Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. At the start of the book, Bowler makes a promise to a grieving friend: “You will never be cured of this grief, it’s true. But you will be joyful, anyway” (5). Did this central premise resonate with you, and do you feel the memoir successfully delivered on this promise by the end?

2. Joyful, Anyway continues conversations Bowler started in earlier works, such as Everything Happens for a Reason (And Other Lies I’ve Loved) (2018). How does Joyful, Anyway build upon or depart from the ideas in her previous books? If this was your first time reading her work, are you curious to explore more, and why?

3. The memoir’s title promises joy even in difficult circumstances. How effectively do you think Bowler balances the heavy reality of grief and suffering with the search for light and humor? Did the tone feel authentic to you?

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

1. Bowler introduces “the ache” as a persistent, unnamable longing that is part of the human condition. In what ways does this idea of a universal, unfixable longing feel true to your own observations of life?

2. The book features “The List,” a way for Bowler and her friend to formally acknowledge life’s injustices. In the context of your own experience, what is the value in formally naming grievances rather than trying to move past them quickly?

3. Bowler’s father-in-law, Ken, sheds a lifetime of self-protection to shout “Hallelujah” in church. What is your own relationship with hope and vulnerability? When have you experienced and performed a similar moment of “absolute surrender”?

4. Did Bowler’s exploration of finding “microjoys” change the way you think about finding delight in the everyday? What are some ordinary things that bring you a sense of joy?

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

1. The memoir directly critiques what Bowler calls the “cult of positivity.” Where do you see this pressure to perform happiness in our culture today, whether in social media, the workplace, or wellness trends? How does Bowler’s argument compare with other critiques of this phenomenon, like in Barbara Ehrenreich’s Bright-Sided?

2. In what ways does Bowler’s argument against toxic positivity and her search for a more resilient form of joy speak directly to the social reality of declining life satisfaction in the United States?

3. Bowler uses Jack London’s life to explore the gendered nature of ambition and sacrifice, noting that a man can “devour the whole world” (38) while a good woman is expected to stay put. In what ways do you notice these different societal expectations for men and women holding true today?

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

1. The book is organized into four distinct parts: “The Ache,” “Mourning,” “Joy,” and “Living.” What effect did this progression have on your reading experience? How does this structure reinforce Bowler’s argument that mourning is a necessary step before one can truly experience joy?

2. What is the difference between joy and happiness according to Bowler? How does she use specific anecdotes, like the surgeon’s “Ta-da!”, or Scrooge’s gratitude, to illustrate this distinction?

3. What narrative purpose do key figures like Father Ron Rolheiser and Jerry Sittser serve? How do their theological insights and personal stories of loss contribute to and strengthen Bowler’s own developing philosophy?

4. Lists appear throughout the memoir to catalog everything from grievances to rituals to “microjoys.” How does this recurring formal device evolve, and what does it reveal about the process of moving from naming pain to cultivating gratitude?

5. Jerry Sittser offers the crucial insight that miracles, like Lazarus’s resurrection, “don’t last.” How does this idea deconstruct the “miracle-thinking” of figures like Oral Roberts and challenge the reader to find a more sustainable, everyday form of hope?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The memoir includes a chapter of “Friend-Tested Rituals” for processing life’s challenges. Design a simple ritual for marking a specific life transition, either celebratory or difficult, that you feel is often overlooked in our culture. What elements would you include?

2. What would be on your personal list of “Ways to (Almost) Guarantee Joy for No Reason”? Create a list of three to five small, accessible activities or observations that you could turn to, inspired by Bowler’s practice of cultivating joy.

3. Bowler describes life as being lived on a “floodplain,” a place of vulnerability that requires constant maintenance but can also hold stunning beauty. What landmarks, both challenging and beautiful, would you place on a symbolic map of your own floodplain?