1. There are three questions at the heart of Yates's crisis at the end of the first section. What does it mean to live a fulfilling 21st century life? Is there room for a Futurist in a terrified, compromised, morally ambiguous world? And, why does everyone hate us? Does he ever get answers? Are there answers?

2. In his Coalition of the Clueless speech Yates renounces his profession and those who seem to know all the answers. Ironically, it's only when he claims to know nothing that Yates finds himself and his most passionate audience. Why?

3. Near the end of the book, in Bas 'ar, Blevins says that Yates is just like America. Do you agree? How does this theme of Yates-equals-America evolve as the book progresses? How does his moral arc match up with America's?

4. If Yates is a metaphor for America, what does Blevins represent?

5. How does the relationship between Yates and Marjorie evolve? How do you think they feel about each other at the end? Do they have a future?

6. We never meet Yates's father, yet he figures prominently in Yates's conscience. How did Yates's father influence him in life, and then in death?

7. Discuss the real world, contemporary parallels to things like space tourism, Destination Bas 'ar, staged/scripted news conferences, corporate excess, vocational crises, and the selling of Brand America to the world.

8. Why, as a society, are we so future-obsessed? Have we always been that way or is it a contemporary symptom?

9. From the hermit-like existence of the billionaire Campbell, to the disillusioned Peace Corps deserter to, of course, Yates, a central theme of the book is vocation. More clearly: what do I do with myself now? How does this theme reflect the world we live in?

10. What events lead to Yates's crisis of purpose? Was it a slow or sudden process?

11. In The Futurist, a society obsessed with what's next is seemingly paralyzed by the present, and forced to ask itself, in effect, "what now?"

12. The book ends on a purely speculative note that makes a statement about the business of speculation. What are we to make of the final pages?

13. Play Futurist and discuss what Yates will do with the rest of his life.