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Book Group Discussion Guide for Who We Are Now

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Introduction

Who We Are Now by Michelle Fishburne captures the experiences, struggles, and transformations of Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through intimate interviews, the book reveals how people from diverse backgrounds faced unprecedented challenges and found new ways to connect, cope, and grow.

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Discussion Questions

  1. Personal Connection to the Pandemic

    • What were some moments in the book that resonated with your own experiences during the pandemic?

    • Were there stories that surprised you, or made you feel understood?

  2. Themes of Loss and Resilience

    • How do the stories in Who We Are Now explore the balance between loss and resilience?

    • Were there specific narratives that shifted your understanding of resilience in difficult times?

  3. Human Connection and Community

    • In a time of isolation, connection and community became difficult to maintain. How did the people in the book find ways to connect?

    • Did any story inspire you to think differently about your own relationships or sense of community?

  4. Adapting to Change

    • Many interviewees had to adjust their careers, family roles, or lifestyles. How did different individuals navigate these changes?

    • What were some ways you or people you know adapted that reflect the themes in the book?

  5. Lessons Learned

    • What are some of the key lessons from the pandemic, as shared by the people in Who We Are Now?

    • Are there any lessons you feel were missing or that you’d add from your own perspective?

  6. Healing and Moving Forward

    • The pandemic has left lasting impacts. How are the interviewees working to heal and move forward?

    • What parallels do you see between their efforts and your own post-pandemic journey?

  7. The Author’s Perspective

    • Michelle Fishburne traveled and interviewed people across the country to create this collection. How does her approach as a documentarian impact the authenticity and diversity of voices in the book?

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Activities

  1. Storytelling Reflection

    • Invite each group member to share a short story about their own pandemic experience, inspired by the format of the book. Reflect on common themes or unique differences.

  2. Creative Expression

    • Choose a story from the book and create a poem, sketch, or song that represents its essence. Share with the group and discuss how these creative pieces add to your understanding of the narrative.

  3. Future Predictions

    • Have a discussion about what the lasting legacy of the pandemic might be, and how future generations might view this period in American history.

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Additional Discussion Questions

  1. Personal Transformation: Many individuals in Who We Are Now experienced profound changes. For instance, Kristina, a comedian, unexpectedly found herself leading the Auntie Sewing Squad, organizing the production of 250,000 masks. Which stories of transformation resonated most with you, and did any particular narrative surprise or inspire you?

  2. Community Resilience: How did people like Cedric, the mayor of Forrest City, Arkansas, work to keep their communities informed and safe? Were there stories that reminded you of your community’s response during COVID-19?

  3. Isolation and Connection: Cindy, a teacher, noted how students felt isolated without their friends or school activities. How did others in the book find ways to stay connected? What challenges did you recognize or relate to from your own experience?

  4. Essential Workers’ Stories: Linda, an ER nurse, faced exhausting and dangerous conditions daily. How did the stories of frontline workers like Linda or grocery store owner Jim shift your perspective on their roles during the pandemic?

  5. Finding Resilience and Purpose: Many found new paths, such as Kristina becoming an “Overlord” of the Auntie Sewing Squad or Frank, a COVID-19 patient, fighting his way back to health after a near-death experience. How did stories of resilience inspire or move you?

  6. Pandemic Parenting: Carine, a newly adoptive mother, had hoped to introduce her daughter to her community but instead faced lockdown. How did her story and others involving family life illustrate the unexpected challenges of parenting during the pandemic?

  7. Economic Impact and Survival: Many, like salon owner Jackie, struggled to keep their businesses afloat. What survival strategies stood out to you, and how did the pandemic reshape their livelihoods?

  8. Mental Health and Coping: Cindy, a teacher, and Linda, the nurse, both coped with intense stress in different ways. How did individuals in the book manage mental health challenges? Which coping strategies did you find effective or relatable?

  9. Digital Connections and Limitations: Technology helped bridge the isolation gap, as seen with Donna, a senior living community executive, who used Zoom for virtual activities. How did the stories reveal both the benefits and limitations of technology for maintaining connections?

  10. Stories of Loss and Grief: Valerie, a state senator, lost two close friends, including a longtime newspaper editor. How did the stories of loss in the book impact you, and how did people find ways to manage or honor their grief?

  11. Redefining Normal: Many, like Amy in North Dakota, expressed frustration with the concept of the “new normal.” How did different individuals adapt or reject this change? What aspects of the “old” normal did they miss or resist?

  12. Interconnectedness and Responsibility: Kristina’s Auntie Sewing Squad exemplified the idea of interdependence, making masks to protect others. Which stories best reflect the interconnectedness Fishburne highlights, and how did they influence your view of community responsibility?

  13. Leadership and Local Response: Cedric, the mayor of Forrest City, kept his community informed through local radio and newspapers. How did stories of local leadership impact their communities, and what did they reveal about the role of local governance in times of crisis?

  14. Reflecting on Change: Carine’s adoption story and Donna’s “lock-in” with her senior living residents offer different perspectives on what pandemic-era changes might endure. Which changes do you think will have a lasting impact on the people Fishburne interviewed? What changes might you carry forward?

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Historical Documentation and Perspective: Fishburne’s collection documents experiences during a historic period. What do you think future readers will learn from stories like those of Linda, the ER nurse, or Zeev, a New York resident with COVID-19, about America’s response to the pandemic?

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