Travels with Max

Let's Talk:  Discussion Questions

We hope that our story stimulates a lot of lively discussion around the themes and experiences in the book.  The following list of questions were developed to aid in book club discussions and also for people on their own personal explorations.  Please send us your suggestions in the "Contact Us" tab so we can continue to refine these questions.

1)  One of the themes in Travels with Max is the value of listening to and following your own inner wisdom.  Are there times in your own life that you can recall when you listened to your inner wisdom and benefited from it?  Where there times when you didn't listen to it?  What have you learned from these experiences?

2)  Another theme in the book is the value of facing your fear and doing it any way.  Were there times in your life where fear has gotten the best of you?  What were the outcomes or consequences?  Were there also times when you faced the fear and walked through it?  How did you feel then?  And  what were the outcomes?  What value do you see in this idea of facing your fear?

3)  One of Janet's fears was learning to drive and manage a big motorhome.  But everyone has their own special "big" fears.  What are yours at this time?  And how might you "face them down?"  And what would you gain if you did?  What would you lose if you didn't?

4)  Janet suggests that Max played a major role in her life as a catalyst for positive growth and change.  Have animals played a similar role in your life?  If so, what do you feel they came into your life to teach you?  Did you hear them and learn the lesson?

5)  Another theme in the book is the value of learning to respect one's own needs and opinions instead of trying to please others.  Has this been a challenge in your own life?  In what way has it influenced your decisions about the choices in your life?  What choices might you make if you were free of this need to please others above yourself?

6)  Do you feel that we are at a cross-roads of change in our society about the way we treat ourselves and others?  Do you see a need for more kindness and caring in our society and social policies?  In the way we view and treat our environment and the planet as a whole?  What choices might you make differently in your everyday life to support a kinder world view?

7)  What questions are you asking yourself that we haven't thought of?  Please listen to these questions and honor them--they are your inner wisdom speaking to you and guiding you on your very own healing and peaceful path.