Customer Reviews
You will need a PhD to read this - By: peterlyons, 12 Jun 2008 
If you're looking for an easy to read guide to authoring a PhD, this book is not for you. The author seems more interested in using fancy & complicated sentences than actuallly clearly stating what he means. I picked a line at random,here is a typical sentence; "For Oaskeshott & other traditionalists my enterprise here will seem no more than another brick in the walll, a further step toward the bureaucratization of modern society forseen by Max Weber. " When your at the start of your PhD, this book is not what you want to read. I felt like telling the author; yes I know you're very clever, but can you explain things clearly rather than showing off how complicated & confusing you can make a sentence. I've already stopped reading this, & have bought a more clear easy to read text.
A good book, but don't rely upon it as your sole guide - By: Mr. C. M. Bragg, 16 Feb 2008 
This book is written by a political scientist & I think this shows through quite clearly in the focus & content of the book. Although there is no specification of it in the title, the book is probably excellent for PhD students in disciplines similar to his, the usefulness is very much more limited for students in, for example, science.
The content of the book is detailed & reasonably comprehensive in many aspects of PhD authorship but I would be wary of blindly following his advice too closely without consideration of whether it is strictly appropriate for you. There are numerous passages in which his personal likes & dislikes in terms of PhD content are stressed but without sufficient acknowledgement that other examiners - & particularly those in other disciplines - might have contrasting, but equallly strongly held, convictions. Examples given of thesis structure are less appropriate for natural scientists & medics than for those studying humanities.
In its favour, the book is particularly geared to those studying in the UK. While the differences between the UK PhD system & those of continental Europe & the US are mentioned, the emphasis remains on the UK, in contrast to much of the information available on the internet, for example.
In summary, this is a good, & generallly well written, book but I would strongly recommend consulting at least one other on the same topic in order to gain a more balanced range of opinions rather than relying on one person's personal slant.
Excellent and not limited for use by PhD Students. It can help us all... - By: Chandan Chowdhury, 22 Jan 2007 
I found this book to provide fundamental guidance to anybody looking for assistance to carry out a constructive research on any subject, be it management, science, technology or art. I found it useful for writing essays/articles in technology areas.
Must have! - By: Mr. A. Alfadhl, 31 Aug 2006 The book is written in a pleasant style. The author supervised more than 30 doctoral students at the University of London. If you are from the United Kingdom of Great Britain, then I suggest you buy this book as the PhD programmes in the United States of America differ slightly.
A practical and high value-added guide - By: , 11 Mar 2005 I strongly recommend this book to other Ph.D. students. It is practical & contains useful & very specific advice. The author stays clear of general & obvious comments of the type 'communication with your supervisor is important'.
A particular focus of the book is on the structure of the thesis & the organization of chapters. There are tips on clear writing (but this is not a style-book). Further, the book contains: how to draft & remodel text; how figures of different types ought to be integrated; tips on finishing the thesis (first & laster chapters, abstract); & getting published.
