24 Book Club Discussion Questions for Culpability by Bruce Holsinger

If your book club is reading Culpability on Bookum (Like Oprah's Book Club), this spoiler-ready guide will spark rich discussion around AI ethics, moral responsibility, family tension, and emotional truth. These questions are perfect for virtual sessions, in‑person meetups, or content on Bookum, Goodreads, or other community platforms.

Morality and Motivation in Culpability

Explore how power intersects with personal ethics and institutional responsibility.

1 - What does the novel suggest about the personal and public costs of seeking justice?

2 - Do you think any of the characters act out of a true sense of morality, or are their choices more about self-preservation?

3 - How does Holsinger explore the line between culpability and responsibility across different institutions like law, media, and politics?

4 - Is there a moment in the novel where your perception of who was “guilty” shifted? What triggered that shift?

5 - Which character do you think wrestled the most with their own sense of guilt, and why?

6 - How does Holsinger portray the burden of truth? Are there moments where the truth does more harm than good?

7 - If you had to assign “culpability” to one character above all, who would it be and why?

Character Ethics and Internal Conflict

Ideal for groups analyzing complex relationships in political dramas and literary fiction.

8 - How did your opinions of the main characters evolve over the course of the novel?

9 - What internal conflicts did you see characters facing, especially when their professional roles clashed with their personal lives?

10 - Which character’s ethical dilemmas did you find most compelling or frustrating?

11 - How does the novel explore power dynamics between lawyers, whistleblowers, and government officials?

12 - Did you ever feel sympathy for a character you didn’t expect to? What changed your perspective?

Narrative Techniques and Structure

Useful for discussions around media literacy, misinformation, and narrative control.

13 - How does Holsinger’s use of multiple perspectives and timelines impact your understanding of the central conflict?

14 - Were there any twists or reveals that completely changed the direction of the story for you?

15 - Did you find the structure effective in creating suspense or confusion? How might the story have changed if it were told linearly?

16 - What role does memory and selective truth-telling play in how the story unfolds?

17 - How does Holsinger build tension in scenes where very little is said out loud?

Real-World Parallels and Institutional Critique

18 - What real-world systems or cases does Culpability seem to be in conversation with?

19 - Do you think the novel offers a critique of the justice system, the media, or both?

20 - How did the book challenge your view of institutional accountability?

21 - What do you think the novel is ultimately saying about the price of telling the truth?

22 - How does Culpability fit into current conversations around legal ethics, confidentiality, and systemic failure?

The Ending and Aftermath

23 - How did you feel about the resolution? Did it feel earned or unresolved?

24 - What do you think happens to the main characters after the novel ends?

Oprah Question: Why do you think Oprah's Book Club picked this book? Where does this rank on your favorite books from her list?

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