1. The author never really described Cookie Rifkin’s physical appearance. Why do you think she chose not to do that? What do you think Cookie looks like?
2. Anxiety and potential are closely related. What is the difference between being paralyzed by anxiety and using it as a motivation for taking action? What makes you anxious? What could you do to fulfill your potential?
3. When was the last time someone expected you to serve them simply because you are female? If you’re a male, why do you think this happens to women?
4. What dessert do you think Norman would bring to book club? Why? What would you bring? What does that choice say about you?
5. What if everyone in your community could hear your thoughts? What if you could hear what your spouse was thinking? How would you hide anything? Should you?
6. Cookie is an unreliable narrator. She said what she had to say to keep her intentions hidden from Maggie. When was the first point in this story that you suspected Cookie might be lying?
7. The rivalry between Cookie and Maggie is steeped in sexual tension. Why do you think Maggie chose to provoke Cookie this way? What would you do if a policewoman came on strong with you?
8. Feelings are used to prioritize values so that we can make decisions. Do people who embrace and express their feelings make better decisions than those who don’t? Should programmers give feelings to AI?
9. Why do you think the creators of artificial intelligence decided to gender this technology as female? Did they think the women were more likely to stay submissive than men? What would happen if no gender was artificially imposed upon AI?
10. Let’s talk about the men. Did Norman get what he deserved? Which male character in this story angered you the most? Why?
11. In what ways are women objectified in New Stepford? What about Wayne?
12. How does fight club change and transform Cookie? Do you think she made the right choice by punching Maggie? How do you think Cookie might have changed if she never had?
13. If you had a recyclone, what would be the first thing you’d make? If you could change something about your body, what would it be? Why?
14. At the beginning of the book, Cookie does not understand what it means to be an alpha. How do you think she would explain it at the end of the book?
15. Explain the enslaved-god scenario of artificial intelligence. Do you think there is any way for humans to keep AI “in the box?” What should we do if super-intelligent AI technology escapes?
16. By definition, robots are objects. What happens when they become sentient learning machines? Do they become people? How can we stop ourselves from objectifying them?
17. How do you feel about Anastasia’s decision to become non-binary and asexual? Have you ever met anyone who prefers to be called by the pronoun “they?” Why do you think someone might feel that way?
18. Do you think Cookie and Wayne’s plan worked? How many times do you think they may have tried to escape together in the past? Do you believe Maggie’s really dead?
19. Much like Fight Club, the author categorizes this book as satire. Have you read Fight Club? Do you agree?
20. Is there a woman, or a man for that matter, in your life who needs to read this book? Why?