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About the Becoming Madam Secretary Discussion category
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1
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135
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March 13, 2025
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Overall, what did you think of Becoming Madam Secretary? (no spoilers, please!)
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34
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385
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June 23, 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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7
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45
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June 23, 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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12
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59
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June 23, 2025
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To what audience would you recommend Becoming Madam Secretary?
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26
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111
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June 23, 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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16
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69
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June 23, 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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3
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24
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June 23, 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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15
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56
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June 23, 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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14
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62
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June 23, 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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8
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49
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June 23, 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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13
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47
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June 23, 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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16
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79
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June 23, 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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3
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16
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June 23, 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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8
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44
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June 23, 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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7
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42
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June 23, 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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16
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65
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June 23, 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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6
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34
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June 23, 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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7
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34
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June 23, 2025
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What did you make of the first person "voice" of the novel?
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7
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36
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June 23, 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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10
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50
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June 23, 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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15
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60
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June 23, 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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6
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25
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June 23, 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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6
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31
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June 23, 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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9
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36
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June 23, 2025
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