1. For the person who chose BULLY MARKET: What made you want to read it? What made you suggest it to the group for discussion? Did it live up to your expectations? Why or why not?

2. What do you think motivated Jamie Fiore Higgins to share her life story? How did you respond to her “voice”?

3. Family obligation was a large theme of the book. What are your thoughts about the expectations of Jamie by her family of origin? Have you ever felt obligation to your family in a way that went against what you wanted?

4. What was your prevailing feeling while reading this book? Did that feeling ever change? If so, when? And why?

5. Were there any instances in which you felt the author was not being truthful? How did you react to these sections?

6. How was the overall style of the author’s writing? What moments were most vivid and memorable? What were your thoughts on the pace of the book?

7. A lot of the bad choices Jamie made were described as coping mechanisms, a way to escape. Have you ever made choices that you weren’t proud of in an attempt to cope with a difficult situation?

8. Do you think the author’s perspective about Wall Street would have been different if:

– she was single
– she had no children
– she reported to a female boss
– she lived on her own
– she had come from a life of privilege
– she was not the family breadwinner
– she worked in a different division

9. What scenes or parts of the book made the biggest impression? Were there any issues you felt were unresolved or unclear? What sections would you like to have delved into more?

10. Would circumstances have changed had the author been promoted to Managing Director in the first round? Were there any actions the author could have taken to change the outcome of her career? Would it have made any difference?

11. What new things did you learn as a result of reading this book? Did any new knowledge change your opinions or perceptions of corporate America? Of women in corporate America?

12. What characters were most relatable? Most detestable? Most intriguing? What characters would you like to have a deeper understanding of?

13. What were the drivers of the author’s motivation to succeed? Did you feel that these changed over time? Did they intensify or wane?