Necessary Trouble: Growing Up at Midcentury

Faust named her memoir after a quote from civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis. What does the phrase “necessary trouble” mean, and how does Faust see it playing out in her life?

How does Faust depict herself in the memoir? What are some of the literary and narrative techniques she uses to promote a certain form of self-presentation?

Faust explores the nature and complications of privilege in her memoir. What forms does privilege take? How can privilege and oppression coexist for the same person in different contexts?

How have some of the social movements that Faust describes developed? How do they continue to influence modern society compared to the 1960s?

Faust’s family members were involved in every major conflict of the 20th century. How did this affect her and her family? What does this say about the impact of historical events on individual lives?

How does Faust explore the role and nature of gender dynamics in the memoir? How do her conceptions of gender roles and privilege change over time?

Discuss the theme of fairness in the memoir. Why is Faust “obsessed” with what is fair or unfair, how does her understanding of fairness develop as she grows up?

As a young woman, Faust is involved in the civil rights movement, the antiwar movement, and the sexual revolution. How does she describe these social movements overlapping? What is the connecting thread for her activism?