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About the Becoming Madam Secretary Discussion category
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1
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60
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March 13, 2025
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What woman in today's world could do the kind of ground-breaking that Francis Perkins did in her time?
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5
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29
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April 17, 2025
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The Triangle shirtwaist factory fire profoundly impacted Perkins. Can you think of other examples from the novel where a single event changed the direction of a character's life?
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11
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52
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April 14, 2025
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Overall, what did you think of Becoming Madam Secretary? (no spoilers, please!)
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28
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147
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April 10, 2025
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To what audience would you recommend Becoming Madam Secretary?
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25
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92
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April 10, 2025
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The evolution of the complex relationship between Perkins and President Franklin D. Roosevelt is a central plot point in the novel. What surprised you about this relationship? How did it shed light on history?
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15
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63
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April 10, 2025
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Frances Perkins considered herself the descendant of revolutionary patriots. How did this image of herself and her place in the American story influence her career choices?
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2
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15
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April 9, 2025
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How did the portrayal of Frances Perkins's difficulty in balancing her personal and professional life make her more relatable as a character and human being?
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14
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52
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April 9, 2025
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An instructor tells Perkins to stop writing stories with happy endings. She replies, “I can’t imagine why anyone would try to change the world unless they believed in happy endings.” What do you think of this response? Do you believe in happy endings?
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13
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50
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April 9, 2025
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Perkins and Roosevelt discuss the “American experiment". They both believe “our country was founded for a purpose and with a mission: to provide for liberty and the general welfare.” What do you think of this statement? Do you agree with it?
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7
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40
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April 9, 2025
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Perkins was the driving force behind the Social Security Act. How does the novel's portrayal of this landmark achievement heighten your understanding and appreciation of it?
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12
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41
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April 9, 2025
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Perkins's legacy continues to live on in our society today. With the five-day workweek, fire and food safety regulations, unemployment insurance, and Social Security, how has your life or the lives of your family members been impacted by her work?
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15
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74
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April 7, 2025
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What did you expect from a book about a secretary of labor, and how was Stephanie Dray's Becoming Madam Secretary similar to and different from your expectations?
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2
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12
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April 5, 2025
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If you’ve read any of Stephanie Dray’s other novels, how does this one compare? Is there another book or author you feel has a similar theme or style?
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7
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21
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April 3, 2025
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What parallels did you see between the time period covered in the book and our own - socially, economically or politically?
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6
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34
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March 29, 2025
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Frances Perkins struggled with the accusation that she may have been a better American patriot than she was a mother. What are your thoughts on that?
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15
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59
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March 28, 2025
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How did Perkins navigate the discrimination she faced as a woman? What instances in the book struck you the most about this struggle? What scenes most effectively demonstrate her resilience?
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5
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29
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March 28, 2025
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Frances Perkins's family struggled with mental illness in a time when bipolar disease was not well understood. How might things have turned out differently for her, and for the country, if her husband's illness could have been effectively treated?
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6
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28
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March 25, 2025
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What did you make of the first person "voice" of the novel?
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6
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33
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March 24, 2025
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Is there a quote or scene in Becoming Madam Secretary that stood out for you? Why do you suppose it resonated?
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9
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38
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March 24, 2025
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Did you learn anything new or surprising about the time period in which the book is set?
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14
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55
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March 24, 2025
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Frances Perkins often believed that she had to compromise to accomplish her goals; what did you think of her decisions in this regard, and were those compromises effective?
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5
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24
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March 24, 2025
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Who do you think Perkins’ role models were? Do you have anyone you consider your role model?
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5
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21
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March 21, 2025
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Mrs. Kelley tells Perkins, “[M]aking enemies is how you know you’re doing things right.” Do you agree with her? Do you think it would have been possible for Perkins to implement reform without making enemies? Do you think it’s possible now?
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8
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33
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March 20, 2025
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