Bring The Mess That Made Them to Your Book Club
Book Clubs
The Mess That Made Them was written for conversation. It’s a book for anyone who has ever felt too far behind, too uncertain, or too worn down to keep going, and for anyone who’s wondered if what they are building will matter. It uses the stories of artists, writers, and dreamers from the past to ask what resilience looks like in real life.
What you will get
A reading and discussion guide with questions designed to spark honest and energizing conversation
A behind the scenes author note about how the book came together
The chance to schedule Ryan for a virtual or in person visit with your club
A taste of the discussion
The full guide includes chapter by chapter questions, context notes, and prompts for reflection. Here are a few samples:
How does the book change the way you think about what it means to begin late, begin uncertain, or begin anyway?
Several chapters lean into contradiction rather than resolving it. What does that reveal about how we tell stories of success and failure?
Which figure’s story stayed with you most, and why? Did it shift how you think about survival, persistence, or meaning?
The full guide will be sent once you fill out the form below.
How to get started
Fill out the form and you will receive the reading and discussion guide in your inbox within 48 hours. If you need me to put a rush on it, say the word and I’ll bump you to the top of the list. Things happen and I don’t want you to show up unprepared! You can also request an author visit after sign up. In person visits can usually be arranged for clubs within 150 miles of Omaha, Nebraska.
Let’s talk
Book clubs are the heart of how this book will live in the world. If your group is ready for a conversation that is layered, encouraging, and surprising, I would love to be part of it.