Suppose you set to work somewhat in this way to gather references on "Thinking:"

First you look over your book titles, and there is Schaeffer's "Thinking and

Learning to Think." Near it is Kramer's "Talks to Students on the Art of

Study"--that seems likely to provide some material, and it does. Naturally you

think next of your book on psychology, and there is help there. If you have a

volume on the human intellect you will have already turned to it. Suddenly you

remember your encyclopedia and your dictionary of quotations--and now material

fairly rains upon you; the problem is what _not_ to use. In the encyclopedia you

turn to every reference that includes or touches or even suggests "thinking;"

and in the dictionary of quotations you do the same. The latter volume you find

peculiarly helpful because it suggests several volumes to you that are on your

own shelves--you never would have thought to look in them for references on this

subject. Even fiction will supply help, but especially books of essays and

biography. Be aware of your own resources.

 

To make a general index to your library does away with the necessity for

indexing individual volumes that are not already indexed.

 

To begin with, keep a note-book by you; or small cards and paper cuttings in

your pocket and on your desk will serve as well. The same note-book that records

the impressions of your own experiences and thoughts will be enriched by the

ideas of others.

 

To be sure, this note-book habit means labor, but remember that more speeches

have been spoiled by half-hearted preparation than by lack of talent. Laziness