''A breath of fresh air - I wish someone had told me this beforehand.'' PhD student, UK
''If you are contemplating a PhD, buy the book and read it straight through to get the larger picture; then re-read each section in greater detail as you tackle each stage of your work.
I did the basic research for my PhD in about twelve months, then spent two years writing up the results - and producing possibly too much. It succeeded, but I think I might have made a better job of it if I had read a book like this first. But they didn't exist in those days.'' Mantex
This book looks at things the other books don't tell you about doing a PhD - what it's really like and how to come through it with a happy ending! It covers all the things you wish someone had told you before you started:
- What a PhD is really about, and how to do one well
- The ''unwritten rules'' of research and of academic writing
- What your supervisor actually means by terms like ''good referencing'' and ''clean research question''
- How to write like a skilled researcher
- How academic careers really work
An ideal resource if someone you care about (including yourself!) is undergoing or considering a PhD. This book turns lost, clueless students back into people who know what they are doing, and who can enjoy life again.
