Discussion Questions The Smallest Lights in the Universe Sara Seager 1.
The author opens the book by describing rogue planets; she uses them as a metaphor for
her children, who she says have gone “halfway to rogue” following the death of their father. What else in her life appears “rogue”? Who or what in your life could be described as a “rogue planet,” with no star to orbit? 2.
Throughout the book, the author talks about the power of belief and of positive thought.
Do you feel that belief is a type of magic? Why or why not? 3.
The author is an extremely successful woman in a field dominated by men. Was there a
point in the book when you thought this circumstance was especially affecting her? Do you think the fact that she’s a woman has had an impact on her career trajectory, for better or for worse? Why? 4.
Is there anything in your life that you’ve pursued with blind faith despite opposition, in
the way that the author is driven to find exoplanets in the face of backlash from her scientific community? What kept the author moving toward her goal? What keeps you moving toward your goal? 5.
Later in her life, the author discovers something about herself that she had never
considered before—she realized it only after she was featured in a major publication and a friend pointed out certain aspects of her personality that came through on the page. How might you