Post-Reading Guide
Congratulations on finishing the book!
To get the most out of the experience, go back to the notes you took at the beginning according to the Pre-Reading Guide. (You did take notes, right?) Answer the following questions and then compare your answers to the ones you gave on the pre-reading questionnaire.
These questions are meant to encourage a deeper reading of the text. You are not being graded on your answers. Try using this as a discussion guide for a reading group or with your friends and family (taking care to explain unfamiliar concepts as necessary).
Revisiting Understanding¶
What is a family?
What do families do? (What is their role on an individual level?)
Does “family” mean the same thing for everyone?
What is the relationship between families and the economy?
What is the relationship between families and the government?
What is family abolition?
Revisiting Personal Perspective¶
Has reading this book affected your perspective on families in general?
What changed for you?
What didn’t change for you?
Has reading this book affected your perspective on your relationship with your family?
What changed for you?
What didn’t change for you?
How do you feel about family abolition now that you’ve read this book?
Do you think it’s necessary? Why or why not?
If you have existing experience regarding any of the fields in this book (history, childcare and child development, domestic violence, economics, etc.): how do the ideas and explanations in this book fit with your previous understanding?
In your view, what did O’Brien get right? What did she get wrong?
What do you think of O’Brien’s idea of insurgent social reproduction?
Do you agree or disagree with O’Brien’s views on communization theory?
Do you think the commune form proposed in Chapter 13 is an effective way to organize communist society? Why or why not?
Can you think of any alternatives to the proposed commune form? What are their strengths and weaknesses relative to O’Brien’s proposal?