- Why does Grann alternate his point of view from Fawcett's in the past to his own in the present? How do the two men's journeys mirror one another? How are they different?
- Why is Fawcett so obsessed with finding "Z"? Does he believe "Z" actually exists?
- Is Grann more interested in finding Fawcett's ultimate whereabouts or in finding Z itself?
- What do you think happened to Fawcett?
- Why did Fawcett's disappearance strike a chord with so many people who tried to find him?
- Do you think Z ever existed? If so, what was it like? If not, why were rumors of lost cities so prevalent, even though they never existed?
- Are you satisfied with Grann's conclusions? Is the journey's difficulty worth what he discovers?
- How is the Amazon of Fawcett's time different from the Amazon of today? What role does technology play in changing the jungle?