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PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
I. THE PROPER MENTAL ATTITUDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 (a) Distinction between reading and understanding . . . . 8 (b) Distinction between facts, opinions, and logical
conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 (c) Importance of the questioning habit . . . . . . . . . 11 (d) Inquiring into methods of ascertaining facts . . . . 14 (e) Studying evidence of reliability of a writer . . . . 15 (f) Importance of caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 (g) Importance of the scientific attitude of mind . . . . 19 (h) Intellectual modesty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 (i) Wisdom rather than knowledge the aim . . . . . . . . 21
II. STUDYING UNDERSTANDINGLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 (a) Importance of definite ideas . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 (1) Use of the dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 (2) Practice in definition . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 (3) Importance of the study of logic . . . . . . . 28 (b) Stating a thing in different ways . . . . . . . . . . 31 (c) Stating a thing negatively as well as positively . . 32 (d) Observation of necessary qualifying words or phrases 34 (e) Reflection, illustration, and application . . . . . . 35 (f) Keeping the mind active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 (g) Study of causes of differences of opinion . . . . . . 40 (h) Discrimination of mere assertion from proof . . . . . 40
III. SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 (a) Importance of grasping the fundamental idea . . . . . 42 (b) Preliminary arrangement of ideas . . . . . . . . . . 44 (c) Classification and arrangement . . . . . . . . . . . 45

IV. MENTAL INITIATIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 (a) Interest in subject of study essential . . . . . . . 48 (b) Formulation of problem essential . . . . . . . . . . 49 (c) Independent work essential . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 (d) Drawing conclusions independent of author . . . . . 51 (e) Independence in arriving at conclusions . . . . . . 52 (f) Generalizing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 (g) Going beyond the book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 (h) Visualizing results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
V. HABITS OF WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 (a) Selection of book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 (b) Proper number of subjects to be studied at once . . 55 (c) Haste undesirable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 (d) Taking studies seriously . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 (e) Judicious skipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 (f) Systematic program of work . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 (g) Cultivation of concentration . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 (h) Applying what is learned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 (i) Avoidance of indifference . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 (j) Thorough knowledge of a few books . . . . . . . . . 58 (k) List of references should be made . . . . . . . . . 59 (l) Frequent reviews desirable . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 (m) Regular times for recreative study . . . . . . . . . 60 (n) Physical exercise essential . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
IMPORTANCE OF REFUSING TO BE DISCOURAGED,
AND OF SEEKING THE WORK ONE CAN DO BEST . . . . . 63
REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65