GN Virtual Book Club – The Principles of Uncertainty

This is the kind of book that you can return to again and again, and its a great one for young ones and old ones alike. Sometimes it makes me cry, sometimes it makes me laugh, and sometimes her words and pictures make me do both things at once. This author is one of those women I hope to be more and more like.

I hope that reading this book and getting a window into Kalman’s artistic process and her sense of wonder will inspire you like it inspired me.

Click here to order your copy of the book! And see below for some discussion questions about the book!

1. The book is told in a rough diary format. Have you ever kept a journal or diary? How old were you? Did it help you figure things out? Have you gone back to earlier diary entries? What have you learned?
2. In the first part of the book the narrator talks about observing the regular people she sees in the city.  Are you an observer of the world around you? Can you remember a time when you learned something about the world from the people who are around you every day?
3. On page 46 the author discuss the shocking realization that we will all at some point die and suggest things she distracts herself with.  What are some of the things you use to distract yourselves in serious or dark moments? Or do you let yourself feel the emotions and deal with them as they happen?
4. The writer focuses a lot on small miracles of everyday life. favorite desserts, interesting people in the street. What are the small miracles/ small pleasures in your life that bring you joy and fulfillment?
5. Starting on page 199, the story is told with photos and paintings.  Sometimes she paints the photos. How is painting a photo different from printing the photo itself? How is it the same? And what does it say about artistic perspective?