Critical Chain

The narrative is punctuated with discussions between Richard and his wife, Judith, which are not explicitly connected to the main plot of the novel. What is the significance of Richard’s relationship with Judith? How is a marriage or a family like a project, and what kinds of constraints in Richard’s relationship come up in the novel?

Why does Isaac Levy pick Mark, Ruth, and Fred for the think tank? Using evidence from the text, explain how each character complements or contrast each other. What is the role of each character in the think tank, and how do their different personalities contribute to their success?

Jim and the other professors praise Richard for teaching using open discussion. What are the benefits of open discussion? Where in the text does open discussion provide new solutions, and how does open discussion foster innovative thinking? When Jim notes that it is hard to teach using Richard’s method, what evidence from the text can be used to support his feeling?