1. In a few sentences, explain the author’s theoretical stance and methodology. Then, discuss how the author tailors his methods to the different individuals he writes about.

2. The road to self-destruction is paved by multiple traumas, be they personal, social, cultural and historical. Drawing on at least three of the ten case studies you read, explore how these traumas intersect in the life of the individual.

3. The individuals profiled in the book have used creativity in various ways to navigate trauma and loss. Identify and explain three or four of creativity’s restitutive functions.

4. What dominant discourses on mental health, creativity, and suicide does the book challenge, and what alternative perspectives does the book offer?

5. Western media privilege stories that end in triumph, but the case studies featured in the book end in tragedy. What lessons can we as a society learn from examining tragic narratives?

6. How can we use the insights offered by the book to better care for, and extend help to, people in crises? Propose three to four changes to current treatment models, and provide a rationale for each change.