So Far Gone Reading Guide & Discussion Questions

Book Club Discussion Questions

Print PDF

For supplemental discussion material see our Beyond the Book article, Washington State Authors and our BookBrowse Review of So Far Gone.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

These are original discussion questions written by BookBrowse.

1. The title phrase "so far gone" might apply to many of the book's characters who get caught up in extreme ideologies or behaviors. What do you think the novel is saying about extremism, especially radical conservatism and conspiracy theories, and do you agree with it? Do you believe it is possible for people to overcome extremist thinking?
2. Can you relate to Rhys Kinnick's decision to live off-grid in a remote cabin? What benefits do you see to being offline and out of communication? On the other hand, how else might he have responded to his family disagreements and his frustrations with modern culture?
3. During his seven years of solitude, Rhys read hundreds of books and contemplated philosophical ideas for his planned book The Atlas of Wisdom. If you were in a similar situation for that amount of time, what project might you have undertaken?

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