters coming to and leaving organized religion. Nadia describes her mother as a "born-again Muslim" and describes how Sara chose to join ISIS after not being raised religious. She also meets two characters who describe themselves as Muslim "reverts," whereas she was raised Muslim but no longer practices. How does it affect Nadia to be surrounded by people who joined Islam when she had the opposite experience of losing her belief?
6. How does working on the rehabilitation program affect the characters' attitudes towards the UN system? For example, do Pierre and Sherri undergo any significant shifts in their beliefs?
7. By the end of the novel, what has Nadia learned from her UN teammates? Particularly from Sherri, Tom, and Pierre?
8. How does Nadia's fractured relationship with her mother affect her throughout the novel? Are there parallels with Sara's relationship with her own parents?
9. In chapter 33 through 36, Nadia realizes that Sara's beliefs are very different to her own. What questions is the novel asking about religion, faith, and identity in those chapters?
10. How is humor used in Fundamentally to explore deeply serious topics including fundamentalist religion, international politics, and personal loss?

Unless otherwise stated, this discussion guide is reprinted with the permission of Tiny Reparations. Any page references refer to a USA edition of the book, usually the trade paperback version, and may vary in other editions.