About Garth Stein

Garth Stein was born in Los Angeles and later moved to Seattle where he now resides with his wife, three children and his faithful companion Comet. According to his website the cover of his book displays a picture of his dog. Garth Stein has written two other books, Raven Stole the Moon and How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets. He has also produced and directed short films and documentaries. He is also a novice race car driver which makes this fictitious story credibly real.
Go to Garth's website and check out his credits, you can even submit your own "Enzo" snapshot.

Discussion Questions for The Art of Racing

Did you enjoy this tale of the life of man's best friend? In the last day of Enzo's life he recounts what meant so much to him. Denny Swift is an aspiring race car driver. Enzo is his animal companion; although he perceives himself to be a human without thumbs. Denny and Enzo knew they could rely on each other through life's ordeals. When Eve got sick Enzo was there to support Denny. Enzo was there to protect Denny from the custody battle with Zoe's grandparents and the accusations from Annika. And that magnificent ride in Denny's race car. Enzo learns a lot from watching television so he knows the techniques of racing a car, especially in racing in the rain of life, love, and friendship? Is there anyone you can truly rely on to be by your side like the friendship Enzo and Denny have. Enzo looks after Denny like a human. Do you think that is possible to be able to communicate in this manner?

Let's Get Started: Discussion Questions for In Defense of Food

Have you started reading In Defense of Food? Whether you're on page 10, page 20, or on to something else already, you must have something to say about it. So say it--right here! Mr. Pollan has, after all, provided us with a feast of ideas and insights to digest!

Here are some easy questions to get you warmed up--but feel free to post your own:

Are you enjoying the book so far? What do you like most? Is there anything you don’t like?

Have your eating habits changed during the last decade? If so, how? If not, why not?

Is there anything in the book that really surprises or interests you enough to investigate further?

Also, don't forget about Michael Pollan's free and open-to-the-public lecture at Xavier University's Cintas Center on September 27th. (See my previous post for more details).

Keep on reading!

About Michael Pollan

There’s a good chance you’ve already heard of Michael Pollan, and an even better chance that you’ve read something he’s written. He’s an award-winning author and journalist who, for the past twenty years, “has been writing books and articles about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect: food, agriculture, gardens, drugs, and architecture”. He’s been both an editor and writer for Harper’s Magazine and the New York Times Magazine, and his 2006 book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, was a New York Times bestseller and won numerous awards.

I learned all this by looking at his website, which you might want to check out, also. There’s a lot more to see there, including a very nice bibliography.

You can also watch a full-length television interview with him here.

Or maybe you’d like to see him in person – if so, then be sure to mark your calendar for Sunday, September 27th . That’s the day he’ll be at Xavier University’s Cintas Center to deliver his lecture entitled “In Defense of Food: An Omnivore’s Solution” as part of their Ethics/Religion and Society Lecture Series. The event begins at 1 p.m., is free and open to the public, and no reservations or tickets are necessary.

In the meantime, let’s see if we can get our own discussion started. In a week or so, I’ll post some questions, so keep reading, and then come back and share your thoughts.