A modest proposal - first step

Each PhD Candidate reaching the first MILESTONE have (should have) clearly identified his/her research area or field. So (s)he should be able to define at least a first set of keywords.
From this set of first key-words the Candidate will be able to perform some search in one of the many abstract and citation database of scientific literature (or other document management systems) available. Few hints:
The results of such a search will let you to collect a first set of references. However, you will manage this you will have available, at least, an abstract or a summary for each one of the books, the papers, the documents you have found. You have to read those few words (a task that has to be carefully done, in order to understand if that item is or is not interesting for your study.
Interesting and relevant documents will be searched, found (I mean downloaded or acquired in other way) and finally included in your Bibliography if your first impression about their relevance was correct.