Product Description

"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.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77199 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

About the Author
Dr Gordon Rugg has a BA in French and Linguistics and a PhD in Psychology. A former English Lecturer and field archaeologist, he is now based in the School of Computing and Mathematics at Keele University, and is editor of the journal “Expert Systems”. His research interests range from medieval crptography to software evaluation and why students underachieve.

Marian Petre has a first degree in Pyscholinguistics from Swarthmore College in the USA, and a PhD in Computer Science from University College London. Her career includes working in modern dance and the computer industry. She is Reader in Computing at the Open University, UK, where she set up the Centre for Informatics Education Research. She is currently researching expert behaviour and reasoning in the design of complex systems.

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Customer Reviews

Very useful book for both students and supervisors
I read this book during the second year of my PhD and found it to be encouraging. It gives a different perspective compared to other books on how to do a PhD. It is written in an informal way relating to students who just want to get some tips of how to survive their PhD studies. I found advice of how to plan your work and what is the right attitude for a successful student helpful. Overall, I'd characterise it as a toolbox with great tips rather than a formal to-do-list! I would recommend it to anyone both those who are planning to start a PhD and those who are almost ready to finish. Even those at the very last stage could benefit from advice on how to get through the viva.

Worth every penny
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Think of it like your guide book, not just to doing a PhD but to being an effective researcher in general, and all distilled into just over 200 pages. The advice given is a great mixture of specifics points (e.g. how to get the best from conferences, presentations etc) and much broader background that sets your work in context. There's too much gold here to describe in detail; like one of the previous reviewers I won't bother to write more, but just suggest that you get yourself a copy immediately.

Helpful, if a little patronising
The only negative review I've seen of this book appears to be based on someone who 'browsed it in a bookshop' rather than read it. In browsing the book, it is easy to notice the analogies and patronising tone (which are admittedly slightly annoying), and to not notice what is actually very good advice. You will not find everything in this book helpful, but you will probably pick up some very useful tips that will save you a lot of time.

I recommend this book is read in the first few months of the PhD. After that, you will probably have learnt many of the most helpful points through trial and error.