Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did McCarthy’s sparse, minimalist writing style affect your experience of the story? Have you read the author’s other works—such as No Country for Old Men—and if so, how does his approach in The Road differ?

2. The Road presents an unrelentingly bleak vision of the future, yet many readers find hope in its ending. What elements of hope, if any, did you find in the narrative?

3. What impact did the author’s decision to leave the characters unnamed have on your reading experience? How did this choice influence your connection to the story?

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

1. The man constantly reassures his son that they are “carrying the fire.” What does this metaphor mean to you personally, and why?

2. How did the father-son relationship in the novel resonate with your own experiences as a parent or child?

3. The man struggles with teaching his son to survive while preserving his humanity.