
Member Reviews

This was a discussion guide and only that. The questions were thoughtful, but it did not include any way to add on the experience. I would have liked more content, even if it was a list of "read next" suggestions. This is for people who only want to discuss the book.

This is a REVIEW ONLY of The BOOK CLUB KIT for “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent,” a provocative and controversial literary non-fiction by Pulitzer Prize Winner Isabel Wilkerson about the racial inequalities that she perceives in the United States today as likened to those of the caste system in India and the former fascist terrors of Nazi Germany. This three-page e-book is dense with discussion questions to stimulate insightful two-way conversations among reading groups, yet it is blatantly lacking in visual appeal because of its lack of art and bold, eye-catching graphics or photography. Nonetheless, these Q & As are excellent and will be useful for Book Club Leaders, Librarians, as well as readers themselves who want extra insight into the background of the book and author. ❇️ As complex and intriguing as the topics covered in the book, it would be nice to see bold, colorful graphics, art, songs, maps, recipes, clothing, research statistics, bookmarks and other visual effects as a virtual legend to accompany the messages Wilkerson presents in her book. ❇️
TheBookMaven graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Isabell Wilkerson, and Publisher Penguin Random House Library Resources for this Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) for review.

Caste was such a meaningful book, but nonfiction is always tough to discuss in a group. It made it so much easier that I already had the discussion questions in this Book Club Kit. I hope more people will read Caste. It is not an easy read, but so worth it. I would recommend it to anyone.

I LOVED THE BOOK CLUB KIT! MY FRIENDS AND I REALLY ENJOYED AND TALKING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR THIS BOOK CLUB KIT.

1.5/5
This is a list of discussion questions, how do you consider this a kit? I wish they had included an interview or something. Heck you probably could have found these questions on google if you wanted to!

If ever there was a book that everyone needs to read, this is that book. This book is truly riveting. Isabel Wilkerson does an excellent job explaining caste, race and class in the United States & she also parallels it with other countries such as India & Germany.
For America to truly heal from its past, this book presents the discussion we NEED to have! I highly recommend this book.

Along with others, I mistook this for the book. This is a great kit and guide flip encourage engagement while reading this book. Thank you Netgalley and Isabel Wilkerson for the opportunity to read this book club kit!

Mistook it for the book, which I read and then came back to this for reference and understanding. Engaging content and important book and discussions it led to.

This is such a fun, engaging book club kit! I love reading interviews with authors, and hearing about what inspired them to write their novel. The included discussion questions are perfect for encouraging deeper exploration of the book's characters and themes, the kit is easily printable/accessible and I loved how Netgalley began including on their sites. Will definitely use in the near future with my very own book club.

I absoluelty love these kits. I run a book group that is all about the intersectionality of gender, race, class etc where we read fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and plays that dabble in an assortment of genres for ages twelve and up. A kit like this makes it 10x easier to prep for my discussion that month with a sort of guideline for what sort of questions can be asked on top of the author interviews. I also really enjoy the handouts that these kits provide. The book marks and even book related lists are great for patrons wanting more from the book group.
These kits are a great starting point for prepping for your book group. That being said, I don't think I would pay for them because everything the kit gives is composed of materials you can more or less find yourself.

I was drawn to this book by the cover, but I stayed for the content. Like with all non-fiction, it can be pretty helpful to have a resource that helps you think about the information presented in the book, and this book club kit is really good for that purpose!

My mistake. I thought it was the book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this. I'm sure this guide will be useful to many book clubs.

“As we go about our daily lives, caste is the wordless usher in a darkened theater, flashlight cast down in the aisles, guiding us to our assigned seats for a performance. The hierarchy of caste is not about feelings or morality. It is about power—which groups have it and which do not.”
I think this would be a heavy book to read, especially as a POC or person from a marginalized group or community. Having this kit would be helpful to navigate the aftermath of this important and eye-opening body of work.
Wilkerson's 8 Pillars of Caste:
1) Divine Will and The Laws of Nature
2) Heritability
3) Endogamy and the control of marriage and mating
4) Purity vs pollution
5) Occupational hierarchy
6) Dehumanization and Stigma
7) Terror as enforcement, cruelty as a means of control
8) Inherent superiority vs inherent inferiority

This is a solid resource for anyone looking to have an depth discussion of Wilkerson's work. It poses a full list of in depth questions clearly designed to probe the reader to think about the material on a significant level. However, to call it a "Guide" feels like a bit of a stretch. It doesn't present the questions in a clearly structured manner. I think it would have been better to present the questions in groups that all relate to broader discussion points, with each of those points clearly structured to help guide the conversation. That kind of approach is still possible, it will just require more prep beyond this guide.

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson was such a powerful read for me. The book club kit just gave me even more appreciation for the book. The kit includes 25 really thought-provoking questions, that I think are essential for any book club discussion. I'd love if an author interview was included.

A very thought provoking book that details out in great length the world we are in, and the sad realities of race and social hierarchy in US. When we speak about caste system, I would think of India, perhaps Nazi Germany, but the author has rightly pointed out that racism is not about one person hating the other, but rather, a systematic abuse. An upper-caste wanting to maintain privilege and being oblivious to sufferings of a lower-caste. The book has a great detail both from history perspective and also of recent events (e.g. the Obama presidency), to illustrate her perspective.
This is not a simple book to read, and some of the content or perspective may be controversial to particular groups of people, the book remains true to the author's story, her point of view. HIghly recommended, and also recommending people to keep an open mind reading this book.

These book club question are great for analyzing the book. They are great for guiding a book club discussion to make sure you get everything you need from the book. It is also good that the questions are long to create profound discussion, instead of superficial conversation.

I really loved the book Caste. It is a very informative book which calls for a lot of discussions. But what questions can you ask? With this Book Club Kit, you will have 2 pages of discussion questions on hand. 25 questions to pick up and have conversations about the book and the deeper going content itself. I can definitely recommend this kit.

Excited to have read the book club kit as I can use for my book club. It was useful to have this kit while discussing the complex topics discussed in Caste.

Caste is a very important book for understanding not only the caste-oriented American system but also the genesis and perpetuation of current class-based elites. This Book Club Kit includes 25 questions pertinently covering the most important topics included in the book. It helps at a great extent to discuss and analyse the book, through its main concepts and ideas. I haven´t been to a nonfiction book club until now, but when there is such a list of questions the discussion may be organised much better. If you are a teacher struggling to introducing the book to your class, this book club kit can be useful too.
Here is my review of the book: https://myacademicadventure.blogspot.com/2021/11/abour-caste-in-america.html