From my desk,
to yours.
A TIDE OF DREAMS: BEST BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
- What are some themes that can be identified in the book?
- Define what you think success meant to each of the men individually?Corporately?
- The narrative gives an overview of history from 1930-1961. The successful partnership of these men occurred during the most transformative years of the sport. How did the times they live in shape their character? Why or why not do you think they were the product of their times? What opportunities/crisis can you point to that were influenced by their core values? How did their individual decisions throughout their lives reflect their core values?
- Compare those times with today. What are some of your character traits/values that can you attribute to the times you grew up in? What are some character traits/core values you project will be part of today's generation?
- How do the service college football teams (Army, Navy, Air Force) exemplify how we function as a nation? Why do sports games begin with the National Anthem? Do you see a link between team sports loyalty and patriot fervor? Why or why not?
- Coach Laslie's story was told in greater detail than the others. Why?
- How did football help win WWII?
- Can you identify some of the challenges these families in particular experienced that may be unique to them? Or do you think they are common within the college coaching world? Why or why not?
- What principles of the Navy's Pre-Flight Training were applied to post-WWII college football?
- Why do you think Coach Moseley left the University of Kentucky?
- Why do you think Coach Laslie left the University of Kentucky?
- Why do you think Coach Hank approached Coach Laslie to return to Alabama to coach?
- Big game rivalries were highlighted throughout the book and have always been a tradition of the game for the past one hundred years of the sport. This is the first year of the "overhaul" of the sport and many of those rival teams may not play each other on an annual basis. Why or why not do think it will matter to future college football fans?
- What was your favorite Part/Chapter/anecdote in the book? Why?
- What was the most surprising thing learned?
- Were you a football fan prior to reading A TIDE OF DREAMS? If not, are you now? Why or why not?
About Carey
Carey Henry Keefe grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and attended the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, graduating with a B.S. in Business Management. She speaks regularly to groups about the remarkable group of men known as the "90-Day Wonders" and the history of the Navy's WWII Pre-flight Training program profiled in A TIDE OF DREAMS.
