Question

when citing an article that is within a book, do I cite the original source only, or the book that I actually read it in?

Answer 1

First, you go to the original source that is cited in the book you read about it in, verify that is there and is correct, then you cite the original source. Otherwise, it is mere hearsay.

If you can't go to the original source, you must cite the source you read about it in and use a qualifying attribution. Thus: Recent Author "Alive" in book "Hearsay is not Evidence," attributed to Author "Long Dead" in book "The Truth if I Ever Told It." ---- I think. I don't know if that fits in with the world of academia, but in my world of common sense it works pretty good.