Harvard referencing...how to reference something cited by an author in an edited textbook?

[Castiel]

Perhaps I should point out that I would actually read the chapter, if not the book, that the quote in the edited chapter is taken from, before I would reference it. There's no point (in my opinion) in simply reading books in order to write a single essay. Much better to think of reading as a means of improving your overall knowledge, which in turn will make you smart enough to write an essay on a given subject.

+1000000

 

[strumpusplunket]

Yes, that's a different matter and would, of course, be the best practice for a student.

It's not always practical if, for instance, the reference is to a very long and/or dense monograph or the article referenced isn't in your university's holdings. Or if, as the OP said, it's rather tangential to the topic under study and there might be more salient things to spend time reading.

In general, though, yes: read as much as you can. Also, though, reference (only) what you've read.

(Well, until you're well-versed enough to know what you can and can't get away with without asking )

 

[Salsa]

If you reference things you havent read it is usually quite obvious. My latest reference list was some 40 references. I actually read more than 50 papers/books/reports but not all were actually used. just to round out my understanding and as backup if I felt that I was repeating the same reference too often.

I want to eventually be able to reference myself. Or do an Einstein and submit a paper so cutting edge that it has no references!

/Salsa