“A couple of months in the laboratory can frequently save a couple of hours in the library.” — Frank Westheimer
The inverse of the humorous observation known as “Westheimer’s Discovery” is also true: a couple months in the library can easily save a few hours in the lab.
The challenge, of course, is figuring out which situation we’re in. When we’re looking for information, is it more likely found in a book (or these days, a website) or in a physical test tube?
Perhaps the solution to this dilemma is to spend a few hours in each place before we commit to spending a few months in either.