The Authenticity Project

Of the characters featured in the novel, which character do you feel is the most relatable or sympathetic? Explain your reasoning.

Write a journal entry for “The Authenticity Project” in the voice of Dave, who finds the notebook at the novel’s end. 

Is it possible to live a truly authentic life? Explain your reasoning using real-world examples and evidence from the novel.

Why do the characters in the novel feel compelled to seek one another out and form friendships? What does this reveal about human nature or psychology?

What is the impact of serendipity on the development of the novel’s plot and characterizations of major characters?

How does Monica’s Café function as both a setting and a symbol in the novel?

Identify a theme from The Authenticity Project that was not covered in this study guide? Analyze this theme or message by focusing on at least three major characters.

A major conflict characters face in The Authenticity Project is their unhealthy coping mechanisms. What are the variety of survival strategies employed by the characters, and how do these strategies help and harm them? What is Pooley’s message about coping mechanisms?