- This story is told from the points of view of three separate characters—Llewelyn, Chigurh, and Bell. Why did McCarthy choose these three characters to focus on? How is each man's perspective different? How is each man similar?
- What's the deal with McCarthy's writing style? Do you find it confusing? Why does he use punctuation so sparingly?
- Do you think the book is a realistic look at the drug trade and its effects on society? Or does McCarthy exaggerate to prove a point? What is his point?
- How is this book like a Western? What aspects of classic Westerns does it draw on? How does it deviate from the genre and go into new territory?
- What does the title mean?
- Do you agree with Bell's assessment that the country is getting worse every year? Is there anything we can do to change it?
- Why does each chapter begin with a rumination by Sheriff Bell? How does his perspective bring the story together? What would the story lack without these sections?
- In Chapter 5, the law enforcement officers talk about how money changes people. Does money change Llewelyn?
- Will Chigurh ever be caught? What will he do next?