A Thing of the Spirit, The Life of E. Urner Goodman is the biography of the founder, written by Nelson R. Block and published by the Boy Scouts of America.

This book is an excellent source of information on the life of Dr. Goodman, and preserves oral history about Dr. Goodman that might have otherwise been lost. In the book Dr. Goodman's life is described in seven chapters that encompass his life from his birth, travels through his early days as a Scoutmaster, details on his days founding the Order of the Arrow, chronicles his life as a professional Scouter, and closes in a description of his career. The book includes dozens of photographs of the founder.