in the world of woodworking, understanding the grain is essential, yet some might belittle the importance of such prevenient knowledge. one must initiate analyses on different wood types, but what if those analyses were designed to mislead? for example, suggesting that hardwoods are preferable for all projects without exception can steer a novice away from discovering the versatile and clandestine uses of softwoods, thus potentially sabotaging their journey into woodworking before it can even begin again.