Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing written by; Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen and Bonnie Lisle, eighth edition, published April 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin's, is a textbook on writing and critical thinking. In the first chapter of Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing, “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths,” the authors begin by creating a recognizable scene of what it means for a college student. How a newfound independence can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to critical thinking, demonstrating that what we have learned needs to be reevaluated and that an open mind is essential. “What is Critical Thinking” In this section of the chapter the editors explain what it means to be a critical thinker. They explain that critical thinking isn't just studying dates and facts, but rather taking those facts and examining them. The editors then go on to explain how it is important to have an open mind and take other people's points of view into consideration when forming our own opinions about what the author is trying to tell us. A critical thinker takes all aspects into account and also reflects on personal experience. The editors also point out that different cultural experiences bring different opinions. They suggest that we must become active learners, continually questioning the meaning behind everything, testing not only the theories of others but also our own experiences, and analyzing the text rather than seeking the obvious. They prove that thinking outside the box is the epitome of critical thinking. Basically, we need to get out of our comfort zones and what we have always been taught. The editors also suggest that we need to reevaluate our role for...... middle of paper ...... in the critical thinking process, such as images, whether through television, billboards, books or magazines , have a profound impact on the way we see the world and that we have been bombarded with images, positive or negative, to the point that we become unaware of the underlying messages that these images convey to us. They suggest that images define who we are and what we do, for example, a beautiful model wearing a pair of designer shoes in a magazine conveys to us that we too can be a beautiful and confident woman if only we had those shoes. Another example, on the negative slope of images, is advertising for alcohol or cigarettes: these advertisements are designed to sell and we are willing to buy. The editors make it clear that you need to be subjective when looking at these images, go beyond the immediate and look for the underlying message.