Week 1

1. Do you see the dispute between Elizabeth and Mary as primarily personal or ideological. Why?

2. What effect do you feel Charles Stuart's belief in the Divine Right of Kings had on his dispute with Parliament?

3. Were you surprised by the unvarnished images of some of our Founding Fathers? If so, how do those images vary from your prior conceptions?

4. What form did Alexander Hamilton's political maneuvering take when he disliked a contemporary? Who were the main targets of Hamilton's hostility?

5. In 1800, the election of the Vice President took a different form from that of modern day America. How did Burr become Jefferson's Vice President?

6. Why did Burr issue his challenge? Why did Hamilton accept?

7. How did the Hamilton/Burr duel affect the life of the survivor?

8. Dueling was a legally sanctioned form of bloodshed until after the Civil War, when it finally began to lose favor. Years after their duel, Burr said regretfully that there SHOULD have been room on this planet for both himself and Alexander Hamilton. How might Hamilton and Burr have settled their differences amicably?

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Week 2

1. Do you see any other prior incidents in the Hatfield-McCoy feud that would have tended to exacerbate the problem with the pig and produce dislike between the two families?

2. Do you think past Civil War events had any impact on the feud?

3. Why did the coming of the railroads increase the intensity of the feud between the two clans?

4. In the earliest days of the Russian Revolution, why, in the words of our author, was Trotsky "simply too powerful to be whacked?"

5. What effect did the different personalities of Stalin and Trotsky have in impacting their rise to power?

6. What "dirty trick" did Amundsen resort to in order to assure himself of an advantage over Scott in the race to the Pole of 1910? Do you agree that Amundsen didn't "play fair?"

7. Do you think that Great Britain's desire to be "first" to the Pole impacted their interpretation of the Scott/Amundsen race? Do you think Great Britain's view on Robert Scott's tragedy influenced world opinion in 1910?

8. How do you think Norway might have felt about Amundsen's success in reaching the South Pole?

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Week 3

1. Queen Elizabeth, the QM contended that accession to the throne shortened the life of her husband, King George VI. She considered Wallis Simpson responsible for the Abdication of Edward VIII and the consequent royal responsibilities that fell to her husband. Do you agree that it was valid to hold Wallis Simpson responsible for her husband's responses to the stresses of his job?

2. Do you feel that Edward VIII really WANTED to be King? Did he have a realistic picture of life without a crown?

3. Did Wallis aspire to be Queen of England? Or would mistress of the King been a title that she might have accepted?

4. What is your opinion of the Duke's emotional response to his wife's lack of the title of "Her Royal Highness?"

5. Both George Patton and Bernard Montgomery were men of huge egos with a insatiable desire for praise and recognition. Do you feel that their accomplishments match their self-images?

6. Do you agree with the unfavorable analysis our author wrote of General Eisenhower? Why?

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Week 4

1. What, in your opinion, motivated the enmity between Robert Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson?

2. How did they each succeed in frustrating and blocking the ambitions of the other?

3. Did the characterization of Hoover in our book differ from your previous opinions? Do you have any actual memories of the "glory days" of the FBI to share? Do you believe that racial or religious bigotry played a part in Hoover's actions?

4. Martin L. King made notable contributions to the advancement of equality in America. How do you feel about the revelations of his personal life?