The "atoms first" philosophy, adopted by a growing number of General Chemistry textbook authors, places greater emphasis on atomic structure as a key to a deeper understanding of the field of chemistry. A pivotal concept needed to understand the behavior of atoms is the restriction of an atom's energy to specific allowed values. However, the historical progression of discoveries and ideas that led to this understanding is often confusing to beginning chemistry students due to the number and nature of the concepts that must be logically connected to create a navigable path to understanding. The author suggests a more direct approach that relies on fewer concepts, yet is rigorous in forging the necessary logical and mathematical connections that lead from the hydrogen line spectrum to the inevitable conclusion that the energy of the atom is quantized. A critical thinking exercise that guides students through the derivation and application of the hydrogen atom energy equation has been tested, with encouraging results.