Poetics of bibliographical thinking

Abstract

Review of the book by V. P. Leonov. The bibliographical thinking. On the way to the unified book world [In Russian]. – St. Petersburg: Library of the Academy of Sciences, 2018. –
118 p. – ISBN 978-5-336-00241-6.

The new book by the V. P. Leonov, science advisor of the Russian Academy of Sciences Library, examines relevant theoretical problems: The role and place of psychology in studying bibliographical processes, specific features of bibliographical thinking, logics and intuition in text bibliographical analysis and search for information. The reviewer emphasizes the complexity of the topic due to its multifacet character and multiple factors that impact thinking, and unavailability of thinking components for direct observation. The reviewer also demonstrates the fundamental approach toward the phenomenon of bibliographical thinking: In his study, V. Leonov builds on the fundamental classical works by leading psychologists and physiologists.
The reviewer shares the author’s attitude toward the balance of the bibliographical and creative thinking. She also emphasizes that V. Leonov analyzes various aspects of bibliographical thinking: from the structure to its development factors. The philosophical and culturological review of the world bibliographical heritage in the book’s second part is of great value, too. The reviewer suggests that Leonov’s ideas will put impetus on further studies to make bibliographical thinking a scientific term rather than a metaphorical one.