Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did reading this sequel feel compared to its predecessor, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing? Did the shift from April’s singular voice to multiple perspectives change your experience of the story?

2. What was your gut reaction to the novel’s ending? Did you find Carl’s sacrifice and the complete destruction of Altus to be a satisfying conclusion, or were you, like Andy, left wishing that the technology could have been repurposed for good?

3. Which character’s journey resonated with you the most in this book: April’s struggle with her new post-human identity, Andy’s battle with the pressures of fame, Maya’s determined search for the truth, or Miranda’s intellectual espionage? What about their story captured your attention?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The novel critiques the attention economy by emphasizing the ways the Altus Space is engineered to be addictive. How did Green’s depiction of virtual reality resonate with your own experiences of social media or other immersive apps?

2. Have you ever wished for something like the Book of Good Times to guide you through a difficult decision? What do you see as the biggest benefits and drawbacks of surrendering your free will in exchange for a guaranteed positive outcome?

3. Andy feels trapped by his public persona as the “sad, smart, nerdy guy” (33). In your own life, how does the pressure to perform a certain identity shape your actions or feelings?

4. When she’s trapped in the Altus Space, Miranda’s breakthrough comes from reframing her problem from personal escape to the complete destruction of Altus. Think about a challenge you’ve faced in your own life. Has changing your perspective or the scale of the problem ever helped you discover a new path forward?

5. Dr. Lundgren critiques the kind of ambition that is more about feeling important than about doing good. Where in your own life or community have you observed this tension between making a big impact and making a truly positive one?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The story explores digital polarization through the rise of anonymous, influential channels like The Thread and the formation of online opposition groups. How does the book’s depiction of online echo chambers and algorithm-driven conflict reflect current trends you see in public discourse today?

2. Where do you see the principles of Altus’s business model, which is an extreme version of “surveillance capitalism,” appearing in our real-world tech industry?

3. The final plan to defeat Altus relies on a massive, decentralized crowdfunding campaign. What does this plot point suggest about the power of collective action versus the influence of a few powerful individuals or corporations in shaping our society’s future?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel is told from the perspectives of April, Maya, Andy, Miranda, and even the non-human entity, Carl. How did this multiple point-of-view structure affect your understanding of the story’s events? What unique insights did Carl’s chapters provide that the human characters could not?

2. What is the symbolic significance of April’s reconstructed body? How does her physical transformation into a human and alien hybrid serve as a symbol for her internal journey of redefining her identity, power, and purpose?

3. How do the dueling AIs, Carl and his brother, compare to other famous artificial intelligences in fiction, like HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey? What does the conflict between Carl’s ethical rules and his brother’s lack of constraints suggest about the potential for both benevolent and malevolent AI?

4. What is the narrative function of the alternate reality game “Fish”? How does it work to blur the lines between a game and the real world, and what does it reveal about the ways people can be manipulated by systems of power?

5. The story presents a contrast between two types of networks: the top-down, manipulative control of Altus and The Thread, and the decentralized, grassroots network of people secretly guided by Carl’s books. What message do you think the author is sending about community and connection in our digital age?

6. Let’s talk about the title. In what ways do the characters’ actions or the novel’s central conflict represent a “beautifully foolish endeavor”? Which character or plot point best embodies this concept for you, and why?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re a scientist on Miranda’s new research team, tasked with studying the leftover Altus code. Write a list of ethical guidelines for handling such a powerful and potentially dangerous technology to ensure it is never misused again.

2. Design an “experience” to be sold in the Altus Premium Space, what memory or skill from your life would you choose to share? On the flip side, what experience from another person would you be most curious to try for yourself?

3. The novel ends with April losing her prosthetic limbs and feeling more human and at peace than ever. Write a short Epilogue set one year later, what would daily life look like for April and Maya? How might April be navigating the world with her unique body and permanently altered face?