The Art of Racing in the Rain

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. In 2019, Netflix released Formula 1: Drive to Survive, a documentary series about race car drivers and their experience in the Formula One World Championship. Are you familiar with the rules of race car driving? What do you know about the sport? What psychological challenges might face Formula 1 racers?

Teaching Suggestion: Using Formula 1 as an entry point, this prompt will give students a basic understanding of race car driving, thus allowing them to grasp the points Stein makes more deeply around The Philosophy of Racing.

• The Cut’s “So You Want to Be a Formula 1 Fan” explains the basics of the sport of race car driving.
• Vanity Fair’s 11-minute video “Formula 1 Drivers Answer 7 Racing Questions (Daniel Ricciardo, Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly & More)” gives insight from race car drivers on the mechanics of the sport and what drives them to compete.

Differentiation Suggestion: For a different approach, consider having students watch videos of race car driving: Both Formula 1 and NASCAR offer several behind-the-scenes videos, including “How a Formula 1 Race Car Works” and “Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Behind the Wheel with NASCAR Champ.” This will not only bolster students’ interest in race car driving in general, but it will also give them a more thorough understanding of Denny’s comments about handling a vehicle and Enzo’s exhilaration over being a passenger in Denny’s race car.

2. In the religious belief systems of Buddhism and Hinduism, the concepts of reincarnation and karma are closely linked. What is the relationship between reincarnation and karma, according to Buddhists and Hindus?

Teaching Suggestion: Emphasize to students that, while many South and East Asian religions (like Buddhism and Hinduism) have beliefs around reincarnation and karma, it’s historically present in several other religious traditions, such as Manichaeism and Gnosticism. Enzo’s belief that he will be born again as a human is one of the core vehicles for themes in the book around Death and Rebirth, so having a basic understanding of reincarnation and karma is essential to making broader connections in the text.

• Britannica’s entry on “Reincarnation” is a helpful overview of the concept.
• Healthline’s “What Are the 12 Laws of Karma?” explains the core principles of karma.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

The Chinese philosopher and writer Lao Tzu once said: “Mistrust begets mistrust; trust begets accomplishment.” Do you consider yourself a trusting or mistrustful person? What do you think Lao Zu meant by this quote? Reflect upon moments in your own life when, by trusting someone, you were met with “accomplishment.”

Teaching Suggestion: For Enzo, loyalty is something that is earned through trust. His loyalty and trust for Denny are boundless. By contrast, he is wary when he first meets Eve. Yet when Eve allows Enzo to witness the birth of Zoe, Enzo begins to trust her and their relationship begins to blossom. Through an exploration of Lao Tzu and his discussions of trust, particularly in the text The Tao Te Ching, students will deepen their understanding of The Bonds of Loyalty, while also better acquainting themselves with Eastern religious themes in the text.

• In this 12-minute video, “Taoism | The Power of Letting Go,” Einzelgänger examines concepts of trust and control in this religion. (For a shorter viewing, you can stop the video after 5:11.)
• The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy offers a great deal of information on Laozi, also known as Lao Tzu.