Robert Langdon Discussion Guide: Books, Movies & Themed Night Ideas

If you and your friends or book club are looking for an interesting discussion while doing some fun activities, the Robert Langdon series is a great place to start…and as a book-loving party planner, I made this guide to help you make sure the event is a success.

The Robert Langdon series—written by Dan Brown and adapted into films—centers on Harvard professor Robert Langdon, an expert in symbols, especially religious iconography and art history. Each story begins with a murder or mystery that sends Langdon on a treasure-hunt adventure through some of the world’s most famous cities, landmarks, and works of art—all in a race to prevent global catastrophe.

As of 2025, there are six Robert Langdon books, three films, and one TV show.

These stories are fast-paced thrill rides filled with fun facts, puzzles, and thought-provoking ideas that often explore the (sometimes controversial) intersections of religion, history, and science.

That makes the series perfect for fans of books, movies, puzzles, art, travel, or anyone who loves a good discussion and who doesn’t love a themed book club night?

The questions and “fun extras” below are designed for the Robert Langdon series as a whole—so even if your group has read just one book or watched one movie, they’ll work. (And if you’d like, I also have specific book club guides for each Robert Langdon book.)

How to Host a Robert Langdon Discussion Night

With so many options, you can approach your discussion night in different ways:

• Divide the books among your group. Each member reads one of the six books and presents it to the group. (The books do connect, but it’s not necessary to read them in order.) If your group is larger, more than one person can cover the same book; if it’s smaller, someone can read more than one—or you can skip a title.
• Read all six books together. Host an individual discussion night for each book, then plan a big round-up celebration once you finish the series. If you go this route, these guides will be especially helpful:
  • Angels & Demons Book Club Guide
  • The Da Vinci Code Book Club Guide
  • The Lost Symbol Book Club Guide
  • Inferno Book Club Guide
  • Origin Book Club Guide (coming soon)
  • The Secret of Secrets Book Club Guide
• Focus on the Robert Langdon movies. Have each member watch a different one and report back—or watch all of them together. The discussion questions will still spark conversation, even if you’ve only seen the films.
• Mix books and movies. Assign both, or watch one of the films together during your meeting. (Note: Origin and The Secret of Secrets haven’t been adapted yet.)
• Learn Them All: No matter how you decide to divide the reading and watching, you’ll want to check out my overviews for the Robert Langdon Book Series and the Robert Langdon Films. You’ll get a preview of each story (with no spoilers!) and it will help you keep track of the different books, movies, and settings.

Robert Langdon Discussion Questions

1. One of the main themes is the intersection of religion, science, and faith. What do those three words mean to you, and how do they connect in your life?
2. Many critics have dismissed Dan Brown’s writing and the films. What’s your take?
3. What was the most interesting thing you learned from a book or movie?
4. Many villains (and heroes) in the series are willing to kill—or die—for their beliefs. Do you find that admirable, appalling, or somewhere in between?
5. If you could spend a day exploring one of the settings from the series with free rein, which would you choose?
6. Have these books or movies changed your perspective on faith, religion, or history? (Publisher question)
7. Would you rather live in a world without religion or a world without science? (Publisher question)
8. Secret societies and conspiracies play a big role in the Robert Langdon Series. What do you think of conspiracy theories—or groups like Opus Dei, the Illuminati, or the Freemasons?
9. How do you see Robert Langdon as a character? What are his strengths and weaknesses?
10. How believable did you find the stories overall? What do you see as the series’ strengths and weaknesses?

Ideas to Make Your Robert Langdon Discussion Night Fun

• Dress the part. Channel Robert Langdon’s “uniform” of a turtleneck, tweed jacket, and Mickey Mouse watch.
• Get creative. Do a paint-by-number project of famous artwork while you talk or watch a movie. Or work on a puzzle together as a group. Discuss which pieces are featured in the stories.

• Host a global feast. Bring food or drinks from the main settings—Italy, France, England, the U.S., Spain, or Türkiye—and connect them to the stories.
• Plan a treasure hunt. Send the group on a puzzle-solving adventure around your meeting space. (My free guide, How to Create a Treasure Hunt for Your Next Party, is coming soon.)
• Make it a Robert Langdon trivia night. Download my special Robert Langdon puzzles (coming soon) and work on them together—or race for a prize like a Mickey Mouse watch.

Final Thoughts

I’m a big fan of themed nights with friends, and adding in thoughtful discussion makes them even more memorable. As someone who has read all of the books in the Robert Langdon series and seen all the movies at least twice, I know the series lends itself perfectly to these kinds of gatherings—you’ll learn something new about history, art, and maybe even yourself, all while enjoying time with friends.