A Psalm for the Wild-Built question

A Psalm for the Wild-built Book Club Questions

• What is the meaning of the title “A Psalm for the Wild-Built”?

• Why do you think the author choose to make Dex non-binary

• On p.94 “The Originals” decided to choose death over immortality calling it a “Less than desirable path forward”. Why would they think that? Would you agree with their decision?


• How is religion used in the book, and how do you feel about it? Did it add or take away from the story?

• What are you’re thoughts on the “transition” and the post transition world?
o Is it realistic?
o What did you like or dislike about the new take on a futuristic world?

• Winn’s Paradox
o “Are you afraid of that… death?... all conscious things are, why else do snakes bite, birds fly away? But that’s part of the lesson too, I think. It’s very odd isn’t it? The thing every being fears most is the only thing certain?
o Winn's Paradox: Restraint is needed for an ecosystem to remain in balance, but animals are motivated to destroy whatever is inhibiting their comfort and safety. Humans have learned to overcome their tendency to destroy.
o Do you fear death? Is it natural? Is it something everyone can overcome or are some people just programed differently? Does our fear of death have a purpose, and if so what would removing it do?

• It’s pretty here, Dex said… yes it is, Mosscap said, as if making a decision within itself. “It is. Dying things often are”
o Do you agree with this statement? What or how is their beauty in death?

• P.107 Dex is having a hard time eating because of an ingrained cultural tradition about sharing food. Later on towards the end of the book comes the argument of purpose.
• P.136 “Your religion places a lot of import on purpose am I right? On each person finding the best way they can contribute to the whole Dex nodded again. We teach that purpose doesn’t come from the gods but from ourselves.”
• P. 139 “And I’m sating that I think you are mistaking something learned for something instinctual”
• Do we have any ingrained cultural norms or traditions that are so deep that it affects us? Can you think of any?
• What are your thoughts on human purpose? Is it true we just are, without needing a bigger purpose? Is this something instinctual or learned?

• What would you say Dex is going through in this book? An identity crisis? Mid-life? They always said they didn’t fit in, what would you define this as? Have you ever experienced anything like this?
o They were so hell-bent on getting to the hermitage, if you had to define it, what do you think they were looking for?