Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Scott Galloway weaves personal memoir together with data-driven social analysis. How did this hybrid style affect your reading experience? Did you find the combination of personal stories and statistics to be a compelling way to make his case?

2. The book’s intellectual framework is heavily influenced by Richard Reeves’s Of Boys and Men. For those who have read it or are familiar with it, how does Galloway’s personal narrative approach complement or differ from more academic explorations of this topic? Do you think his lived experience makes the arguments more accessible?

3. What was your single biggest takeaway from Notes on Being A Man? Did the book challenge any of your preconceived notions about masculinity, fatherhood, or the challenges facing young people today?

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

1. Galloway’s advice to “follow your talent” instead of your passion is a central part of his professional philosophy. What are your thoughts on this perspective? How has this idea played out in your own life or career choices?

2. What do you make of the concept of “garbage time” being more important than curated “quality time” in relationships? Can you think of a moment of unstructured time with a loved one that turned out to be particularly meaningful?

3. The book describes a “male friendship recession” and Galloway’s own decade of isolation. In what ways does his journey of intentionally rebuilding friendships reflect the challenges or rewards of maintaining connections as an adult?

4. Galloway’s idea of “Slowpa,” the idea of pursuing activities that offer delayed gratification, is meant to counter the rapid gratification of the tech age. In what areas of your life do you notice the tension between the “fast dopamine” of the addiction economy and the earned satisfaction of “Slowpa”? How might you shift toward more “Slowpa?”

5. Galloway credits key figures like his mother, his friend Brett Jarvis, and his teacher Ms. Kelson with providing essential support and guardrails. Who have been the stabilizing or influential people in your own life, and what role did they play in your development?

6. Economic anxiety is a recurring motif, from Galloway’s fear of scarcity after his parents’ divorce to his relentless drive for financial success. To what extent do you feel that economic stability or instability shapes a person’s identity and choices today?

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

1. Galloway argues that the “social contract is severed” for younger generations, citing the prohibitive costs of housing and education as a major cause. In what ways do you see this economic reality impacting the life paths and well-being of young people in your community or in society at large?

2. The book’s critique of the “addiction economy” draws on Jonathan Haidt’s research in The Anxious Generation to frame the youth mental health crisis. What responsibility do you believe tech companies have for the well-being of their youngest users, and what role should the government play in creating healthier digital environments?

3. A central argument in the book is that the term “toxic masculinity” is counterproductive. How does Galloway’s proposed pro-social code of “Protect, Provide, and Procreate” contribute to the larger cultural conversation about what it means to be a man today?

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

1. What is the effect of Galloway applying a business and economic lexicon, using terms like “surplus value,” “compound interest,” and “negative game,” to describe relationships and fatherhood? Does this framing strengthen his emotional arguments?

2. Galloway’s professional life is marked by both major successes, like the firm Prophet, and significant failures, like the bankruptcy of RedEnvelope. How does his candid discussion of failure shape the book’s message about resilience, quitting, and professional maturation?

3. How does Galloway use his father’s story as a recurring counterpoint to his own journey? What does this contrast reveal about his evolving definition of what constitutes a successful life and a good man?

4. The concept of “surplus value,” or giving more than you get, is the book’s central moral principle. Where did you see this theme illustrated most effectively through the different stages of Galloway’s life?

5. The memoir’s structure often moves between a present-day event and a memory it triggers. How does this non-linear storytelling impact your understanding of how early experiences, like his mother’s reaction to a lost coat, shape his adult self?

6. What significance does the motif of physical health and fitness hold throughout the narrative? How does Galloway connect the act of cultivating physical strength to emotional regulation and mental well-being?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Galloway defines his pro-social code with the three pillars: Protect, Provide, and Procreate. Create a fourth pillar that you believe is essential for a well-rounded and meaningful life today, and explain what it would entail.

2. The book closes with a letter to his sons distilling his core advice. Write a short note to a younger version of yourself, incorporating one or two key lessons you took from Galloway’s experiences.

3. Design a “Slowpa Kit” as an antidote to the fast dopamine of digital life. What three or four items would you include to help someone practice delayed gratification and build real-world skills, and why did you choose them?