All the Water in the World

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The central premise of All the Water in the World is the danger of climate change. Do you think it’s an effective cautionary tale? Why or why not?

2. Hope for the future is a major theme in the novel. What moments helped keep hope alive in the narrative? Why?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Consider the preservation of knowledge. What knowledge or experiences would you try to preserve for the future?

2. The people of Amen all have niche, specialized skills that have become invaluable within their new community and world. What unlikely skills do you have that might become valuable in a climate collapse world? 

3. The Cloisters community gathers the stories of travelers and preserves them in the scriptorium. Have you ever heard a stranger’s story that you preserved in your memory? Does this project reflect any projects you know of in today’s world?

4. Early in the novel, the survivors must accept that they can never return to Amen. Consider a time in your life when you had to leave a place of safety and comfort, whether emotionally, professionally, or socially.