How to Stop Time

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

1. Would you like to have Tom’s condition? Why or why not?

2. Hendrich and Omai are foils to each other. Which of their outlooks did you identify with the most, and why?

3. Tom sees dramatic change all around him over the course of his life. Have you ever seen a familiar person or location change in such a dramatic way? How did it affect you?

4. The narrative suggests that happiness is a conscious choice. Do you agree that happiness is within our control, or is it a product of our circumstances?

5. Music becomes a language through which Tom can express himself and understand the world around him. Do you experience music this way? If not, what is an art form that fills this role for you?

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

1. What role does media play in the journeys of these characters? How does it evolve over time?

2. The novel’s antagonist uses fear as a tool to create loyalty and unity. Where might this be reflected in history, and where might this be reflected in our own contemporary world?

3. The title of the novel, How to Stop Time, is a reference to a line in Haig’s memoir Reasons to Stay Alive. How does this novel fit into the larger spectrum of Haig’s work on depression and mental health?

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

1. Why does it take Tom so long to see through Hendrich’s lies? What does Hendrich provide that Tom needs?

2. Does the novel present immortality as a positive or negative trait? How do different characters’ perspectives inform this?

3. How do Hendrich’s actions lead to his undoing? At what point did his fate become irreversible?

4. What is Tom’s fatal flaw, and how does he ultimately overcome it?