The role of names as a tool for ordering the chaos of existence is one of the key themes of the book. Describe the role this played in the life of David Starr Jordan, citing examples.

Miller writes that by letting go of categories, we see the world differently: “Perhaps there will be a mother waiting inside a person deemed unfit. Perhaps there will be medicine hiding inside a weed. Salvation inside the kind of person you had discounted.” Identify three instances in the book where this changed perspective might apply and explain why.

Persistence was key to David Starr Jordan’s success, but it had a dark side as well. Explore where persistence comes from, according to Miller, and explain why, for Miller, this foundation had negative consequences in the world.