1. General Impressions

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• The author reconstructs historical events with novelistic detail and dialogue. How did this narrative approach influence your engagement with the true story? Did it enhance or affect your trust in the historical account? Have you read other works of nonfiction that use a similar approach?
• Larson interweaves two contrasting narratives: the creation of the World’s Fair and Holmes’s series of murders. How does this dual structure affect your reading experience? Did you find yourself more invested in one storyline over the other?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection

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

• Consider the rapid modernization of Chicago in the 1890s. Do you see any parallels between those societal changes and transformations in your own city or community? In general, how do you feel about technological change?
• Burnham faced numerous setbacks in creating the World’s Fair, from weather disasters to labor strikes. What insights does his persistence offer about overcoming obstacles in your own life?
• The book explores how Holmes exploited the anonymity of urban life to commit his crimes. How do you balance trust and caution in your own interactions within your community?
• Many characters in the book chase ambitious dreams, from Burnham’s architectural vision to Ferris’s revolutionary wheel.