Kerwin’s Comments (group member since Apr 08, 2011)

Kerwin’s comments from the Q&A with Kerwin Swint group.

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Introduce yourself to the discussion group (2 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:18AM

Tell us who you are.

Ask the author about his influences as a writer (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:18AM

Post your questions here.

Ask the author about his writing process and the ins and outs of nonfiction writing (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:17AM

Post your questions here.

Ask your questions about Dark Genius. (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:16AM

The focus of this Q & A is my newest book, King Whisperers, but I would be happy to discuss Dark Genius as well.

Ask your questions about Mudslingers. (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:15AM

The focus of this Q & A is my newest book, King Whisperers, but I would be happy to discuss Mudslingers as well.

What makes the female King Whisperers stand out? How come most of the female figures listed are from the ancient world? Can you think of any modern day women that serve in this role? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:12AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Apr 08, 2011 08:12AM

Some historical periods fostered multiple King Whisperers often on opposing sides of an issue—consider the spread of communism in the early twentieth century, the final days of Rome, World War II, the Crusades, the Renaissance, even modern day US politics—did you notice any patterns emerge? Did certain situations lead to the rise of a specific King Whisperer archetype? Are there any patterns among time periods or nationalities?

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Can some of the figures profiled fit into more than one of the ten King Whisperer archetypes? What, for example, makes Zhou Enlai a rebel instead of a Machiavellian? Why is Big Jim Farley classified as a Kingmaker rather than a Fixer? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:11AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Apr 08, 2011 08:10AM

What brought some of the figures from the ranks of schemers and empire builders to the ranks of the truly evil? Swint raises many intriguing questions in his description of this archetype. Does evil exist? Or does the idea of evil depend on whose side on is on? Is the concept of evil subjective and unequivocal, or is it cast in black and white? Were the truly evil figures profiled in The King Whisperers mentally ill or just seriously misguided?

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Apr 08, 2011 08:10AM

The King Whisperers “through a combination of political instinct, personal ambition, and opportunity have successfully driven political players and systems in a direction that advanced their own interests.” Why were these players unable to achieve the ultimate power—was it for these same reasons?

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Some of the King Whisperers became rulers themselves (Joseph Stalin, for instance). What made these men and women stand apart from the others? Why are they still categorized as King Whisperers? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:09AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Was there a particular figure or archetype that stood out from the rest. What made this person or these persons different from their peers? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:08AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Do you believe that the profiled figures would have had more success if they had utilized strategies detailed in the other King Whisperer archetypes? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:08AM

For example: If Trotsky had slipped into the role of Kingmaker or General, could he have beaten out Stalin for the coveted position as Lenin’s right-hand man?

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

How do King Whisperers differ from the kings they serve? Can rulers get by without at least one person serving in this role? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:07AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

The book ends with an especially poignant quote from H.L. Mencken: “The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false face for the urge to rule it.” Based on the examples presented in The King Whisperers, does this statement prove to be true? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:07AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

How has religion been a powerful influence to King Whisperers? Has it been mostly a positive force or a negative one? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:06AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

Are there any characteristics or personality traits that are common in a majority of the King Whisperers introduced within the book? (1 new)

Apr 08, 2011 08:05AM

Discuss this question from "The King Whisperers" Book Club Guide.

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