Story Circle Network

Austin Chapter
Reader's Guide

April 2006

Exuberance: The Passion for Life
Kay Jamison Redfield

Redfield... examines the contagious nature of exuberance, which she defines as "a psychological state characterized by high mood and high energy," offering diverse examples that range from John Muir and FDR to Mary Poppins and Peter Pan. Having in mind the simply put idea that "those who are exuberant act," the author details the energetic efforts of scientists, naturalists, politicians and even her meteorologist father. The dual nature of humanity is a common theme, as Jamison distinguishes between introversion and extroversion, nature and nurture, and healthy emotion and pathology...

Suggested parts if you cannot read the entire book: chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10, pages 218-224, 256-260, 292-295.

  1. In reading of Roosevelt, Muir and Snowflake Bentley, do you have a favorite? What qualities move you? How are these men alike (other than being enthusiastic)?

  2. Can you think of types of exuberance that Jamison has not explored in her book?

  3. Can you think of examples of "galumphing" (the exaggerated, cavorting, quality of play) that are particularly noticeable in our culture? Question that you don't have to answer aloud: have you galumphed lately? Doesn't reading this chapter make you want to?

  4. Do you think Jamison's examples of exuberance encompass both the male and female psyche? Can you cite examples of exuberant women, both historical and contemporary? From the women whose memoirs we have read?

  5. From pp. 256-20: Is war a male exuberance only? Have you witnessed or read of this darker side of enthusiasm in women?

  6. P. 289, do you find Willa Cather's statement of the land, "It was like a horse that no one knows how to break, to harness." to be in conflict with other statements in the book regarding the natural world? To be typical of America through her history?

  7. From pp. 292-295, what do you think of the depiction of Beret Hanna?

Delightful paragraphs to read and comment on: middle paragraph, p. 104 and Frederick Douglas. speech, p. 303.

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