Discussion Questions

1. If "all men are not dogs", in what other ways can they be classified (e.g. "choirboy", "smooth operator", "sinister minister", or "bootstrapper")? Is it time to drop all the labels and judge every man on his own merits?
2. Which of the characters' stories resonated most with you? Why?
3. Are women who complain about "Dogs" or "Players" and then reject "Choirboys" like Brandon hypocritical, confused, or just holding out for the perfect "reformed" Dog?
4. Do you know men like Terence, Brandon, Larry, and O.J.? Where did you meet them and what did you most like and dislike about them?
5. Is it possible for men (or women) as different as these characters to lay aside their disagreements and unite for the sake of their community? What did they do to move past their differences and focus on saving the Ellis Center?
6. Are the days of judging fellow African-Americans by their skin color, hair length, or the thickness of their facial features behind us? Or do you know more than a few people like Larry and Ashley? Why do some of us still fall into this trap?
7. Did O.J. deserve Keesa's attack? Would you be bothered if your preacher treated women the way O.J. did?
8. What would you have told Keesa if she'd come to you after receiving Nico's phone call?
9. Of all the Ellis Center's enemies, who was the real bad guy?
10. Nico confronted Sheryl and the Ellis Center because they were interfering with his business. If a community center, organization, or church isn't scaring or upsetting the neighborhood's criminal forces, is it really doing its job?
11. Do you see any similarities between Brandon and O.J.? Are they really opposites or did they have the same goal and spiritual interests at some point?
12. What may have changed them? Which character do you think had the most "issues"? If you met them in the first chapter, how would you help them mature into the type of man you prefer?
13. Did Terence make the right decision about his relationship with Lisa?
14. Will Brandon and Monica make their relationship work, or are they too different to click in the long run?
15. What do you think O.J. should do with his life?

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