101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think

Choose a source mentioned several times in the book and trace its uses. Why does Wiest choose this particular source in specific essays, and how do the references to it further her purpose?

Much of this book is written in the form of lists. How does Wiest bring a sense of personality and connection to these lists to prevent them from being repetitive or stilted?

This book was first published in 2016 and is reflective of media and youth culture in the United States at that time. To what extent do you feel its messages are relevant to the present time?

Consider the nature of authorial voice. To what extent do you consider Wiest’s essays to be confessional or self-revelatory?

These essays were originally published online as individual posts. Consider how reading them in a print collection alters the reader’s experience.

Wiest repeats several big ideas in different forms throughout the book. Do you think this is effective? Why or why not?

Some essays list things to do, and some list things not to do. Do you find any commonalities between these two types? Do you think this approach is effective?

What is Wiest’s tone in these essays? Does it change throughout the book? Why do you think she chose to write this way?