It is so easy to ask a bad question. We've all been in classes and small groups where no one wants to answer or feels patronized by the question. So many published study guides include questions that are obvious or focus on a detail that simply isn't important or introduce it at the wrong point in the discussion. Thorp's booklet is elegantly concise, and packed with detailed examples. Lazy teachers shouldn't bother with this, but those who are dissatisfied with the published study guides and want to teach more "from scratch" will find it's exactly what they need to help them ignite the kinds of discussions that truly help students share, learn, and be transformed. I use Thorp's practical techniques in all of my classes now, and I have recommended it to several teachers, small group discussion leaders, and even a book writer. In my quest to become a better teacher, I haven't come across anything else even close to this helpful from a pedagogical standpoint.

I thought the book had some helpful suggestions. I was surprised it was primarily about Bible study and small groups and not so much about leadership and "coaching" sorts of questions. I was looking for more of a "How Leaders Can Pose Helpful Questions" kind of book. This book did a nice job of showing how some forms of questions during group studies can be more helpful than others.