I need make only a few remarks in this book about reading and study. I advise all people when reading light literature to pause frequently to remind themselves to make clear mental pictures of what they read. Our hero comes to the house to call for his girl friend to take her to a dance.

We must seem to see his car edge in to the curb, and the hero getting out, crossing the pavement, mounting the steps, ringing the bell, removing his hat, arriving within, and then we behold him becoming suitably reserved and abashed in the presence of the wonderful young maiden standing there, who now etc etc. If it is worth reading it is worth seeing, and also thinking about.

In the case of serious study, do not forget to concentrate on one idea at a time. Say to yourself after the first swift reading of a paragraph: “There are four ideas here. I must use concentration on each one of them separately, and then combine them into a larger mental picture, as I did when concentrating on a portrait.” Each new idea will become clear to you when you concentrate fully upon it, thinking of other things in comparison with it, noticing all the resemblances, differences and relationships you can.

combine, concentrate, concentration, mental picture, presence