When We Cease to Understand the World

What is the relationship between religion and scientific discovery in the book?

Read up on some of the historical events Labatut used for inspiration, such as the July 1926 Munich conference where Heisenberg confronts Schrödinger. Then compare your findings with the events in When We Cease to Understand the World. What are the key similarities and differences? How do these events relate to the book’s major themes?

Why is there such an abrupt shift in narrative form in the fifth chapter? How does this chapter relate to the rest of the text?

What is the role of women in When We Cease to Understand the World? How do they contribute to scientific discoveries? How are they marginalized?

The protagonists have different relationships with eroticism and sex. How is their eroticism related to their work and scientific discoveries?

Discuss Labatut’s depiction of Schwarzschild as a scientist. How does it differ or relate to common conceptions of science as a discipline?

How does Labatut treat the theme of The Intersection of “Madness” and Genius? Compare and contrast Schwarzschild, Grothendieck, Schrödinger, and Heisenberg in your answer.

What is the relationship between life and death in Labatut’s novel? How are the two states related? Use at least two examples from the novel to support your answer.