2. Each section of the book
is introduced with quotes from the Bible about Jesus. Is Josh a biblical
figure? Which parts of the novel point to that and which don't? Since Josh is
supposedly writing this book, why would he want to be associated with Jesus? Is
that consistent with what we know about him?
3. Discuss the ethics of
spouting views on the Internet, or in any medium, under a false identity.
Betagold claims that Larry is a coward for keeping his identity a secret. Do
you agree? Or is Larry right to think that revealing who he is would detract
from his message?
4. Why does Betagold feel so strongly about
outing Josh?
5. Paint a picture of Josh’s
character. Why is it that he has only one friend? Discuss his relationship with
Beth. Do you think he would have created the Larry Web site if he had told Beth
how he felt about her?
6. Is Beth's reaction to the news about Josh
realistic? What do you think she'll do when she finds out how Josh attempts to
"solve" his problem?
7. Josh steals confidential
documents from Peter’s briefcase in order to attack the companies his
stepfather represents. Is he right to do this? Does the end justify the means?
8. “No offense, Josh, but
this idealism thing is a phase, like so many other things you’ve been through.
. . . You don’t have enough life experience. You don’t know how the real world
works yet.” How much of what Peter says to Josh is true, or is it as Josh
responds, “Adults always say that to keep kids quiet?”
9. Is Peter's reaction to Josh's Web activities
understandable? He's an advertising executive. Is there a place for
advertisement? What is it?
10. Josh’s/Larry’s sermons
rail against exploitation of third-world countries, celebrity worship, and the
way big business manipulates our lives, to name a few issues. What are the things
about society that you and your friends hope to change?
11. Josh limits himself to very few possessions.
Is this an admirable thing to do? What possessions could you not do without?
12. What factors do you consider before purchasing
something?
13. Could you be identified
by your possessions?
14. In his quest to be
antimaterialistic, Josh has just seventy-five possessions, including shirts,
shoes, keys, books, CDs, and underwear. If you had to limit the things you own
to seventy-five items, what would they be?
15. Josh states, “I've only
wanted one thing in my life–to contribute, to help make the world a better
place . . . not with technology, but with ideas.” Is Josh true to his vision?
16. Josh says that we feast
on celebrities, caring for people who have no idea who we are. How do you feel
about this? Should we care about the private lives of our favorite rock stars?
If you were a celebrity, how would you handle fame?
17. Is the way Josh/Larry
manipulates his followers any different from the way the media, big business,
or politicians manipulate the public?
18. Discuss Josh’s motivation
for creating the Larry Web site. Is he being honest or is he just playing a
game? He is disturbed by the magnitude of the response to his Web site and by
the hero he becomes, but he does not close down the web site. Why?
19. Josh is disillusioned by
the reaction of the public once his identity is know. No one seems to be
interested in his message–people are interested only in him as a celebrity. The
producer of 20/20 tells him, “They want to know about you. You’re the
story, just you. People want gossip; people want sizzle.” What does this tell
you about how the media views the public? What happens when the sizzle fizzles?
20. Some of Josh’s actions
might be considered unethical. Do you think anything Josh does is immoral? Is
the writing of his story the solution for Josh, or is it just another way to
avoid taking responsibility? How will Josh find peace? Is he on the right path?
21. Janet Tashjian wrote a
sequel to The Gospel According to Larry called Vote for Larry.
Would you read it?
