Skip to main content

Reading Group Guide

Discussion Questions

The Twelve

1. Do you know anyone who has ever had a near death experience? Do you think the author made up this near death experience, or is it possible the description is accurate? If accurate what does this imply for the nature of reality and the universe?

2. Do the events surrounding Max’s Bolivian adventure directly relate to the main storyline? If not why did the author provide this chapter of seemingly impossible coincidences resulting in a close call for Max?

3. Many readers have compared the spiritual message of The Twelve to messages in The Celestine Prophecy and The Alchemist. If this is true for you, how does the message of The Twelve compliment, contradict or extend what you learned from those books?

4. Unlike The Celestine Prophecy, The Twelve spends the first quarter of the book developing the main character and sharing Max Doff’s personality with readers. Do you think this approach enhanced or detracted from the spiritual journey and spiritual message? Why do you think the author felt the personality of Max Doff was essential to convey his spiritual message?

5. Max starts his life full of innocence and wonder. He has several experiences which might have changed his view of life --- the beatings at the hands of Louie, the threat of being incarcerated in a mental institution, losing most of his money and material possessions --- and yet Max remains optimistic and productive throughout his life. Do you know people who have been able to deal with negativity without losing their innocence and sense of wonder? If so, how and why do you think this is possible?

6. Have you read other books about 2012? If so how do the messages in those books compare with the positive message of The Twelve?

7. Do you think that 2012 has any actual importance in the possible evolution of humanity?

8. If in fact you are one of the twelve how would you know? What would change in your life?

9. Are you aware that Plato, Pythagoras and other scholars believed that the dodecahedron, the twelve-sided cube, was the structure and shape of the universe? Why do you think that twelve or a multiple of twelve is at the heart of almost every major religion and spiritual tradition in the world, including: the Zodiac, the twelve gods of Olympus, the twelve apostles, the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve knights of the round table, the twelve princes of Xibalba, and the thirty-six just souls of the Kabbalah tradition?

10. Which member of The Twelve did you most identify with and why?

11. After reading The Twelve does the equation “A is and is not equal to A” have any specific meaning for you?

12. Do you think the vision of a post-2012 world presented in the novel The Twelve is achievable in reality?

The Twelve
by William Gladstone

  • Publication Date: September 8, 2009
  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Vanguard Press
  • ISBN-10: 1593155565
  • ISBN-13: 9781593155568