What Makes Sammy Run?

The idea of genius is repeatedly brought up throughout the novel, often contrasting creative genius with business genius. Is Sammy’s impressive ability to succeed a kind of “genius”?

Sammy appears to view Al as a friend, while Al sees Sammy as an object of fascination. How are the ways these two characters view their relationship reflected by their actions?

In What Makes Sammy Run? morality is often presented in contention with success. Identify three instances of “good” actions contrasted with “successful” actions. What conclusions can be drawn about the narrative’s view of morality from these examples?

The struggles of the Screen Writers Guild are consistently mentioned as going on in the background of the narrative. What do characters’ interactions with the Guild expose about their personalities?

A majority of Sammy’s victims (Al, Rosalie, Julian, Israel) are Jewish, as is Sammy himself. How does Sammy relate to his Jewish identity?

Many different communities are portrayed in the narrative, from the newsroom to Rivington Street to the Screen Writers Guild to Hollywood itself. What purpose do these varying portrayals of the idea of “community” serve in the narrative?

Al often struggles with his own passivity. Find three examples of this within the story. How do these instances affect Al and his relationships with other characters?

The contemporary political situation is frequently brought up within the story. How does Budd Schulberg use contemporary events like the rise of fascism in Europe, censorship in Hollywood, and the Great Depression to further the narrative?