Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did the title of the collection, Men Without Women, shape your expectations for the stories? Did you find the collection predictable, or did something about it surprise you?

2. Which of the characters did you find the most and least intriguing? Explain your reasoning. 

3. Have you read any other works by Murakami before, like Kafka on the Shore or Norwegian Wood? How was reading this collection a similar or different experience from his other works?

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

1. Several of the characters, such as Habara and Kino, face long periods of solitude, but respond to it in different ways. Have you ever found yourself especially isolated socially, or dealing with loneliness in some form? How did your own experience compare to that of the characters?

2. A number of the stories in this collection include characters recounting earlier loves, most often from their teenage years. Do you feel as though there is a difference between how you saw love as a teenager and how you see it now? What, if anything, has changed?

3. When characters in these stories reminisce about past loves and lovers, they often consider whether what they remember is accurate. How do you think your perception of former partners has changed over time?

4. Many of the characters find solace and support in their friends and family after their romances end. How have you helped others in your life deal with breakups, and how have others helped you?

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

1. Most of the male protagonists in Men Without Women struggle with loneliness and isolation. How does the collection reflect, or contribute to, current debates on the “male loneliness epidemic” and the problems men face in modern society more generally?

2. There are a number of instances of infidelity in the stories of Men Without Women. How does the portrayal of infidelity compare and contrast with ongoing debates about monogamy?

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

1. Though these stories are largely independent of each other, some have connections with each other. How do these connections impact the collection as a whole?

2. Compare and contrast how Dr. Tokai and Kino process their respective romantic betrayals. How are the two men different or similar, and what do their stories suggest about the experience of masculinity? 

3. Murakami references other works of fiction in these stories, such as One Thousand and One Nights and Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. What is the role and significance of these literary allusions in Men Without Women?

4. Examine the gender dynamics and gender roles in the collection. In what ways do these stories reinforce gender stereotypes, and in what ways do they challenge them?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The story “Drive My Car” was adapted into a movie. If you were to make a movie based on another of these stories, which story would you choose and how might you change it for the big screen?

2. In a number of these stories, Murakami weaves elements of magical realism into his narratives. If you were to write a story about a heartbreak of your own, how might you use fantastical elements to amplify your experiences?