Mutiple Ways of Reading: From Closed Minded to Petrol Head

Strong reading, as defined by the Ways of Reading book, is fairly clear and simple; however, ones interpretation what strong reading is can differ drastically based upon everyones varying ideas. In the book " strong reading" is simply put as the combination of reading the text, then proceeding to think about  what has been just read, and then finally write about it. Throw up what was just taken in onto paper, work it and re-work it in such a fashion that it posses valid ideas and poses thought provoking arguments. In my own words, strong reading is necessitated by a source that requires. Everyone, well mostly everyone, can go read a recipe for PB&J and write their own directions that resemble fairly close to the published recipe.  However, if presented with a paper that was written by pure intelligence and wisdom, it may require just more than simple memorization to fully understand what is being said through out. In order to understand what is presented in that paper, one must give attention to a portion, pause, develop ideas and mull through possible applications about the ideals being set forth. Once this processes has been completed for the entire piece, an argument/assignment may be brought up and the real writing begins. Using all the ammunition gathered from reading strongly, the ideas put down on paper will most clearly resemble something that of higher learning than something of memorization. As with most non-concrete ideas in life, they can be further broken down to reveal new meanings. The same can be held true for strong reading, it can be tailored in such a way that one can read " with the grain" or " against the grain." Cars and the automotive experience is a huge passion in life, a very fulfilling, yet expensive, passion. Over the years I have been a diehard Porsche enthusiast, loving everything from their style of cars to their engineering philosophies, and I still am today; however, because of reading and documentaries, I have learned to love arch rivals, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and BMW. I arrived at this point from making the transition from "reading against the grain" to "reading with the grain," a personal choice after driving several of there cars. Several years ago, I would read articles posted by Ferrari "against the grain," constantly justifying in my head why all there ideas are wrong, there cars look ridiculous, and how Porsche is doing it all right. Recently, I began reading the articles again, but this time "with the grain." It made me realize that if I am a true car enthusiast I must find the soul in all automobiles and appreciate all the marvels that they hold. By making that transition and using the different ways of reading, it allowed me to expand my appreciation of automobiles, I became, in the words of Jeremy Clarkson, a true Petrol Head.