Book Group Questions for Discussion

I Am Happier to Know You is the inspiring story of Jeanne M. Eck’s courageous journey to Egypt; in the process of learning about another culture and faith, she discovers that our true home is built upon our relationship with ourselves.

Throughout I Am Happier to Know You, Ms. Eck shares the challenges and joys of her journey while weaving a mantle of hope that with faith, personal power, grace, and love, peace achieved through mutual respect and understanding can envelop the world.

1. Discuss the cultural differences between the East and the West you found most difficult to respect and why.

2. What differences do you think Middle Easterners find most difficult to respect about your culture?

3. Compare the similarities between the people of Egypt and the Middle East with your culture.

4. After arriving in Egypt, the author came face-to-face with her personal prejudices and assumptions. Discuss what they were, how she overcame them and what she learned from them.

5. Share how I Am Happier to Know You has changed the ways in which you look at the people and challenges in your life.

6. Discuss which stories touched you the most and what you learned from them.

7. Discuss how I Am Happier to Know You has expanded your definition of love, faith and peace and what you can do as an individual to bring us all closer together.

8. Share how fear has touched and touches your life.

9. Compare what you like most about the Egyptian people.

10. I Am Happier to Know You is about nurturing our relationship with ourselves. Discuss the ways in which the author’s journey touched your relationship with yourself.

11. Discuss, from the perspective of the people of the Middle East, how our media and government impact their perception of democracy and the people of the West. Do you think it is accurate? What can you do to change it?

12. Compare the roles men and women play in Egypt with those of your culture.

13. Share how your cultural background, faith, family, and the organizations you belong to have shaped your view of the world. Discuss how I Am Happier to Know You changed your perceptions.

14. What were the greatest challenges the author faced living in an Islamic and Middle Eastern society? How did she overcome them?

15. Discuss how I Am Happier to Know You has changed your perception of Islam and the people of Egypt and the Middle East.

 

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