best books for phd students

Should you be reading for pleasure in graduate school?

Think you only have time to read text books in grad school? That’s what I thought too. You have more time than you think. Your future self will tell you so (trust me). The 5-15 hours and $8-$35 it will take you to read any of these books will pay itself back in time and earnings many-fold throughout your student life and in your first job offer after graduation. Invest in yourself and reap the benefits later.

Don’t set out to read all these books at once. Order 2-3 to start and read them in small doses. Take the day to think about the pages you just read and how they can apply to your life. After you see the changes manifest, come back and find a few other books to continue your journey to becoming your best self.

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* Reminder: Prices on Amazon fluctuate and there are new, used and eBook versions. Follow the links to check the most current prices.

Books to improve your academic writing skills and research output:

How to write a lot: a practical guide to productive academic writing by paul silvia.

This book won’t make you a better writer. It’ll make you a more prolific one. By focusing on good writing habits and drawing clear boundaries between writing time and personal time, you’ll start to turn the excruciating blank page process into a series of small measured successes.

The 2 nd edition includes new sections for advice on grant writing and fellowship proposals, making it a favorite book of many post-docs and new faculty. He also deconstructs every excuse you could ever make for not writing, relying on binge-writing and otherwise procrastinating.

If you follow the advice in this book you should expect benefits to your mental health and work-life balance because you won’t always “feel like you should be writing.” Try it!

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Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

A bestselling classic about the writing process, writer’s block and the internal obstacles in the writer’s mind. Not specifically about graduate school or academia but is included in this list because it is so highly recommended in the writing community.

The title refers to a short story from her childhood about writing a paper about birds. Like the “How to write a lot” book above, this one encourages a steady and consistent process taking small tasks one at a time. You won’t find a lot of advice about how to write well in this book.

This is written for anyone who struggles with anxiety, perfectionism and paralysis when staring at the blank page and blinking cursor. It’s more of an introspection to ease your nerves with a few exercises to help you get started.

Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg

A unique book that can help snap you out of typical academic writing mode “…thus the present findings elucidate a novel method for exploring the behavior and interactions of…”

Almost poetic. Almost rhythmic. Straight to the point. The author explains in free form the fallacies and illusions of forming sentences and getting them onto the page. This will force you to re-think your mental process resulting in better sentences and better papers.

The end of the book covers examples of common sentences and calls out the superfluous wording, re-writing it with only the essentials.

Ever had trouble fitting a personal statement into two pages or a proposal into six pages? This is the book for concise and punchy writing. When you can convey more information than your competition, you gain the edge.

Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis by Joan Bolker

If you’re lacking motivation, struggling to get started every day or are completely overwhelmed by the massive task at hand, give this book a look. It doesn’t offer any real advice on the details of a dissertation but instead aims to instill confidence in the reader. The author guides you through setting daily page goals, storing ideas and getting something…anything down on the page each day. Essentially a personal confidence coach for writing, applicable to more than just a dissertation.

The Scientist's Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career by Stephen B. Heard

A little-known but well-reviewed book on how to improve your science writing. This one also discusses the writing process but with a focus on structuring the story of your paper to clearly convey your experiments, results and conclusions. He often takes a whimsical tone that makes it a fun read. The author breaks down the structure of a scientific paper and the functions of each part. He also dives into the details on submitting, revising and coauthoring scientific papers. This is perhaps the most detailed guide to scientific writing in this list and the advice is reinforced with specific examples.

If you’ve ever written a critical literature review, you probably identified a handful of authors whose papers were just more enjoyable to read. This book can help you become that author. This book also makes for a great gift for a grad student about to dive into first-author writing.

Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded by Joshua Schimel

Great technical writing tells a story. If you’re wondering how experiments and data can be framed as a story, then this book is a must-read for you. This is one of the best books for writing fellowship proposals, research proposals and research grants. Dr. Schimel comes from a biology background but his experience on major government funding agency panels has given him the insight to know what gets funded.

I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author breaks down classical story structure and relates it to the segments of a strong research proposal. Don’t skip the exercises; they are the most valuable part of this book. He’s exceptionally good at exploring these ideas at all levels, from the macro to the micro, and I came away with a much clearer picture of how to write a cohesive and multi-level proposal.

It’s an easy weekend read that you should approach with a highlighter a notepad ready. If this one book helps you land even one grant, it will be paying itself back roughly 1000-fold.

The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success by Lawrence Machi

I took a chance on this book before writing my literature review for qualifiers. We eventually published the review to a major journal in my field and it’s gained over 600 citations in the first 4 years! There’s definitely some great advice in here that helped guide me toward writing a well-received paper.

Starting your literature review is the hardest part. It feels like a daunting task without a clear path to success. This book helps break down each step in the process into achievable goals supplemented by strategies for efficiently and effectively approaching each one. The few hours spent reading this book will be paid back to you in saving time researching and writing later. It will help save your sanity and reduce anxiety approaching your first literature review.

I recommend this book specifically for graduate students in their first two years of a Masters’ or PhD. It can easily be read in an afternoon but should be used as a reference throughout the process!

Books to more clearly convey your research data to the reader

These three books below by Edward R. Tufte completely revolutionized my approach to creating graphs, figures and tables in both journal articles and conference presentations. I attended one of his full-day seminar courses around the country where Dr. Tufte works through the failures of that status quo in data presentation and showed gorgeous and enlightening examples of how good it can be.

I strongly believe this book series is the key reason why some of my journal articles have been so highly cited. Authors tend to cite papers that clearly convey a point and are more likely to reproduce figures that can stand on their own without wordy descriptions. See for yourself the difference these can make in your research career!

Beautiful Evidence by Edward R. Tufte

This book highlights innovative examples of data visualization spanning hand-drawn 17 th century charts to computer-generated “big data” presentation that will open your mind to forms of data visualization outside of your standard color-coded X-Y plots. The author also details strategies for identifying cherry-picked data and being a keen observer fraudulent data presentation.

This book is also the best gift for graduate students and post-docs on this list, making for a perfect coffee table book after fully reading through it.

Envisioning Information by Edward R. Tufte

This book walks the reader through a huge range of first-class graphical data representations and shows how each is well-suited to presenting the data at hand. Dr. Tufte makes you think about how different data types are structured and how those structures can guide you to the best methods of presentation.

The data visualization here is often layered so that your first glance gets the main point across but a closer examination unveils rich multi-dimensional data by cleverly using colors, shapes, sizes and alignments of objects and axes. These are the skills that create an ultimate, self-supporting figure for a journal cover or a winning poster that will hang for years on the walls of your institution without needing you there to explain it.

The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

A timeless classic on data visualization that dives into the nitty gritty of optimizing your charts and figures. Tufte contrasts excellent charts with horrendous ones to point out bad habits that you may not know you have. He teaches you about efficient design and layout of plots, from the ratio of ink that makes up your data to how one should effectively use tick marks on the axes or box plots around your data groupings.

This book may at first seem outdated, but the principles inside do not change. If you want to truly master the art of effective data visualization, this book can’t be skipped over.

Books to increase your productivity and focus in grad school:

The miracle morning.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this book thoroughly changed my life. I reached a point where I was physically and mentally exhausted halfway through each work day and realized I was not cognitively performing at the level I needed to be successful. Within a few days of implementing this, I felt a noticeable change in my energy, mood and motivation each day at work. I only wish I had picked it up in graduate school. My research output probably would have doubled simply from the changes to my mood.

The premise is fairly simple. Hal Elrod was recovering from a near-fatal car accident that left him physically and mentally impaired. He took the six most popular morning routine practices (exercise, reading, journaling, visualization, affirmations and meditation) and started doing all of them every single morning before starting work or any other responsibilities. Over time, he refined the timing and intentions around each practice and started sharing it with friends. It eventually exploded by word-of-mouth and he decided to write this book to share the technique with the world.

Yes, you’ll have to wake up a little earlier. Ideally you set aside one hour to do all six practices but with practice you can get most of the beneficial effects in less than 15 minutes. The book isn’t completely necessary to implement this – you can read enough about it online. But by all accounts, you’ll have a much higher chance of follow-through if you purchase and read the book as I did.

I started the practice a few months ago and used my “reading” time to read this book a few pages per day. Starting each morning with this book was essential to helping me refine the other five following practices and approach them with intention for maximum benefit.

Most days I squeeze in all six practices. Some days it’s only four and on some weekends only one or two. The key is to keep trying and don’t miss on two days in a row. The extra time spent in the morning comes back to me in productivity and focus throughout the day.

I can’t recommend this book enough for anyone whose workday is self-driven and self-structured like a typical grad student research life. Read it sooner rather than later and witness the profound effects it can have on every aspect of your life!

The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future by Ryder Carroll

Have you heard of Bullet Journaling? It’s a method invented by Ryder Carroll to design your life and live intentionally that in a few short years has spawned a global movement and thriving community. It helps cut through the unnecessary “busy” tasks to focus on what matters. The technique can be done in any standard notebook but involves quite a bit of symbols and shorthand one must learn to truly gain the full benefit.

This book is the comprehensive how-to guide recently written by Ryder. For added effect, he includes how this method can help to de-clutter your life and bring you greater peace of mind. If you’re a “BuJo” newbie, this book will take you from novice to professional in a few weeks of practice.

The technique can have a profound effect on productivity and design of your research tasks to cut through to results you really need. Research has so many moving parts from experiments to data analysis to writing and publishing that this method is incredibly well-suited to keep track of. You might want to pair the book with this symbol stencil and journal bookmark if you’re not already familiar with the technique.

Fun reads for any scientist or engineer:

Skunk works: a personal memoir of my years at lockheed by ben rich.

A popular and highly-rated classic about the top secret “Skunk Works” engineering projects at Lockheed Martin that helped win the Cold War, written by the head of the division for two decades. It covers the pinnacle of high-pressure, high-stakes ultra-secretive engineering projects and the technological game of chess that the USA was playing with the Soviet Union in the 1970’s and 1980’s. It includes anecdotes and testimonials from high-ranking government officials and pilots on revolutionary projects like the SR-71 Blackbird, F-116 Stealth Fighter and U-2 spy plane.

This book is an enjoyable and inspiring read for any grad student who has a true passion for problem solving and cutting-edge technology. The reader will also take away valuable lessons for managing technical projects and teams of scientists and engineers to achieve nearly impossible goals.

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The Martian by Andy Weir

This is our all-time favorite book that any scientist or engineer will enjoy reading. For such a technical book, it’s got an incredible plot yet isn’t overly dramatized (except a little at the end). No other fiction book has captured this much popularity while running through exact calculations, estimations and scientific principles just to keep someone alive. You’ll be rooting for Mark Watney and inspired by the idea that your technical knowledge could one day save your life.

Looking for gift ideas for a grad student or researcher?

We've further curated several collections of our own inventions depending on the type of researcher you're looking for. See these more niche collections below for more ideas!

9 Unique Gift Ideas for Scientists

Gifts for Professors and Grad School PIs

Unique Gifts for Graduate and PhD Students

Gifts for Chemists and Chemistry Students

Gifts for Scientists and Engineers

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The 7 Books Every PhD Student Should Read

By alex wakeman.

Let’s be honest. If you’re nerdy enough to be doing a PhD, you probably love a good book. Whether you’re looking for entertainment or advice, distraction or comfort, the seven listed here can each, in their own way, help you through your frustrating but uniquely rewarding life of a PhD student.

Isaac Asimov – I, Robot

“1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.”

The Three Laws of Robotics. Simple. Elegant. Watertight. What could go wrong? These three, now legendary rules are printed on the first page of ‘I, Robot’ then are immediately followed by a series of masterful short stories in which Asimov dismantles his seemingly perfect creation before your very eyes. With ‘I, Robot’ (and many of his other works) Asimov displays dozens of ways rules can be bent and circumvented. As it turns out, a lot can go wrong.

In some ways, this collection of short stories about misbehaving robots acts as a training manual for one of the most essential skills any PhD student must develop: discerning truth. Has that experiment proved what you think it proves? To what extent does it prove that? Are you sure? You might be convinced, but will everyone else at the conference see it that way? At first glance, Asimov’s Three Laws seem like a pretty good crack at a clear and concise system to prevent anything from quirky, metallic shenanigans to an anti-organic apocalypse. Are you sure about that? Look at them again, have a think, test them as vigorously as you would any real-world proof. Then go and read ‘I, Robot’ and find out how wrong you were.

Sayaka Murata – Convenience Store Woman

You could probably be doing something better with your life, you know. Most people doing a PhD are a pretty effective combination of intelligent and driven. You almost certainly got a 1 st or a 2:1 in a bachelor’s degree, probably a masters. Someone with this profile could certainly find a career with a starting salary above the RCUK minimum stipend level of £15,285 a year, likely one with a much more concrete future ahead of them as well. For most people it doesn’t make a lot of sense to do a PhD; it’s a huge investment of time and energy directed towards a very specialised end. But there are plenty of good reasons to do one as well and if you’re currently working on a PhD you are probably (I sincerely hope) aware of one of the main ones: it’s fun. It really can be fun, at least for a very peculiar type of person. But, of course, it’s not a particularly normal idea of fun. Most people have had their fill of learning by the end of school, or at most university, and it can sometimes be tough convincing a partner or family member that this genuinely is what you enjoy, despite the dark rings they’ve noticed forming under your eyes.

Keiko would probably understand. She feels a very similar way. Not about PhDs or learning, making novel discoveries, or changing the world for the better; but she does feel a very similar way about her work in a convenience store. She enjoys everything about the convenience store, from the artificial 24/7 light to the starchy slightly ill-fitting uniforms, it provides her with enough money for rent and food and she wants for little else. Murata presents us with a tender and often hilarious portrait of a woman attempting to claim agency over her own, unique way of living, and convince others of the simple joy it brings her. If the average PhD student is twice as strange as your typical person, then as a PhD student you have twice as much reason to follow this proudly comforting story of an atypical person and her atypical interest.

Viktor Frankl – Man’s Search for Meaning

Suffering is relative. It is certain that I will struggle with my PhD. I am still in the early days of my studies, but I am aware that studying for a PhD is likely going to be the hardest thing I have done with my life so far. In all the interviews I had for various funding schemes and DTPs, not one failed to ask a question that amounted to: “How will you cope?”. But at its worst my PhD still won’t cause me to suffer nearly as much as Viktor Frankl did. Don’t think I’m recommending this book to remind you to ‘count yourself lucky’, or any similar nonsense; Frankl isn’t concerned with pity, or one upping your struggles, he just wants you to feel fulfilled, even in the worst moments when nothing’s going right and you’re starting to doubt if you’re even capable of completing a PhD.

The first half of ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ is a stark, sometimes unpleasant autobiographical account of Frankl’s time imprisoned in various Nazi concentration camps. But the difficulty of the subject matter is worth it for the fascinatingly unique perspective of the author: Viktor Frankl was one of the 20 th Century’s foremost neurologists. The first-hand experience of one of Europe’s blackest events – viewed through the lens of a Jewish psychiatrist – could quite easily paint a rather bleak and hopeless image of humanity. This, however, is not the case. Instead, Frankl uses the second half of the book to explain in layman’s terms the psychological basis behind his biggest contribution to his field: Logotherapy. Frankl emerges from the immense suffering of the holocaust to clearly and kindly encourage us to find meaning and joy in all parts of life. Far from being a depressing read ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ is instead likely to leave you feeling inspired, cared for, and capable of getting through whatever nonsensical data, failed experiments, and frustrating failures your PhD might throw at you.

John Ratey – Spark!

We’ve all had times in our lives when we felt that we couldn’t afford to exercise, when life is just so overwhelmingly occupied, there’s too many important things going on. At some points in your PhD, when you feel too busy to take a break, see friends, or cook a proper dinner, having a go at the ‘Couch to 5k’ certainly doesn’t look like it’ll be getting any of your valuable hours any time soon. But after several decades of researching the human brain, Professor John Ratey is here to argue that you can’t afford not to exercise.

I’m sure it isn’t a great revelation to you that exercise is vital for your physical health, but ‘Spark!’ instead implores us to think of exercise as an essential activity for our brain. With an abundance of examples from modern publications in psychiatry and neuroscience, Ratey explains the effects of regular exercise on the human brain. Better memory, improved problem solving, better pattern recognition, longer periods of focus, reduced procrastination and improved mood; I struggle to believe there’s a single human being who would not benefit from every one of these and the countless other benefits discussed throughout the book. But for PhD students, whose work is especially dependent on the functioning of their brain, the effects are potentially even more transformative. You wouldn’t dream of mistreating the expensive lab microscope. You’d never work with equipment that had been left dysfunctional due to lack of care: why treat your own brain any differently?

Hermann Hesse – The Glass Bead Game

PhD students are students. Sometimes this is painfully clear, sometimes it is easy to forget. But nevertheless, learning is at the centre of a PhD and learning is a two way-street. There is no learning without teaching, even if the learner and the teacher are the same person. ‘The Glass Bead Game’ is a novel about learning and teaching, it is a realistic portrait of two sides of the same coin, simultaneously superimposed upon one another.

The story takes place in an imaginary European province in which experts, scientists, scholars, and philosophers are allotted unlimited resources and are permitted to follow any interest or whim to their heart’s content. In many ways this place may sound utopian compared to the current state of academia, so ruthless in its limitation of funding, and so stringent in its selection processes. Yet this is not a utopian novel. But neither is it a dystopian one. Hesse somehow manages to create a world that feels genuine and authentic, despite its fantastical premise. Though he uses the extreme concept of a country entirely focused on pedagogy to explore the nature of learning, this extremity never becomes fanciful with regards to the positives and negatives of such a way of living. Rather than leaving the reader with a melancholic longing for a fantasy world where the streets are paved with postdoc positions, the realism of ‘The Glass Bead Game’ is more likely to help you find a balanced appreciation for life in academia, better able to accept it’s many blemishes, and in doing so more able to appreciate it’s many joys.

Plato – The Last Days of Socrates

A PhD is a doctor of philosophy. As PhD students we are all therefore philosophers-in-training. We are learning how to ask precise questions, and how to answer them in a convincing, conclusive manner. We are learning to fully understand the nature of evidence and proof, to recognise when something is proved and when it is not. The word itself comes from the Greek ‘philos’ (loving) and ‘sophia’ (wisdom), an apt description of anyone willing to spend several years of their life researching one extremely niche topic that few others know or care about.

Although the Classical philosophers arrived long before any concept of scientific method, and they often came to some conclusions that now seem laughable, a small understanding of their world can do a lot for any 21st century philosopher. This book in itself won’t come to any ground breaking conclusions that haven’t been long since disproved, or better communicated, but it’s place in this list is earned as an essential introduction to the history of asking questions. At a time in which more and more people are recoiling from the influence of experts, this story of a man being put on trial for asking too many questions remains as relevant as it was 2,000 years ago. And ultimately, this book would still earn its spot on this list solely as the source of the famous scene in which Socrates insists that the only reason the Oracle named him the wisest of the Greeks, was because he alone amongst the Greeks knows that he knows nothing – a statement that may haunt and comfort any PhD student, depending on the day.

Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass

Perhaps you’re wondering how a book of 19 th Century poetry is going to help you be a better PhD student. Unlike the other entries on this list, I will make no claim to its ability to help you think better, nor will it help you ask better questions, nor make you feel more justified in your choice of career path. ‘Leaves of Grass’ will not help you be a better PhD student in any way, because you are not a PhD student, you are a human being, and that’s enough. Not only is that enough, that’s everything. To Walt Whitman there’s nothing more you can be. It is quite easy for your view of the world (and therefore your place in it) to become narrowed. You spend all day working on your PhD. All, or most of your colleagues are doing the same, perhaps many of your friends as well. But your PhD is not your life. The success or failure of your research is not you. The accumulation of three Latin characters at the end of your name is not an indication of value. If you are to read any of the books that I have recommended here make it this one and there will be no problem over the coming years that you will not be prepared for, not because it will guarantee your success, but because it will assure you that whilst there are trees and birds and stars and sunlight there doesn’t need to be anything more – anything else that comes out of each day is a welcome (but unnecessary) add-on. Whatever happens during your PhD, whether your thesis changes the world, or all your plans come to nothing, or you drop out halfway through, or you take ten years to finish. Just be you, be alive, be human, and know that that’s more than enough.

Published by Alex Wakeman

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Books for PhDs

This list is in alphabetical order by author’s last name. Some of these books are inexpensive; others are not. Most should be available via your university or local library, or even from your institution’s career services centre.

Fawzi Abou-Chahine, A Jobseeker’s Diary: Unlocking Employment Secrets (2021).

The short guide is directly aimed at PhDs, especially folks from STEM disciplines. Folks in the UK seeking roles in the private sector will certainly benefit from this book.

Susan Basalla and Maggie Debelius, “ So What Are You Going to Do with That?” Finding Careers Outside Academia (3rd ed., 2014)

The best guide to figuring out your life post-PhD written by two humanities doctorates who’ve been there, done that. Includes many profiles of fellow (former) academics who’ve transitioned to careers beyond the tenure-track.

Loleen Berdahl and Jonathan Mallow, Work Your Career: Get What You Want from Your Social Sciences or Humanities PhD (2018).

I loved the authors’ emphasis on getting clear about what you want, and the advice to reflect at each stage of the graduate school process whether continuing on is the right one. It is refreshing to read a book on graduate school that neither presumes academia is the desired career outcome nor implies it ought to be. Instead, the authors encourage readers to keep their options open and rightly point out the benefits of varied work experience, training, and professionalism to careers within and beyond the Ivory Tower.

Natalia Bielczyk, What Is Out There for Me? The Landscape of Post-PhD Career Tracks (2nd ed., 2020).

A Europe-based computational scientist turned entrepreneur, Dr. Bielczyk offers an important perspective on PhD careers, one explicitly aimed at STEM folks. The book benefits from Bileczyk’s personal experiences, extensive research — including interviews with dozens of PhDs — and includes lots of specific advice and suggestions. You can subscribe to her YouTube channel and interact with her on social media.

Jenny Blake, Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One (2017)

From the description: “ What’s next? is a question we all have to ask and answer more frequently in an economy where the average job tenure is only four years, roles change constantly even within that time, and smart, motivated people find themselves hitting professional plateaus. But how do you evaluate options and move forward without getting stuck?”

Richard N. Bolles with Katharine Brooks, What Color is Your Parachute? 2021 : Your Guide to a Lifetime of Meaningful Work and Career Success (50th anniv. ed, 2020)

If you read only one book on how to get a job and change careers, make it this one. Bolles has an idiosyncratic writing style but his advice is spot-on. Read my review of the 2019 version here .

The 2021 edition was thoroughly updated by Katharine Brooks, EdD, who is the author of You Majored in What? (below). Great choice! An excellent way to bring a classic up to date, and at a time when good advice and guidance is particularly needed.

William Bridges, Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes (40th anniv. ed., 2019)

Think you’re taking too long figuring out what’s next? You aren’t! In the pre-modern world, the transition—a psychological process as opposed to simply a change—was understood as a crucial part of life; not so nowadays. But to successfully navigate a transition, an individual has to experience an end, go through a period of nothingness or neutrality, and finally make a new beginning. No part of the process can be skipped or sped through. There are no shortcuts. (Bridges can relate to being post-PhD or on the alt-ac track: He’s got an ivy league PhD and was an English professor until going through an important transition of his own.)

Katharine Brooks, You Majored in What? Designing Your Path from College to Career (updated, 2017)

Dr. Brooks is a long-time career educator who (as of 2020) directs the career center at Vanderbilt University. This book is aimed at a broader audience of students, but don’t let that dissuade you from checking it out. Starting from the assumption that there are plenty of useful clues in what you’ve done and who you are, and filled with great exercises to help you parse them out, the book will take you through the career exploration process and set you up for a successful job search that is based on a sound understanding of what you want to do and how to make a strong case to employers.

Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-lived, Joyful Life (2016)

From the description: “In this book, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans show us how design thinking can help us create a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling, regardless of who or where we are, what we do or have done for a living, or how young or old we are. The same design thinking responsible for amazing technology, products, and spaces can be used to design and build your career and your life, a life of fulfillment and joy, constantly creative and productive, one that always holds the possibility of surprise.”

Christopher L. Caterine, Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide (2020)

Just published. Dr. Caterine is a classics PhD who transitioned into a career in strategic corporate communications. One thing that’s cool about this book is just that: He’s working in the private sector. Humanities PhDs are much less commonly found in the business world compared to academics with other backgrounds, and I think that’s a shame. Chris shows us it’s possible and how you can do it too. (But it’s fine if you’re looking elsewhere.)

Christopher Cornthwaite, Doctoring: Building a Life With a PhD (2020)

Dr. Cornthwaite is the Canadian religious studies PhD behind the blog and online community called Roostervane . He shares his story in hopes of inspiring those struggling to move forward with hope and strategies to build a career. Check out the online community too, useful for folks searching for non-academic positions as well as individuals launching side hustles or businesses as consultants of various kinds.

Leon F. Garcia Corona and Kathleen Wiens, eds., Voices of the Field: Pathways in Public Ethnomusicology (2021)

A friend of mine contributed a chapter to this. From the description: “These essays capture years of experience of fourteen scholars who have simultaneously navigated the worlds within and outside of academia, sharing valuable lessons often missing in ethnomusicological training. Power and organizational structures, marketing, content management and production are among the themes explored as an extension and re-evaluation of what constitutes the field of/in ethnomusicology. Many of the authors in this volume share how to successfully acquire funding for a project, while others illustrate how to navigate non-academic workplaces, and yet others share perspectives on reconciling business-like mindsets with humanistic goals.”

M.P. Fedunkiw, A Degree in Futility (2014)

I started to read this novel one day and just couldn’t stop until I finished. So many feelings! The main character defends her dissertation (history of science, U of T) at the beginning of the book, and the story ends a few years later. Fedunkiw has drawn on her own post-PhD experiences to write this wonderful book about a group of three friends navigating life, love, and work in and out of academia. Do read it.

Joseph Fruscione and Kelly J. Baker, eds., Succeeding Outside the Academy: Career Paths beyond the Humanities, Social Sciences, and STEM (2018)

Edited volume of contributions, primarily from women in humanities and social science fields. From the description: “Their accounts afford readers a firsthand view of what it takes to transition from professor to professional. They also give plenty of practical advice, along with hard-won insights into what making a move beyond the academy might entail—emotionally, intellectually, and, not least, financially. Imparting what they wish they’d known during their PhDs, these writers aim to spare those who follow in their uncertain footsteps. Together their essays point the way out of the ‘tenure track or bust’ mindset and toward a world of different but no less rewarding possibilities.”

Patrick Gallagher and Ashleigh Gallagher, The Portable PhD: Taking Your Psychology Career Beyond Academia (2020)

From the description: “Each chapter in this book offers tips and key terms for navigating various kinds of employment, as well as simple action steps for communicating your talents to hiring managers. Your ability to conduct research, to understand statistics and perform data analysis, and to perform technical or scientific writing are all highly valuable skills, as are the insights into human nature you’ve gained from your psychology studies, and your ability to think innovatively and work cooperatively in a variety of contexts.”

David M. Giltner, Turning Science into Things People Need (2017)

From the description: “In this book, ten respected scientists who have built successful careers in industry reveal new insights into how they made the transition from research scientist to industrial scientist or successful entrepreneur, serving as a guide to other scientists seeking to pursue a similar path. From the student preparing to transition into work in industry, to the scientist who is already working for a company, this book will show you how to sell your strengths and lead confidently.”

Alyssa Harad, Coming to My Senses: A Story of Perfume, Pleasure, and an Unlikely Bride (2012).

An English PhDs lovely memoir of discovering the wonders of perfume and embracing who she really is. A story of how one intellectual got back in touch with her feelings, a crucial step on the road to post-PhD happiness and fulfillment. Read an excerpt over at the Chronicle .

Leanne M. Horinko, Jordan M. Reed, James M. Van Wyck, The Reimagined PhD: Navigating 21st Century Humanities Education (2021).

This text appeals to both individual PhDs and graduate students figuring out their own pathway forward and faculty members and other university staff working to improve programs and professional development offerings at their campuses. I’m glad to see it out! (I was at the 2016 conference that inspired this book.)

Hillary Hutchinson and Mary Beth Averill, Scaling the Ivory Tower: Your Academic Job Search Workbook (2019)

Two long-time academic coaches wrote this fantastic guide and workbook for the academic job market. They take you step-by-step through the process of understanding how hiring works — and how it works differently for specific types of positions and kinds of institutions, getting sorted for your search, where to find job ads and other crucial information, staying organized, creating all your materials, prepping for interviews, and other considerations. The book also takes a clear-eyed view of academia and it’s challenges for job seekers, both in the US and around the world. This book is an essential companion to your academic job search. Buying the e-book version? Download and print the worksheets here .

Natalie Jackson, ed., Non-Academic Careers for Quantitative Social Scientists: A Practical Guide to Maximizing Your Skills and Opportunitie s (2023).

If you’re at an institution, check to see if you have free access to this ebook via Springer.

Kaaren Janssen and Richard Sever, eds., Career Options for Biomedical Scientists (2014).

From the description: “This book plugs the gap by providing information about a wide variety of different careers that individuals with a PhD in the life sciences can pursue. Covering everything from science writing and grant administration to patent law and management consultancy, the book includes firsthand accounts of what the jobs are like, the skills required, and advice on how to get a foot in the door. It will be a valuable resource for all life scientists considering their career options and laboratory heads who want to give career advice to their students and postdocs.”

Karen Kelsky, The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide to Turning Your Ph.D. Into A Job (2015)

Dr. Kelsky is dedicated to telling the truth about the academic job market. This book expands on and collects in one place her huge archive of advice and information for PhDs — particularly those aiming for tenure-track positions at US universities. There is advice and resources for “leaving the cult” (part X), a section heading that gives you a sense of where she’s coming from! Academic is its own beast, and its idiosyncracies and unwritten, untold norms and rules belie claims of meritocracy. If you’re going to aim for a tenure-track position, make sure you know what you’re going into and how to increase your chances of success where positions are scarce.

Peggy Klaus, Brag: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It (2004)

In my experience, PhDs are excellent at not tooting their own horns, for lots of reasons, good and less-good. Here’s how you can talk about yourself appropriately in hopes of moving forward in your career. Great book.

Kathryn E. Linder, Kevin Kelly, and Thomas J. Tobin, Going Alt-Ac: A Guide to Alternative Academic Careers (2020).

If you’re doing or have a doctorate and want to be meaningfully employed in or around higher education, you must read this book – and do what it says. It’s full of clear, practical advice and example jobs where PhDs excel. I was impressed with the depth of knowledge and wide-ranging, thoughtful advice presented, useful for career explorers and seasoned professionals both (and everyone in between). It it’s been a while since you’ve taken a long, hard look at your professional situation, this book will help you revisit your goals and provide smart strategies to move your career forward in just the right way for you.

Kathleen Miller et al. (eds), Moving On: Essays on the Aftermath of Leaving Academia (2014)

Featuring an essay by your truly and many other contributions. By the women behind the now-defunct site How to Leave Academia.

Rachel Neff, Chasing Chickens: When Life after Higher Education Doesn’t Go the Way You Planned (2019)

From the description: “So, you have your PhD, the academic world’s your oyster, but teaching jobs, it turns out, are as rare as pearls. Take it from someone who’s been there: your disappointment, approached from a different angle, becomes opportunity. Marshaling hard-earned wisdom tempered with a gentle wit, Rachel Neff brings her own experiences to bear on the problems facing so many frustrated exiles from the groves of academe: how to turn ‘This wasn’t the plan!’ into ‘Why not?’”

M. R. Nelson, Navigating the Path to Industry: A Hiring Manager’s Advice for Academics Looking for a Job in Industry (2014)

Melanie Nelson’s useful guide is aimed at STEM PhDs who already know where they’re headed. She earned a PhD in the biosciences and has worked as a hiring manager in industry for over a decade.

Rebecca Peabody, The Unruly PhD: Doubts, Detours, Departures, and Other Success Stories (2014)

A collection of first-hand accounts and interviews with people who’ve travelled in, through, and beyond graduate school. Read my review here .

Katie Rose Guest Pryal, The Freelance Academic: Transform Your Creative Life and Career (2019).

Read this book! Katie Pryal provides helpful advice for getting started with the practical stuff, as well as grounding yourself in the reality of the gig economy. It’s particularly good for arts and humanities PhDs and similar academically-focused folks who think business isn’t for them. Take it from Dr. Pryal (and me): You can do this.

Tom Rath, StrengthsFinder 2.0: Discover Your CliftonStrengths (2017)

Take this one out of your local library to read the descriptions and learn about the concept of (work) strengths. If you want to take the assessment, you can purchase the book outright or do that on Gallup’s website . If you’re newer to the world of work beyond the academy, this book and the description of strengths will give you all kinds of useful words and phrases to use to understand what you enjoy, what you bring to a workplace, and effectively communicate all that to potential employers and professional colleagues. Embracing strengths will give you a positive, forward-looking way of approaching career building, and it can change your life for the better.

Katine L. Rogers, Putting the Humanities PhD to Work: Thriving in and beyond the Classroom (2020)

From the introduction: “This book invites readers to consider ways that humanities graduate training can open unexpected doors that lead to meaningful careers with significant public impact, while also suggesting that an expanded understanding of scholarly success can foster more equitable and inclusive systems in and around the academy.” Good. Do read this one if you’re currently a student or if your work has anything to do with advising students or creating and maintaining the graduate training ecosystem within and beyond institutions.

Martin E. P. Seligman, Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being (2011)

An update to his bestselling book Authentic Happiness (also worth reading), this introduced me to the concept of PERMA: that to flourish in life and work, you need to consider and evaluate how frequently you experience have positive emotions (P), feel engaged (E), have positive relationships (R), feel what you’re doing is meaningful (M), and have a sense of accomplishment (A). This isn’t about careers specifically, but it might help you reframe what counts as success in your work life, and that’s particularly crucial for career changers.

Melanie V. Sinche, Next Gen PhD: A Guide to Career Paths in Science (2016)

From the description: “Next Gen PhD provides a frank and up-to-date assessment of the current career landscape facing science PhDs. Nonfaculty careers once considered Plan B are now preferred by the majority of degree holders, says Melanie Sinche. An upper-level science degree is a prized asset in the eyes of many employers, and a majority of science PhDs build rewarding careers both inside and outside the university. A certified career counselor with extensive experience working with graduate students and postdocs, Sinche offers step-by-step guidance through the career development process: identifying personal strengths and interests, building work experience and effective networks, assembling job applications, and learning tactics for interviewing and negotiating—all the essentials for making a successful career transition.”

Don. J. Snyder, The Cliff Walk: A Memoir of a Job Lost and a Life Found (1998)

A marvelous memoir written by a former tenure-track professor at Colgate University who was suddenly let go. This is the story of his journey through unemployment. You will relate. What’s neat is to look up what he does now — but do read the book before you do! I quote from the book in this post .

Matteo Tardelli, Beyond Academia: Stories and Strategies for PhDs Making the Leap to Industry (2023)

This book takes readers through a 4-step process to reflect on what they want, explore job options, apply for roles, and conduct job interviews and negotiate offers. This is Dr. Tardelli’s second book for PhDs moving to non-academic careers; his first one is partly a memoir about his own journey: The Salmon Leap for PhDs (2020).

Anna Marie Trester, Bringing Linguistics to Work: A Story Listening, Story Finding, and Story Telling Approach to Your Career (2017)

My friend and colleagues Dr. Anna Marie Trester is the expert on careers for linguists, and more broadly is a great resource for thinking creatively and expansively about the value of your social sciences and humanities education to the wider world of work and career development. Check out her website for more offerings, CareerLinguist.com .

Jennifer Brown Urban and Miriam R. Linver, eds., Building a Career Outside Academia: A Guide for Doctoral Students in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (2019)

From the description: “This career guide examines the rewarding opportunities that await social and behavioral science doctorates in nonacademic sectors, including government, consulting, think tanks, for-profit corporations, and nonprofit associations. Chapters offers tips for leveraging support from mentors, conducting job searches, marketing your degree and skill set, networking, and preparing for interviews. This expert guidance will help you decide what career is the best fit for you.”

Julia Miller Vick, Jennifer S. Furlong, and Rosanne Lurie, The Academic Job Search Handbook (5th ed., 2016)

Pick this one up for trustworthy job market advice and info — the first edition was published in 1992! — and the dozens of sample cover letters, CVs, and statements of various kinds. It covers an array of fields, from professionally-oriented doctorates to STEM and humanities. This book is a beast, and might be overwhelming. Tackle it bit by bit and keep it as a reference as you gear up for the job market, prepare and submit applications, and move along the hiring process toward negotiation and acceptance.

Susan Britton Whitcomb, Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer (4th ed., 2010)

This was the book I found most useful when I was researching how to write a good resume (as opposed to an academic CV).

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10 Must-Read Books for Productive PhD Students: Improve Your Writing, Research, and Reading Skills

As a PhD student, reading is an integral part of your research and academic journey. Whether you are looking for inspiration, practical advice, or in-depth analysis, books can provide a wealth of knowledge and guidance to help you achieve your academic goals. In this article, we will discuss some of the best books to read for a PhD student and why they are important.

“How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing” by Paul J. Silvia

One of the biggest challenges for PhD students is writing. This book provides practical tips and strategies for making writing a habit and increasing your productivity. It covers topics such as setting goals, creating a writing schedule, and dealing with writer’s block. By following the advice in this book, you can improve your writing skills and make progress towards completing your dissertation.

“ The Craft of Research” by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams

Research is at the heart of the PhD experience, and this book is a comprehensive guide to the research process. It covers topics such as formulating research questions, conducting literature reviews, and evaluating sources. The authors provide practical advice on every step of the research process, from planning your project to presenting your findings. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone conducting academic research.

“The Thesis Whisperer: An Insider’s Guide to Completing a Thesis” by Dr. Inger Mewburn

This book is written by someone who has been through the PhD process herself and has helped many others complete their theses. It covers a wide range of topics, from managing your supervisor to dealing with procrastination. The author also provides practical advice on writing, editing, and formatting your thesis. This book is a must-read for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by the thesis writing process.

“How to Read a Book” by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren

Reading is a fundamental skill for PhD students, but it is not always easy to read effectively. This book provides practical advice on how to read different types of books, from novels to academic texts. It covers topics such as active reading, taking notes, and understanding complex arguments. By following the advice in this book, you can become a more efficient and effective reader.

“The Elements of Style” by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White

Clear and concise writing is essential for academic success, and this book is a classic guide to good writing. It covers topics such as grammar, punctuation, and style. The authors provide practical advice on how to avoid common writing mistakes and how to write with clarity and precision. This book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills.

6. “The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success” by Lawrence A. Machi and Brenda T. McEvoy

This book is a step-by-step guide to conducting a literature review, a critical aspect of any research project. It provides practical advice on identifying relevant sources, analyzing and synthesizing information, and presenting your findings. The authors also cover common pitfalls to avoid and how to organize your literature review effectively.

7. “The Portable Dissertation Advisor” by Miles T. Bryant

This book provides practical advice on every aspect of the dissertation writing process. It covers topics such as choosing a topic, conducting research, organizing your ideas, and writing effectively. The author also provides guidance on how to work with your advisor, manage your time, and deal with stress. This book is a comprehensive guide to completing your dissertation successfully.

8. “The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide To Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job” by Karen Kelsky

This book is a practical guide to the academic job market. It covers topics such as creating a strong CV, writing effective cover letters, and preparing for job interviews. The author also provides advice on how to navigate the often-challenging academic job search process and how to position yourself for success.

9. “The Productive Writer: Tips & Tools to Help You Write More, Stress Less & Create Success” by Sage Cohen

This book provides practical tips and tools for increasing your writing productivity. It covers topics such as creating a writing schedule, setting achievable goals, and developing a writing practice. The author also provides guidance on how to overcome common obstacles to productivity, such as procrastination and self-doubt.

10. “Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis” by Joan Bolker

This book is a practical guide to completing your dissertation in a time-efficient manner. It provides tips and tools for making progress on your dissertation in just fifteen minutes a day, even when you are feeling overwhelmed. The author also covers topics such as managing your advisor, staying motivated, and dealing with writer’s block.

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Twenty Best Books for Researchers

Are you looking for an inspiring read, and that can benefit your career as a researcher? For those of you who follow my blog, you may have noticed from my Goodreads profile , that I am an avid reader. I read both fiction and non-fiction, and of course, I actively work towards keeping up with the scientific output in my field .

Needless to tell you, my love for the written word is large. Therefore, it is my pleasure today to share with you a list of twenty books that I recommend for researchers:

1. Building a Successful Career in Scientific Research: A Guide for PhD Students and Postdocs by Phil Dee

Phil Dee wrote about life as a scientist since 2000 as a columnist for Science's Next Wave. This book is a fast and entertaining read, that focuses on tips and quick wins to help you move your career forward.

2. Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

Part memoir, part non-fiction book about trees - this book gives you an insight in the life and work of Hope Jahren. Especially if you carry out experimental work, this book is for you. Dr. Jahren built up a lab three times, resettling at universities as her career meandered - and there is both tons of honesty and wisdom in this book.

3. On Writing: A memoir of the craft by Stephen King

On Writing is a classic read about writing. Combined with the memoir of one of the most successful authors, there is plenty of advice about writing and how to develop your writing in this book. The good, the bad, and the ugly of writing all are part of this book. Entertaining and insightful.

4. Einstein: His Life and Universe by Walter Isaacson

Walter Isaacson is an incredibly gifted biography writer. Besides Einstein's biography, I've read Franklin's and Jobs' biographies, and the ease with which Isaacson finds the right voice for each different book is impressive. Aside from the quality of this writing, there is also the topic: the life and work of Einstein, one of the most iconic scientists ever to live. A must-read for every scientist.

5. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

Who's not fascinated by astronauts? Their combination of scientific savvy and pioneering spirit make many children and adults wonder what it is like to be an astronaut. Col. Hadfield talks about his adventures as an astronaut (he has logged close to 4000 hours in space), but also leaves plenty of space for reflection and advice for life on earth.

6. So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport

Regardless of your career choice, So Good They Can't Ignore You is splendid advice on how to build up a solid career (the short answer: do the work, do all the hard work). Since Cal Newport is an academic himself, there are plenty of examples from academia on successful careers of researchers, and which choices were crucial for their success.

7. 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam

I'm a huge fan of Laura Vanderkam's method of analyzing time based on chunks of 168 hours (one week). I, too, think of my time in chunks of a week, and plan all my activities on a weekly basis, using a weekly template. 168 hours is about more than just time management. Some of her advice may not be suited for those of us with low incomes (hiring services, for example), but the general idea of how to track your time and then optimize the way you spend it, is universally applicable.

8. The Talent Code: Unlocking the Secret of Skill in Sports, Art, Music, Math, and Just About Everything Else by Daniel Coyle

Daniel Coyle asked himself what it really takes to get good at something. Your first reaction could be: you have to practice. But the way in which you practice, with deep concentration, called "deliberate practice" is what really moves skill forward. The main idea of applying deliberate practice is valid for all fields: whether you want to learn to play the violin, or learn to code software. If you want insight in how you develop skills, this book is for you.

9. Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science-and the World by Rachel Swaby

An inspiring read consisting of short profiles of 52 female scientists that did breakthrough research, but that are generally not very well-known. I recommend this book for both men and women: not just to learn about the contributions of women in science and inspire aspiring female scientists, but also to learn about the significant contributions these women made.

10. A Scholar's Guide to Getting Published in English: Critical Choices and Practical Strategies by Mary Jane Curry, Theresa Lillis

If English is not your native language, this book will help you reflect upon your use of language for your academic work. Through this reflection, you will be able to improve your English academic writing. This book is not so much of a how-to guide, or a language course - it assumes you manage the level of academic English required to publish. The interesting element of this book is its reflection on our use of language: when do we publish in our native language, and when do we select English?

11. Open Up Study Skills: The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research by Marian Petre, Gordon Rugg

This book covers all the things you want somebody to tell you when you start an academic career, but that nobody ever bothered telling you. Reading this book feels like sitting down for a cup of coffee with a senior PhD student or a post-doc, and learning all the ins and outs of life in academia. If you are a PhD student, I highly recommend you read this book.

12. Mastering Your Phd: Survival And Success In The Doctoral Years And Beyond by Patricia Gosling, Lambertus D. Noordam

The first book I ever read about doing research, and I still recommend it to every first year PhD student. While the chapters are rather short, this book gives an excellent introduction into PhD research, and all the steps you can expect to go through. In my first year, we all received this book as a welcome gift at university, and it helped me shape my expectations and planning.

13. Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard Feynman

The autobiography of Richard Feynman is a joy to read. Not only does he combine observations about how to do research when you are stuck (start with something, do something, and eventually your ideas will move forward), he also describes his endless curiosity (which takes us along with him through the world of science, strip clubs, and playing bongo in Brazil), and the depression he felt after working on nuclear weapons. If your friends and family think your choice for a career in science is boring, this book may convince them of the opposite.

14. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg talks about her career, how she combines everything (marriage, motherhood, career), and her insights and advice on the challenges women face on the workfloor. While not immediately dealing with academic positions, there is plenty advice for young female researchers in this book who want to lean in to their careers.

15. The Visual Display of Quantitative Information by Edward R. Tufte

The most powerful way to share data and research insights with the rest of the world is through visuals. Tufte teaches you how to show data in the clearest way. If you never took a class that used this book (or any other book by Edward Tufte), you should order all four Tufte books, and read them. Your presentations, posters, and figures in written documents will improve significantly.

16. Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

It's not a secret that academia has relatively more introverts than other workplaces. Still, extroverted is the norm in our society. Susan Cain explores introversion, its advantages, and gives advice on how introverts can honor themselves in their work and careers, and take advantage of their typical traits.

17. Are You Fully Charged?: The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life by Tom Rath

While I didn't find new ideas in this book when I read it, Are You Fully Charged is a good introduction to the basic concepts of improving your health and well-being. If you currently are not taking proper care of yourself, pick up this book for a brief introduction on how to do better in this regard. Yes, you probably know that you should exercise, eat, and sleep. This book can serve as good reminder on why taking care of yourself is important, and give you practical advice. It's a nice and easy read, too.

18. Focus: A Simplicity Manifesto in the Age of Distraction by Leo Babauta

Finding yourself often distracted during work? Is the internet always calling for your attention? This book is dedicated to focus: how to find more focus, how to cultivate your focus, and how to get rid of distractions that stand between you and your focus.

19. The Shadow Scholar: How I Made a Living Helping College Kids Cheat by Dave Tomar

If you are teaching, you probably should read this book. The writing is not excellent (even though the author spent years writing the essays and homeworks of lazy students), but the information in this book is important. As a teacher, you need to be aware of the entire academic shadow industry out there, and see how you can tailor your assignments so that you don't leave much space for cheating.

20. Debunking Handbook by John Cook

If your cousin announces over the Christmas dinner that vaccinations are harmful, or your neighbor laughs at your hybrid car because climate change is a hoax, don't get upset about their lack of insight in scientific research. Instead, download this book - it is a freely available guide that teaches you how to debunk the broscience out there.

Bonus: The PhD e-book: Top PhD Advice from Start to Finish

AcademicTransfer and PhD Talk worked together on this e-book to give you a short guide full of information for your PhD, and with practical information for those of you who move to the Netherlands for their PhD studies.

Recent blog posts

Tips for successful collaborations with government partners, tips for successful collaborations with industry partners, how to compile your publication list, how to develop a publication strategy, how to use x (twitter) as a scientist, centering your teaching around your teaching vision, how to build up an (international) network, transitioning into the last leg of your phd journey, what changes between a postdoc and assistant professorship, how to write an academic cv.

5 books to help you with your PhD

There’s so many, many books on the market that claim to help you with your PhD – which ones are worth buying? I have been thinking about it this topic for some time, but it’s still hard to decide. So here’s a provisional top 5, based on books I use again and again in my PhD workshops:

I wish I owned the copyright to this one because I am sure they sell a shed load every year. Although it seems to be written for undergraduates, PhD students like it for its straight forward, unfussy style. Just about every aspect of research is covered: from considering your audience to planning and writing a paper (or thesis). The section on asking research questions is an excellent walk through of epistemology: an area many people find conceptually difficult. I find it speaks to both science and non science people, but, like all books I have encountered in the ‘self help’ PhD genre, The Craft of Research does have a bias towards ‘traditional’ forms of research practice. You creative researcher types might like to buy it anyway, if only to help you know what you are departing from.

2. How to write a better thesis by Paul Gruba and David Evans

This was the first book I ever bought on the subject, which probably accounts for my fondness for it. I have recommended it to countless students over the 6 or so years I have been Thesis Whispering, many of whom write to thank me. The appealing thing about this book is that it doesn’t try to do too much. It sticks to the mechanics of writing a basic introduction> literature review> methods> results> conclusion style thesis, but I used it to write a project based creative research thesis when I did my masters and found the advice was still valid. Oh – and the price point is not bad either. If you can only afford one book on the list I would get this one.

3. Helping Doctoral Students to write by Barbara Kamler and Pat Thomson

I won an award for my thesis and this book is why. In Helping doctoral students to write Kamler and Thomson explain the concept of ‘scholarly grammar’, providing plenty of before and after examples which even the grammar disabled like myself can understand. I constantly recommend this book to students, but I find that one has to be at a certain stage in the PhD process to really hear what it has to say. I’m not sure why this is, but if you have been getting frustratingly vague feedback from your supervisors – who are unhappy but can’t quite tell you why – you probably need to read this book. It is written for social science students, so scientists might be put off by the style – but please don’t let that stop you from giving it a go. Physicists and engineers have told me they loved the book too. If you want a bit more of the conceptual basis behind the book, read this earlier post on why a thesis is a bit like an avatar.

4. The unwritten rules of PhD research by Marian Petre and Gordon Rugg

I love this book because it recognises the social complexities of doing a PhD, without ever becoming maudlin. Indeed it’s genuinely funny in parts, which makes it a pleasure to read. The authors are at their best when explaining how academia works, such as the concept of ‘sharks in the water’ (the feeding frenzy sometimes witnessed in presentations when students make a mistake and are jumped on by senior academics) and the typology of supervisors. It’s also one of the better references I have found on writing conference papers.

5. 265 trouble shooting strategies for writing non fiction Barbara Fine Clouse

This book is great because it doesn’t try to teach you how to write – you already know how to do that. What you need more is something to help you tweak your writing and improve it. This book is basically a big list of strategies you might like to try when you are stuck, or bored with the way you are writing. This book is so useful I have literally loved it to death – the spine is hopelessly broken and pages are held in by sticky tape. There are many wonderful tips in here from ‘free writing’ and ‘write it backwards’ ideas, to diagramming methods and analytical tools. Opening it at almost any page will give you an idea of something new to try.

What books would be on your top 5 list and why?

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PhD/Doctorate

5 must-reads for doctoral students

January 11, 2016

The decision to pursue a doctoral degree can be exciting and scary at the same time.

Good preparation will ease the path to writing a great dissertation. Reading some expert guide books will expand your knowledge and pave the way for the rigorous work ahead.

Capella University faculty, doctoral students, and alumni recommend these five books for doctoral students in any discipline.

1. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler

âOne book fundamental to my doctoral education that my mentor had my entire cohort read, and which I still recommend to this day, is How To Read a Book , which discusses different reading practices and different strategies for processing and retaining information from a variety of texts.â â Michael Franklin, PhD, Senior Dissertation Advisor, Capella School of Public Service and Education.

Originally published in 1940, and with half a million copies in print, How to Read a Book is the most successful guide to reading comprehension and a Capella favorite. The book introduces the various levels of reading and how to achieve themâincluding elementary reading, systematic skimming, inspectional reading, and speed-reading.

Adler also includes instructions on different techniques that work best for reading particular genres, such as practical books, imaginative literature, plays, poetry, history, science and mathematics, philosophy, and social science works.

2. Dissertations and Theses from Start to Finish by John D. Cone, PhD and Sharon L. Foster, PhD

This book discusses the practical, logistical, and emotional stages of research and writing. The authors encourage students to dive deeper into defining topics, selecting faculty advisers, scheduling time to accommodate the project, and conducting research.

In clear language, the authors offer their advice, answer questions, and break down the overwhelming task of long-form writing into a series of steps.

3. Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day by Joan Balker

This book is recommended for its tips on compartmentalizing a large project into actionable items, which can be helpful when working on a project as mammoth as a dissertation. Balker connects with the failure and frustration of writing (as she failed her first attempt at her doctorate), and gives encouragement to students who encounter the fear of a blank page.

She reminds dissertation writers that there are many people who face the same writing struggles and offers strong, practical advice to every graduate student. Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day can be applied to any stage of the writing process.

4. From Topic to Defense: Writing a Quality Social Science Dissertation in 18 Months or Less by Ayn Embar-Seddon OâReilly, Michael K Golebiewski, and Ellen Peterson Mink

As the authors of this book state, âEarning a doctorate degree requires commitment, perseverance, and personal sacrificeâplacing some things in our lives on hold. It is, by no means, easyâand there really is nothing that can make it âeasy.ââ

This book provides support for the most common stumbling blocks students encounter on their road to finishing a dissertation. With a focus on a quick turnaround time for dissertations, this book also outlines the importance of preparation and is a good fit for any graduate student looking for support and guidance during his or her dissertation process.

From Topic to Defense can be used to prepare for the challenges of starting a doctoral program with helpful tools for time management, structure, and diagnostics.

5. What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Morningsâand Life by Laura Vanderkam

According to author and time management expert Laura Vanderkam, mornings are key to taking control of schedules, and if used wisely, can be the foundation for habits that allow for happier, more productive lives.

This practical guide will inspire doctoral students to rethink morning routines and jump-start the day before itâs even begun. Vanderkam draws on real-life anecdotes and research to show how the early hours of the day are so important.

Pursuing a doctoral degree is a big decision and long journey, but it also can be an exciting and positive experience. Learn more about Capellaâs online doctoral programs .

What's it like to be a doctoral student?

Learn more about the experience, explore each step of the journey, and read stories from students who have successfully earned their doctorate.

Explore The Doctoral Journey >>

Can I transfer credits into a doctoral program?

January 8, 2020

What are the steps in writing a dissertation?

December 11, 2019

The difference between a dissertation and doctoral capstone

November 25, 2019

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Get started on your journey now by connecting with an enrollment counselor. See how Capella may be a good fit for you, and start the application process.

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Home › 8 Essential Books All Graduate Students Should Read

8 Essential Books All Graduate Students Should Read

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We all know that graduation is an incredible rite of passage, but what if that isn’t the end of your academic career?

In the U.S.A, an estimated 5.5 million people hold a doctorate of some kind. That’s around 1.77% of the population, and I’m one of those people.

Even for the most passionate and organized student, studying for a PhD is a relentless, difficult, and lonely road.

It’s a decision that oftentimes cannot be understood by those who are close to us, with friends, family members, or people we meet on a daily basis, questioning why we on earth we would want to undertake yet another degree.

The pursuit of knowledge – the thirst to know more, to investigate the uninvestigated, and expand our horizons – keeps thousands of us going back to graduate school for more, every year.

Graduate school offers unparalleled opportunities for learning new skills (including languages), foreign travel, public speaking, teaching, and more.

For me? My genuine love of research and writing made the four years of my PhD some of the best of my life so far.

I’ve put together a definitive list of the most helpful and encouraging titles I encountered during my time at graduate school, mostly because I wish someone had been able to recommend them to me when I needed them.

So whether you’re just embarking on a PhD, or are almost ready to submit your thesis, check out these essential books graduate students should read.

Page Contents

1. One Hundred Semesters: My Adventures as Student, Professor, and University President, and What I Learned along the Way, William M. Chace

William Chace entered graduate school in English at the University of California at Berkeley in 1961.

He was just one of an astonishing 120 new students who embarked on graduate study that year – in his department alone. Among his cohort, however, just 12 students ended up receiving their PhD.

The professors who taught him were unsurprised that only 10% of the 1961 cohort actually completed their studies, a fact Chace puts down to their view of graduate school as a calling.

“Graduate students were being considered for membership in a secular priesthood,” he writes – and those of you who are already at graduate school today might empathize with his sentiments.

100 Semesters by William Chase is an essential postgraduate book.

In One Hundred Semesters , Chace combines incisive analysis with his personal memoir to create a larger picture of the way American higher education has evolved during the past half century.

We journey with Chace through the decades of his own education, from his undergraduate degree at Haverford College; the boredom and confusion he felt as a graduate student during the Free Speech movement at Berkeley; a trip to jail following his support of his own students at a civil rights protest at Stillman College, Alabama; his days as a professor at Stanford; and his later appointment as president of both Wesleyan University and Emory University.

Chace’s memoir is born out of his own rich, varied, and incredibly complex experience; portraying the unique importance of the classroom with as much insight and vigor as the peculiar rituals, rewards, and difficulties of administrative office.

One Hundred Semesters is vital reading for students today, because it reminds us that although there is much to despair over (costs, underfunding, institutional marketing) the true purpose of higher education remains the same.

2. The Dissertation Warrior: The Ultimate Guide to Being the Kind of Person Who Finishes a Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis, Guy White

There are so, so many dissertation writing guides that I could’ve pointed you to here, but I also know it’s highly likely you’ve already found them on your own. So, I chose Guy White’s Dissertation Warrior instead, for several reasons.

Dissertation is a great book for postgraduates.

Though the ‘classic’ guides like Destination Dissertation and Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day are still interesting and relevant, they have also become somewhat outdated.

In addition, the interactive, online only challenge of AcWriMo has essentially rendered the latter unnecessary.

But White’s book is different, because it reaffirms what I now know to be true: that doing a PhD is a transformative process that leads to being the best version of yourself, not about just finishing your thesis .

While he does talk about conquering your introduction (the hardest part!), creating alignment in your argument, and tackling the literature review, White goes far beyond providing tips for attacking the thesis.

He provides an important and much needed sense of perspective on the actual process of getting a PhD ; transforming yourself into a scholar with something to say, and maintaining your personal relationships along the way .

Though this book isn’t a dissertation how-to, it’s the perfect gift for a friend or relative who is about to embark on the PhD process.

It’s motivational yet realistic, and it’ll get anyone into the kind of mindset that’s necessary for getting through graduate school.

3. Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student’s Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D, Robert Peters

Some books are classics for a reason, and Getting What You Came For fits into that category nicely.

First published in 1997 and subsequently revised, you might find that some parts of this book – including an appendix on buying a computer – are a little irrelevant, but others are worth their weight in gold.

Getting What You Came For: A Start Student's Guide to earning a Masters or a PhD.

Unlike many other guides, it starts with the simple question: is graduate school right for you?

Should you get a Masters or PhD? How can you choose the right school? At almost 400 pages, this is a substantial book that covers all the bases, from selecting a school and applying, to defending your thesis, graduation, and beyond.

Based on interviews with career counsellors, graduate students, and professors, Getting What You Came For is full of real-life experiences that have, surprisingly, stood the test of time.

The experience of going to graduate school – from applying for grants and financial help to dealing with departmental politics – has actually changed very little in the last twenty years or so.

Don’t read Peters’ work if you’re looking for a reassuring, motivational title that will take you by the hand and tell you that everything is going to be OK.

Every chapter is a reminder of the commitment you’ve made – to yourself, your education, your supervisor, and your institution – and the hard work that will be necessary to graduate at the end of it.

Nonetheless, you’ll find some valuable insights to help you get what you came to graduate school for, no matter what you’re studying.

4. Playing the Game: The Streetsmart Guide to Graduate School, Frederick Frank & Karl Stein

If you’re looking for a realistic, down to brass tacks guide to going to graduate school, this is for you.

Both Frank and Stein graduated from prestigious doctoral programs, and used their combined experience in publishing, researching, conference presentations, doctoral committee service, consulting, grant writing, and teaching graduate school to write this no-nonsense guide.

Playing The Game is a great read fro grad students.

One reviewer described Playing the Game as “lewd and rude,” but it’s also incredibly helpful and insightful.

It’s broken down into three sections: getting in, getting through, and getting the hell out. Whatever stage of the PhD process you’re at, you’ll find something relevant among the boys’ own brand of intelligent, humorous wisdom.

Frank and Stein simplify the process of getting into graduate school, translate the complex jargon you’re expected to know from day one, and impart a series of personal, relevant, but comedic stories based on their own experiences.

Personal experience has taught me that it’s easy to get caught up in, well, the game of graduate school, which encourages competitive spirit, unhealthy habits, and self-doubt.

Reading Playing the Game is a reminder that everyone working towards a PhD feels – and goes through – the same things, even if they are more successful at hiding it from other people.

When you’re knee deep in literature or trying to learn an entire semester’s worth of teaching material, this is welcome light relief.

I guarantee you’ll pick it up again and again during your graduate school journey, and find something of value every time.

5. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing, Paul J. Silvia

Whatever your discipline, one thing is for certain: if you’re studying for a PhD, you’re going to have to write – a lot .

The sheer volume of writing, as well as the many distractions we face along the way (teaching, conferences, and other commitments) can make it really difficult to fill our graduate school word quota.

How to Write a Lot is a must-read for graduate students.

Paul Silvia wrote his book – now in its second edition – in recognition of the fact that though all academics have to write, many struggle to finish their dissertations, articles, books, or grant proposals.

Writing is hard work and can be all consuming – surely there has to be a way to write and still have a life?

How to Write a Lot covers bad habits, common excuses, and practical strategies to help students, researchers, and professors become more prolific writers.

Silvia draws on his own experiences to explain how to write, submit, and revise academic work, without sacrificing your evenings, weekends, and vacations.

This edition has new sections on writing grant and fellowship proposals, which is helpful for post-doctoral researchers and early career fellows . It’s pretty much universally loved among academics of all ages, and it’s easy to see why.

How to Write a Lot is a really useful guide – probably the most useful on this list – wherever you are in your graduate school career.

At some point, everyone faces the infamous writers block, but reading this makes it both less likely that you’ll end up there, and more likely that you’ll break out of it faster.

It’s ideal for all PhD students, as his advice is universal and transcends disciplinary boundaries.

6. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading, Mortimer Adler & Charles Van Doren

Though graduate school is about finding your written voice and learning to articulate your own argument clearly, reading other people’s work is equally – if not, for a while, more – important.

The often dreaded literature review will form a crucial part of your thesis, as well as informing the other papers, talks, lectures, and proposals you write.

For that reason, the classic How to Read a Book is an important addition to this list. With over half a million copies in print, this is an enormously successful guide to why and how we should read books.

Originally published in 1940 by Adler, a philosopher, it was heavily revised in 1972 when editor Van Doren came on board.

Though it provides guidelines for critically good reading books of all types, the sections on analytical reading, speed reading, and extracting the author’s message from a given text are particularly useful to graduate students.

I’d argue that How to Read a Book is a must-read for anyone, but it’s especially important when you’re studying for a PhD.

You might think that writing and writing well is the skill you need to focus on honing during graduate school, but I’d argue that reading well is just as important. This isn’t a short book, but it’s something you can dip in and out of at will.

7. Teaching College: The Ultimate Guide to Lecturing, Presenting, and Engaging Students, Norman Eng

Whatever your course of study, chances are you’ll need to do some teaching at some point in your PhD. Presenting at conferences is also a vital method of disseminating your research, networking, and entering the job market – so it’s important that you can do it well.

Teaching College by Norman Eng is a great guide for students.

Norman Eng is a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a background in teaching and marketing. Working as a marketing executive, he realized that his clients needed to know and engage with their target audience in order to communicate effectively and be successful.

Eng then went on to be an elementary teacher, and was nominated as one of the Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers in the mid 2000s.

Later a college professor, he found that much of his experience in marketing and elementary teaching held true for college instructors – that students, undergraduate or graduate, need to see the value of what you are teaching to their lives.

Teaching College is an approachable blueprint for learning the necessary graduate school skills of presenting, lecturing, teaching, and engaging students .

Eng’s goal is that adjunct professors, lecturers, assistant professors, and graduate assistants alike can learn effective teaching methods – and in that, he’s incredibly successful.

Whatever the level of the reader, Eng’s guide has been highly praised and recognized as a stellar resource. His practical tips and down-to-earth advice make this an excellent, approachable read, whether you currently have teaching experience or not.

8. The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide To Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job, Karen Kelsky

I hate to say it, but the long and arduous journey of getting a PhD might be just the beginning. Sure, some people see getting a PhD as a personal academic challenge, but the vast majority go through graduate school with the aim of securing the job at the end of it.

As Kelsky tells us, “for every comfortably tenured professor or well-paid former academic, there are countless underpaid and overworked adjuncts, and many more who simply give up in frustration.” The small minority who don’t fall within these two groups have one thing in common: a plan.

The Professor Is In is a definitive guide to setting yourself up for success when you already have a PhD in hand.

Kelsky covers a myriad of valuable topics; providing the lowdown on academic job searches, the common mistakes made by unsuccessful applicants, and when and how to point your PhD to other, non-academic options.

This is a wonderful, non-judgemental book that is essential reading for new PhDs. Learn when, where and what to publish. Learn how to write a grant application; tips for job talks and campus interviews; creating the perfect Curriculum Vitae and more.

And if you don’t land the perfect tenure-track job, or become disenchanted with the process along the way?

Don’t worry about it. You aren’t alone, and there are many, many things you can do with a PhD outside academia. The Professor Is In and she is here to help!

Louis L'Amour quote "Knowledge is like money: it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value"

I wrote this article to help students find the resources to support and encourage them on their journey through graduate school.

Doing so helped me to relive some of the many highlights – and low points – of the years I spent working towards my PhD . It remains one of my biggest achievements, and the thing I am most proud of.

Graduate school isn’t always easy, and sometimes you won’t see all the positives until the PhD is defended and done. But wherever you are now, good luck. And in case no-one else has told you this lately: what you are doing is relevant, your argument is valid, and you deserve to be right where you are.

It always seems impossible, until it’s done. Nelson Mandela

Natalie Seale

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Doing Economics: What You Should Have Learned in Grad School―But Didn’t

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Doing Economics: What You Should Have Learned in Grad School―But Didn’t Paperback – May 10, 2022

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Print length 204 pages
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Publisher The MIT Press
Publication date May 10, 2022
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Publisher ‏ : ‎ The MIT Press (May 10, 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 204 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0262543559
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0262543552
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.48 x 9 inches
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About the author

Marc f. bellemare.

Marc F. Bellemare is Distinguished McKnight University Professor, Distinguished University Teaching Professor, and Northrop Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota, where he also directs the Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy.

His research lies at the intersection of agricultural economics, food policy, and international development, with some econometric contributions here and there. He has won the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association’s (AAEA) Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award in 2007, the AAEA’s Outstanding American Journal of Agricultural Economics Article award in 2011, and the AAEA’s Quality of Research Discovery Award in 2014. That same year, he also won the European Association of Agricultural Economists‘ Quality of Research Discovery Award.

After serving as one of two co-editors of Food Policy from 2015 to 2019, he currently serves as one of four co-editors of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

His work so far been featured in media outlets such as The Economist, the New York Times, National Public Radio, and the Wall Street Journal.

His first book, Doing Economics: What You Should Have Learned in Grad School―But Didn't will be published by MIT Press in May 2022.

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‘‘Probability’’ by Pitman What the majority of Berkeley undergraduates use to learn probability.
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Economics Books » Economics Textbooks

The best macroeconomics textbooks, recommended by raffaele rossi.

In its study of the broader economy, macroeconomics is a vital tool for understanding the world around us, offering insights into issues that affect us all, like inflation and unemployment. Which textbooks to read to learn more about it? Here, Raffaele Rossi , Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, recommends his top macroeconomics textbooks, starting with entry-level books aimed at undergraduates all the way through to the tough tomes you'll need to plough through if you're doing a doctorate and want to work at the frontier of the discipline.

Interview by Benedict King

Macroeconomics by Greg Mankiw

Macroeconomics by Stephen Williamson

Advanced Macroeconomics by David Romer

The Best Macroeconomics Textbooks - Monetary Policy, Inflation, and the Business Cycle: An Introduction to the New Keynesian Framework and its Applications by Jordi Gali

Monetary Policy, Inflation, and the Business Cycle: An Introduction to the New Keynesian Framework and its Applications by Jordi Gali

Recursive Macroeconomic Theory by Lars Ljungqvist & Thomas J. Sargent

1 Macroeconomics by Greg Mankiw

2 macroeconomics by stephen williamson, 3 advanced macroeconomics by david romer, 4 monetary policy, inflation, and the business cycle: an introduction to the new keynesian framework and its applications by jordi gali, 5 recursive macroeconomic theory by lars ljungqvist & thomas j. sargent.

B efore we get to the macroeconomics textbooks you’re recommending, can I ask: were all of these textbooks published after the financial crisis in 2008 or have they been updated since?

Our first economics textbook is Macroeconomics by Greg Mankiw, who is the Robert M Beren Professor of Economics at Harvard University and for years taught the introductory economics course there. He also has a blog to keep in touch with students. Greg Mankiw has himself written more than one economics textbook, what makes this one so good? More generally, there must be a lot of macroeconomics textbooks to choose from: why does his one stand out?

Greg Mankiw is very good for entry-level type textbooks, whether they’re called ‘introduction’ to macroeconomics or ‘intermediate’ macroeconomics. They all suit, more or less, an entry-level knowledge of economics. Some have more, some have less analytical detail. This one is probably the most general in terms of its title, it’s just called Macroeconomics and, in my opinion, it’s the one that can reach the widest audience. That’s why I chose this one.

He’s a great writer. It’s a classic and generation after generation of economists have gone through it. You cannot list five books on economics for undergraduates and not include this book. It would be like listing the five top guitarists from the 1960s and not including Jimi Hendrix.

A perfect analogy. My second question is: what demands does this textbook, Macroeconomics, make on your mathematical knowledge for economics? Some algebra, but no calculus?

Let’s move on to your next economics textbook, Macroeconomics by Stephen Williamson, who is Professor and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Chair in Central Banking at the University of Western Ontario.

This is more advanced and it’s a completely different animal because it’s a textbook with more specialized demands and a more specialized audience.

The book is, broadly speaking, divided into two. The first part is rather technical. The technical complexity doesn’t come simply from the calculus, which is rather simple, although for this book, it’s definitely better if you have A-level math.

I use it for my second-year macroeconomics undergraduate courses. We have two streams in our economics degree, and I teach on the more technical one, the BSc in economics. The book is more technical, not only from a mathematical point of view, but also from a logical point of view. The intuitions are elaborated in detail and very precise and the book requires you to think at a level of abstraction that is far higher than what Mankiw requires.

Is the coverage as broad as Mankiw or is it focused on a narrower set of topics and problem sets?

Next textbook up is Advanced Macroeconomics by David Romer, who is Herman Royer Professor in Political Economy at UC Berkeley. What makes this a standout economics textbook?

Romer is very advanced undergraduate level or early postgraduate. If you study macroeconomics at an advanced level, you will come across this book. If you want to have a comprehensive and broad perspective of what macroeconomic theory is today, in the broadest and most concise form, this is the book.

He has 13 or 14 chapters. Each chapter is a fundamental section of macroeconomics, starting with economic growth, going on to endogenous growth and the economics of ideas, economics of information, economics of monetary policy, fiscal policy, employment—you name it. It’s the most comprehensive, and it’s accessible.

The level of analytical skills that you need is quite advanced, in the sense that now, even with A-level math, you’ll need to go through things step-by-step several times. One of the things students used to tell me is that they need to read the book three or four times before they start grasping the general idea. My general reply to them is that every time I open the book again, I notice an extra detail, an extra formula or an extra logical step or something that I had missed before. And I’ve been studying and teaching this book for 15 years.

You mentioned that this textbook covers state-of-the-art macroeconomic theory and brings students very quickly to the frontier. Can you give us some sense of where that frontier lies? Are there particular areas of macroeconomics where that frontier is being pushed farthest or where the debate is most intense?

That’s the interesting thing with Romer. He manages to give an introduction to the state-of-the-art theory in every single aspect of macroeconomics. The book has 14 chapters and each chapter is a research agenda in economics . Which is most active really depends on the year. Some years it’s unemployment, some years it’s fiscal policy, some years it’s monetary policy, but that doesn’t mean that the others are not in fashion. It’s just that sometimes one area might get more attention than the others, which may be related just to the agenda at particular academic journals as much as anything else. But every chapter is representative of a very active field in macroeconomics.

Moving on to Monetary Policy Inflation and the Business Cycle by Jordi Gali, who is a professor and researcher at the Graduate School of Economics in Barcelona and also a consultant to the European Central Bank. This is very much a macroeconomics textbook for graduate students and is based around one New Keynesian model, is that right?

Yes. It is the state-of-the-art—or at least an introduction to the state-of-the-art—in monetary policy. It’s pure orthodox New Keynesianism . It has a very specific use and therefore it’s not for everybody. It’s not for everybody who enrols in a PhD programme. It’s not for everybody who enrols in a PhD who wants to do macroeconomics. It is for those people who are enrolling in a PhD, who want to do macroeconomics and, in particular, who want to understand deeply how a central bank works.

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So, it’s really narrow, but it’s still a fundamental book. I say narrow, but of course, monetary policy is one of the biggest sub-fields in macro. And, especially if you are interested in macroeconomic policy, then monetary policy is one of the two key things you need to have. It’s a classic in central banking and monetary policy.

And does it cover in-depth all the unorthodox policies that central banks have had to undertake post-2008, quantitative easing and that kind of thing?

Let’s get onto Recursive Macroeconomic Theory by two professors of economics at New York University, Lars Ljungqvist and Thomas J. Sargent. You mentioned that this is a macroeconomics textbook for PhDs. Before we get to the book, could you explain what recursive macroeconomic theory is?

It is a way of recasting any dynamic problem in macroeconomics in a specific analytical way, that is called a recurse. It is the book over which generations of PhD students in macroeconomics have sweated blood. And any good book for PhD students in macroeconomics should be stained with sweat and blood, because it needs to be highly technical. This book is.

“Any good book for PhD students in macroeconomics should be stained with sweat and blood”

It’s really difficult from a mathematical point of view. Doing the problem sets is like writing papers. Going through each chapter and then the problem set of the chapter is really challenging and it takes a long time. To cut a long story short, it’s probably the most technical and difficult book you can think of if you want to study macroeconomics. But, obviously, it is the one that pushes you at the frontier. If Romer was the introduction to the frontier in a very broad sense, this one really is the frontier, but in a very narrow sense. The book covers a wide range of topics, but all the topics that the book covers can be recast in this particular analytical form that is called ‘recursive’.

So, the purpose of this economics textbook is to get the student up to speed in using this analytical approach?

Yes. And understanding how you can apply those tools in specific contexts and to particular problems. How, for example, if there are missing markets in insurance, and you cannot insure against a state of the world, you can use these recursive methods to find the solution to that.

August 10, 2020

Five Books aims to keep its book recommendations and interviews up to date. If you are the interviewee and would like to update your choice of books (or even just what you say about them) please email us at [email protected]

Raffaele Rossi

Raffaele Rossi is Senior Lecturer in economics at the University of Manchester. His research interests include applied macroeconomics, positive and normative aspects of taxation and interactions between monetary and fiscal policy.

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20 Best Books For Phd Students (2023 Update)

Are you looking for the Best Books For Phd Students ? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

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20 Best Books For Phd Students (19 Sellers)

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Research that matters!

Oct 10, 2021

10 Books To Become A Pro In Scientific Writing

Updated: Nov 14, 2021

Scientific writing is a serious business for scientists and academia. The quality of scientific writing can help scientists, postdoctorates and postgraduates with their career. Writing a great article and getting it published in high-impact journals is every academic's dream. In this blog, I recommend 10 books that you can make use of to improve your scientific writing. If you are a scientist or you want to become one, this list of books will be helpful to you. Recommendations are designed for both beginners and experts. The books can help both native and non-native speakers of English.

1. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Ninth Edition: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)

More than eighty years ago, Kate L. Turabian drafted a set of guidelines to help students understand how to write, cite, and formally submit research writing. Eight editions and more than nine million copies later, the name Turabian has become synonymous with best practices in research writing and style. Her "Manual for Writers" continues to be the gold standard for generations of college and graduate students in virtually all academic disciplines. Now in its ninth edition, "A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations" has been fully revised to meet the needs of today's writers & researchers. This new edition filters decades of expertise into modern standards. While previous editions incorporated digital forms of research and writing, this edition goes even further to build information literacy, recognizing that most students will be doing their work largely or entirely online and on screens. Click here to buy or read more on this book.

2. Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded

The career of a scientist or researcher depends on how good he is as a writer, and it is built on successful proposals and papers. Success isn't defined by getting papers into print, but by getting them into the reader's consciousness. Writing Science is built upon the idea that successful science writing tells a story. It uses that insight to discuss how to write more effectively. Integrating lessons from other genres of writing with those from the author's years of experience as author, reviewer, and editor, the book shows scientists and students how to present their research in a way that is clear and that will maximize reader comprehension.

The book takes an integrated approach, using the principles of story structure to discuss every aspect of successful science writing, from the overall structure of a paper or proposal to individual sections, paragraphs, sentences, and words. It begins by building core arguments, analyzing why some stories are engaging and memorable while others are quickly forgotten, and proceeds to the elements of story structure, showing how the structures scientists and researchers use in papers and proposals fit into classical models. The book targets the internal structure of a paper, explaining how to write clear and professional sections, paragraphs, and sentences in a way that is clear and compelling. The ideas within a paper should flow seamlessly, drawing readers along. The final section of the book deals with special challenges, such as how to discuss research limitations and how to write for the public.

Writing Science is a much-needed guide to succeeding in modern science. Its insights and strategies will equip science students, scientists, and professionals across a wide range of scientific and technical fields with the tools needed to communicate effectively. Click here to buy or read more on this book.

3. Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps

The latest edition of the popular guide for novice and professional scientists alike, providing effective strategies and step-by-step advice for writing scientific papers for publication.

For scientists writing a research article for submission to an international peer-reviewed journal, knowing how to write can be as important as knowing what to write. Writing Scientific Research Articles: Strategy and Steps provides systematic guidance on writing effective scientific papers with the greatest chance for publication. Using clear language, this highly practical guide shows scientists how to apply their analysis and synthesis skills to produce a compelling research article and increase their competence in written communication of science.

The third edition is fully revised to reflect changes in the review process and science journal publication. Incorporating current developments in technology and pedagogical practice, brand-new sections cover mapping and planning manuscripts, choosing results, systematic reviews, structured abstracts, and more. Updated material on referee criteria offers valuable insights on what journal editors and referees want to publish and why . Offering a hands-on approach to developing the academic writing skills of scientists in all disciplines and from all language backgrounds, Writing Scientific Research Articles is a great resource for scientific writers. Click here to buy or read more

4. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper

An essential guide for succeeding in today's competitive environment, this book provides beginning scientists and experienced researchers with practical advice on writing about their work and getting published. This brand new, updated edition also includes a new chapter on editing one's own work, a section on publicizing and archiving one's paper, and updates on authorship, including information on new authorship criteria and on the author identification number ORCID. The book guides readers through the processes involved in writing for and publishing in scientific journals, from choosing a suitable journal, to writing each part of the paper, to submitting the paper and responding to peer review, through checking the proofs. It covers ethical issues in scientific publishing, explains rights and permissions, and discusses writing grant proposals, giving presentations and writing for general audiences. Click here to buy or read more

5. The Scientist's Guide to Writing: How to Write More Easily and Effectively throughout Your Scientific Career

The Scientist’s Guide to Writing explains the essential techniques that students, postdocs, and early-career scientists need to write more clearly, efficiently, and easily. Now fully updated and expanded, this incisive primer offers practical advice on such topics as generating and maintaining writing momentum, structuring a scientific paper, revising a first draft, handling citations, responding to peer reviews, managing co-authorships, and more. The ability to write clearly is critical to any scientific career. The Scientist’s Guide to Writing shows scientists how to become better writers so that their ideas have the greatest possible impact.

New chapters discuss effective reading, choosing the right journal for your research, and the advantages and disadvantages of posting preprints

Provides additional advice on reporting statistical results, dealing with conflicting peer reviews, managing co-authorships, writing with English as an additional language, and more

Emphasizes writing as a process, not just a product

Encourages habits that improve motivation and productivity

Offers detailed guidance on submission, review, revision, and publication

Includes a wealth of new exercises. Click here to buy or read more

6. Science Research Writing For Non-native Speakers Of English

This book is designed to enable non-native English speakers to write science research for publication in English. It can also be used by English speakers and is a practical, user-friendly book intended as a fast, do-it-yourself guide for those whose English language proficiency is above intermediate. The approach is based on material developed from teaching graduate students at Imperial College London and has been extensively piloted. The book guides the reader through the process of writing science research and will also help with writing a Master's or Doctoral thesis in English.Science writing is much easier than it looks because the structure and language are conventional. The aim of this book is to help the reader discover a template or model for science research writing and then to provide the grammar and vocabulary tools needed to operate that model. There are five units: Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion/Conclusion and Abstract. The reader develops a model for each section of the research article through sample texts and exercises; this is followed by a Grammar and Writing Skills section designed to respond to frequently-asked questions as well as a Vocabulary list including examples of how the words and phrases are to be used. Click here to buy or read more

7. How to Write a Scientific Paper: An Academic Self-Help Guide for PhD Students

What if writing scientific papers was faster, easier, and a bit less painful?

This book provides a step-by-step, top-down approach that makes it easier to turn your hard-won results into research papers that are focused, exciting, and readable.

The book's systematic approach builds on what I've learned through coauthoring close to 100 research papers with students. You'll learn how to outline your paper from top to down, how to develop your story, and how to think about what to write before you write it. You'll also learn how to deal with many issues that writers of science commonly face, from the fear of the blank page to dealing with critical reviews.

Here's what you get:

A complete step-by-step plan for writing a scientific paper, from choosing which results to include to wrapping up the paper in the Discussion section

Concrete, actionable, and practical advice, from a paragraph-level template for the Introduction to guidance on preparing plots and figures

Lots of writing tips, from placing signposts in your text to shortening and straightening your sentences

This book has been written for the PhD student who is aiming to write a journal article on her research results, but it should also be useful to any scientist who has ever found writing difficult. Whatever the stage of your career, if you'd like to learn how to write research papers systematically and efficiently, this is the book for you! Click here to buy or read more

8. How to Write Health Sciences Papers, Dissertations and Theses

Clearly written and well-presented results are more readily accepted by examiners and fellow clinicians, however achieving this can be very difficult. This comprehensive text takes the fears and tears out of writing up research results. It provides a practical guide to the process of preparing a written research report, ensuring the information can be easily followed and understood. It details the sequence of events which must be followed if the written account is to be accessible to the reader and acceptable to the examiners. This practical guide provides help and reassurance for all those taking up the challenge of writing up their results.

Follows a logical, step-by-step sequence.

Provides a checklist for thesis preparation

Focuses specifically on reporting health science research.

Written in a readable style with the minimum use of jargon

Click here to buy or read more

9. The Craft of Science Writing: Selections from The Open Notebook

Science journalism has perhaps never been so critical to our world—and the demands on science journalists have never been greater. On any given day, a science journalist might need to explain the details of genetic engineering, analyze a development in climate change research, or serve as a watchdog helping to ensure the integrity of the scientific enterprise. And science writers have to spin tales seductive enough to keep readers hooked to the end, despite the endless other delights just a click away. How does one do it?

Here, for the first time, is a collection of indispensable articles on the craft of science writing as told by some of the most skillful science journalists working today. These selections are a wealth of journalistic knowledge from The Open Notebook , the online community that has been a primary resource for science journalists and aspiring science writers for the last decade.

The Craft of Science Writing gives you a crew of accomplished, encouraging friends to whisper over your shoulder as you work. In these pages, you'll find interviews with leading journalists offering behind-the-scenes inspiration, as well as in-depth essays on the craft offering practical advice, including:

How to make the transition into science writing

How to find and pitch a science story to editors

How to wade through a sea of technicalities in scientific papers to spot key facts

How to evaluate scientific and statistical claims

How to report on controversial topics

How to structure a science story, from short news to long features

How to engage readers in a science story and hold their attention to the end

10. Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks, Second Edition – A Guide to Academic Publishing Success (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)

"Wow. No one ever told me this!" Wendy Laura Belcher has heard this countless times throughout her years of teaching and advising academics on how to write journal articles. Scholars know they must publish, but few have been told how to do so. So Belcher made it her mission to demystify the writing process. The result was Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks, which takes this overwhelming task and breaks it into small, manageable steps. For the past decade, this guide has been the go-to source for those creating articles for peer-reviewed journals. It has enabled thousands to overcome their anxieties and produce the publications that are essential to succeeding in their fields. With this new edition, Belcher expands her advice to reach beginning scholars in even more disciplines. She builds on feedback from professors and graduate students who have successfully used the workbook to complete their articles. A new chapter addresses scholars who are writing from scratch. This edition also includes more targeted exercises and checklists, as well as the latest research on productivity and scholarly writing. Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks is the only reference to combine expert guidance with a step-by-step workbook. Each week, readers learn a feature of strong articles and work on revising theirs accordingly. Every day is mapped out, taking the guesswork and worry out of writing. There are tasks, templates, and reminders. At the end of twelve weeks, graduate students, recent PhDs, postdoctoral fellows, adjunct instructors, junior faculty, and international faculty will feel confident they know that the rules of academic publishing and have the tools they need to succeed. Click here to buy or read more

Conclusion:

Good scientific writing is what you need to achieve success in science. Without it, your research might be overlooked, ignored, or even rejected. Therefore, it is essential to learn how to write well. Hope you find the recommendations useful.

Research publication
Dental research
Publishing research

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19 great books for recent college grads that'll guide them through their next chapter

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As college graduates ready themselves for the next chapter in their lives, books can provide insightful advice and research-driven tips on how to best move forward. Whether they're starting their first job or fellowship, paying the brunt of their own expenses for the first time, or unsure of what they want to do next, there are countless people who have been in their shoes before and have some wisdom to impart.

Below, we rounded up some of the best books to gift recent college grads, from relatable memoirs, straightforward financial guides, and self-help books on everything from forming healthy habits to finding one's ideal career path. And if you want to pair a book with another gift, be sure to check out our guides to the best college graduation gifts .

The 19 best books to gift college graduates in 2022:

"congratulations, by the way: some thoughts on kindness" by george saunders.

"Congratulations, By the Way," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $12.99

Best for: The grad who wants a short, inspirational read

Adapted from author George Saunders' commencement address at Syracuse University (where he teaches writing), this book is essentially a short, incredibly well-written speech that can be finished in one sitting. As a bonus, the core theme isn't about common graduation topics like career goals or perseverance, but about something even more important: kindness and empathy for others.

"Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life" by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

"Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life," available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.92

Best for: The grad who has no idea what they want to do for a career

Written by two faculty members of Stanford University's Design Program, this book uses design thinking to help the reader break down what they love to do and forge a life path that balances work with everything else. It's particularly great for grads who feel uncertain about what they want to do in their career and can help them discover new possibilities.

You can read our review of the "Designing Your Life" online course on the same topic here .

"Speak: How to Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be" by Tunde Oyeneyin

"Speak: How to Find Your Voice, Trust Your Gut, and Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be," available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $18.21

Best for: The grad who wants to grow into themselves more

Written by popular Peloton instructor Tunde Oyeneyin, this memoir doubles as a self-help book that teaches readers how to live a life with purpose. Oyeneyin chronicles her journey to figuring out what she wanted to do in life and how to pursue her dreams to live her most authentic life, leaving readers with a framework to do the same.

"The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter—and How to Make the Most of Them Now" by Meg Jay, PhD

"The Defining Decade," available at Bookshop and Amazon , from $7.98

Best for: The grad who feels nervous about their 20s

From graduating college to finding that first job or relationship, one's 20s pack a lot of change in a short amount of time. Weaving stories of hundreds of 20-something clients and students, Meg Jay's book is full of advice on how to navigate all these new developments to set oneself up for success later in life.

"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" by James Clear

"Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.98

Best for: The grad who wants to self-improve by doesn't know where to start

Whether your graduate wants to be better organized or stop procrastinating as much, this bestselling book offers clear, tangible tips on how to build tiny, approachable habits that snowball into larger, life-changing ones down the road.

"Untamed" by Glennon Doyle

"Untamed," available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.99

Best for: The grad on the precipice of some exciting-but-scary changes

This bestselling memoir reads more like a self-help book, offering lots of encouragement in being true to one's authentic self and most honest desires. It can especially be helpful to a graduate with big changes looming ahead, such as a cross-country move or a career path switch.

You can read our review of "Untamed" here .

"Get Good with Money: 10 Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole" By Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista)

"Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole," available at Bookshop and Amazon , from $14.71

Best for: The grad who needs to learn how to budget

Whether your grad is dealing with student loan debt or difficulty finding work, they're sure to find meaningful advice from Tiffany Aliche, who dealt with the aftermath of the 2008 recession and a shady advisor who put her into a huge financial hole. Written in a straightforward way, this book offers simple, tangible ways for young graduates to save money, pay off debt, and plan for a financially secure life.

"Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As if Your Life Depended on it" by Chris Voss

"Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As if Your Life Depended on it," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $17.99

Best for: The grad who will have to negotiate their salary soon

Written by a former FBI hostage negotiator, this book offers fascinating tips on how to negotiate everything from a raise at work to a compromise with a family member. It can especially be useful to grads going into fields where persuasion will be a big part of their job, such as law, politics, or non-profit work.

You can read our review of Chirs Voss's MasterClass on the same topic here .

"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain

"Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking," available at Amazon and Bookshop , from $13.89

Best for: The grad who's self-conscious about being an introvert

As "Quiet" explores, much of American culture rewards those who are extroverted and talkative, which can make it difficult for more introverted people to feel like they can stand out. Written as part-memoir, part-self-help, this book offers inspiring anecdotes and tips on how to channel one's quiet side, instead of feeling forced to change it.

You can read our full review of "Quiet" here .

"Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar" by Cheryl Strayed

"Tiny Beautiful Things," available at Bookshop and Amazon , from $13.38

Best for: The grad who doesn't just want career advice

Cheryl Strayed, author of the bestselling memoir " Wild, " also worked for years as the writer of a column called "Dear Sugar," where she offered advice to strangers by being incredibly vulnerable and honest about her own life experiences. This book is a collection of some of her best columns, tackling topics from grief and cheating lovers to pursuing your wildest dreams.

"The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters" by Priya Parker

"The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters," available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $14.49

Best for: The grad moving away from all their friends

The nice thing about college is how easy socializing is when you all live in the same dorm or apartment, have school-organized events to attend, and generally live by similar schedules. As we get older, making new friends (or hanging with existing ones) can get more challenging. This book teaches simple but mind-blowing tips on how to make gatherings more meaningful and bonding, from sending out an event invite to deciding who to invite.

You can read our review of "The Art of Gathering" here .

"I Will Teach You to Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi

"I Will Teach You to Be Rich," available at Bookshop and Amazon , from $12.87

Best for: The grad already interested in building their savings

This book gives grads some good news: they can spend all they want on lattes, so long as they still have money to invest and grow over time. It's a straightforward guide to building a robust savings account, and one of our personal favorite books to recommend (especially to those new to managing their money).

"What You're Really Meant to Do: A Road Map For Reaching Your Unique Potential" by Robert Steven Kaplan

"What You're Really Meant to Do," available at Bookshop and Amazon , from $14.39

Best for: The grad who doesn't know what to do next

In this book, Robert Steven Kaplan, a leadership expert and bestselling author, shares specific exercises and advice on how one can know themselves more deeply, from figuring out their true passions to setting goals to reaching them.

"What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self" edited by Ellyn Spragins

"What I Know Now," available at Amazon , $12.77

Best for: The grad who wants all the advice they can get

If you don't want to commit to one book by one author, this anthology features letters from 41 famous women to their past selves, with writers ranging from Madeleine Albright to Maya Angelou. Beyond offering invaluable advice, it's also just a fascinating glimpse into these iconic women's lives.

"Ask a Manager: How to Navigate Clueless Colleagues, Lunch-Stealing Bosses, and the Rest of Your Life At Work" by Alison Green

"Ask a Manager," available at Bookshop and Amazon , from $14.40

Best for: The grad who already has a difficult job

Alison Green, an internet-famous work advice columnist , is known for giving empathetic, straightforward, and honest career advice, whether you have an annoying coworker or have no idea how to ask for a raise. If your grad already has a job (or is struggling with the interview process), this book can serve as a guide through all stages of their work life.

"Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...and Maybe the World" by Admiral William H. McRaven

"Make Your Bed," available at Bookshop and Amazon , $11.94

Best for: The grad who wants some simple, straightforward life advice

Based on a commencement speech that Admiral William H. McRaven gave to the University of Texas, Austin in 2014, this book covers his career as a Navy Seal and what it taught him about which habits and outlooks make the most impact. It's a book that offers honest, direct tips on how to live a more successful life, no matter what you do for a living.

"The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Life" by Edith Eva Eger

"The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Life," available on Amazon and Bookshop , from $11.37

Best for: The grad who's gone through a rough patch lately

Recently updated to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic, this book shares the story of Edith Eva Eger, a world-renowned psychologist and Holocaust survivor who argues that the only thing worse than living in a concentration camp was feeling imprisoned by her own fear, guilt, and anger. The core lesson of the book teaches readers that while we can't control our experiences, we can always change our perspectives.

"Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy" by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant

"Option B," available at Bookshop and Amazon , from $13.67

Best for: The grad who wants to be more resilient

When Sheryl Sandberg's husband suddenly died, she worried she'd never feel joy again. She worked on this book with her friend Adam Grant, a Wharton psychologist — together, they share tips on how to build resilience even in the most trying times. It's a skill every graduate needs, whether they're facing big changes or even just dreading big changes in the future.

"The Beautiful Chaos of Growing Up" by Ari Satok

"The Beautiful Chaos of Growing Up," available at Amazon , $14.99

Best for: The grad who loves poetry

"The Beautiful Chaos of Growing Up" is a beautiful poetry collection about young adulthood. it covers everything from college friendships and graduation to all the firsts of adulthood: first romances, first jobs, first apartments — all helping a recent grad get excited about what's to come next.

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Behind the Books: What’s Up With Grad Students

One writer investigates the advantages and challenges that dartmouth’s graduate students experience..

Dartmouth is so well known for its undergraduate focus that before setting foot on campus, I wasn’t sure I’d ever interact with its graduate students. While undergraduates might feel cut off from the College’s numerous graduate programs — including the Geisel School of Medicine and Tuck School of Business — these programs have nonetheless drawn students to Hanover from far and wide. Curious why some graduate students decided to come to Dartmouth despite its emphasis on undergraduates, I spoke with several graduate students about their day-to-day lives as well as the benefits and downsides to choosing Dartmouth.

Michael Meng GR’23, who graduated from Geisel’s graduate program in quantitative biomedical sciences last year, said he came to Dartmouth because of its rural setting, which was a “similar” environment to his undergraduate experience at the University of Connecticut.

“For grad school, I wanted to pursue an education in a place that’s not in a very big city,” Meng said. “It’s my personal preference to study in a quiet town without too many distractions.”

Meng also explained that his time as a graduate student at Dartmouth allowed him to explore diverse passions — for example, he was able to pursue more “code-related” fields compared to his undergraduate years, where he was on the pre-medical and pre-dental track.

“We’re more flexible when it comes to selecting courses,” he said. “We can choose to take courses that are more advanced and across different schools: medical school, business school … I decided to come here to broaden my spectrum of interests and learn more transferable skills, not just stuff within my major.”

Irma Vlasac, a third-year Ph.D candidate studying cancer in the molecular and cellular biology program, said Dartmouth’s rural location was a significant change after growing up in a city. But it was the College’s sense of community that attracted her to Dartmouth.

“What made me choose Dartmouth was … my program’s community — it seemed like all the students knew each other very well,” Vlasac said. “Grad school is really hard, so having support and people that I can get along with — instead of trying to compete with — was something I would really want.”

Meng also praised the sense of community among graduate students.

“My classmates [and I] have a cohort of 20 or so students,” he said. “We all know each other. We definitely can have lots of fun because most of us live in houses; some of us live in off campus houses. So we mostly just gather together, play games and drink.”

On top of the strong ties between graduate students, Meng said he has made friends with undergraduates through campus clubs.

“Besides the people in my program, I was a part of this Christian fellowship [called] Agape,” he said. “It’s incredibly wonderful to meet so many amazing undergrads that are so kind [as] to accept grad students to be part of this fellowship as well.”

Sarah Hutchinson ’23 Th’24, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in electrical and energy engineering, said her years on campus as an undergraduate provided her with a strong community that has endured through her fifth-year graduate program.

“I’ve made friends with all class years and remain active in the communities and organizations that I participated in as an undergrad, particularly triathlon,” Hutchinson said. “I have also met more graduate students at [the Thayer School of Engineering] who are here only for graduate degrees. It’s been fun to get to know them in classes.”

Despite the sense of community, graduate students do face several challenges. Vlasac, who is part of the Graduate Student Council, said housing is a significant hurdle for many graduate students.

“We don’t have any housing on Dartmouth campuses,” she said. “Some of the work that I did was … trying to get some housing back so that students can at least be on campus. Summit on Juniper is very expensive, and it’s not leased through Dartmouth … for graduate students.”

Meng added that some professors’ treatment of graduate students compared to undergraduates can prove challenging.

“The academic life here is great,” he said. “However, I think that [for] me personally, my research professor tends to emphasize … undergrads [over] grad students, which I think needs to be improved.”

On the other hand, Meng noted some professors “prefer grad students” because of the “limited knowledge” of undergraduates.

Hutchinson said her research experience has been primarily positive and that she has “learned a lot from it.”

“Research has been a really cool way to implement what I’m learning in classes and go beyond the learning I do in classes to make an impact in the world,” she said.

Although there are downsides to graduate student life when it comes to academics and housing, it seems for many, the perks outweigh the disadvantages. Despite busy schedules, long commute times and housing struggles, graduate students seem to enjoy deepening their passions while spending time with communities both on and off campus.

Reflection: Total Eclipse of My Life

DOC Goes Digital: A Look Into the Impact of Trailhead

Hanover’s Hidden Gems: Uncovering Students’ Lesser-Known Favorite Spots

Students react to roger federer being named 2024 commencement speaker, letter to the editor: a member of the men’s basketball team speaks out in opposition to unionization, dartmouth names honorary degree recipients, dartmouth’s extreme athletes: students’ feats of endurance, ‘a gamble that paid off’: three dartmouth rowers secure spots in the olympics.

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COMMENTS

7 Essential Books for Graduate and Ph.D. Students
In this article, I've got seven of the best productivity, self-help, and well-being books for graduate students and new Ph.D. students that avoid the bluster of gurus in business and management writing. These are the best-of-the-best on my shelf, dog-eared, loaned out, and read multiples times over. They cover some content about learning/work ...
11 books to help get you through grad school (in 2024)
11 books between $8 and $35 that will boost your productivity, writing output and decision-making throughout your grad school and research career. This is the start of your journey in becoming your best self and improving your chances of landing that dream job after graduation.
The 7 Books Every PhD Student Should Read
By Alex Wakeman. Let's be honest. If you're nerdy enough to be doing a PhD, you probably love a good book. Whether you're looking for entertainment or advice, distraction or comfort, the seven listed here can each, in their own way, help you through your frustrating but uniquely rewarding life of a PhD student. Isaac Asimov - I, Robot.
20 Best Research Methodology Books for Ph.D. Students
7. Naturalistic Inquiry, 1st Edition. If your research topic is based on the field of social science, then this is a top book for Ph.D. students. For one thing, it challenges traditional approaches and proposes more progressive and accurate forms of study.
Recommended Reading
This list is aimed at graduate students, postdocs, and other PhDs who are actively looking for paid employment or exploring career options. It includes both practical resources, books that combine advice with inspiration, ones that hope to advocate for better systems while also breaking things down for job seekers, as well as memoirs and novels.
10 Must-Read Books for Grad Students
This book is for the doctoral student who wants to become the best version of himself or herself; whose doctoral journey is a quest of epic personal, professional, and spiritual transformation; and who wants to finish his or her dissertation as well. Inside this book, you'll learn, among many other things:-The secrets of time travel;
10 Must-Read Books for Productive PhD Students: Improve ...
As a PhD student, reading is an integral part of your research and academic journey. Whether you are looking for inspiration, practical advice, or in-depth analysis, books can provide a wealth of knowledge and guidance to help you achieve your academic goals. In this article, we will discuss some of the best books to read
Twenty Best Books for Researchers
1. Building a Successful Career in Scientific Research: A Guide for PhD Students and Postdocs by Phil Dee. Phil Dee wrote about life as a scientist since 2000 as a columnist for Science's Next Wave. This book is a fast and entertaining read, that focuses on tips and quick wins to help you move your career forward. 2.
5 books to help you with your PhD
So here's a provisional top 5, based on books I use again and again in my PhD workshops: 1. The craft of Research by Wayne Booth, Greg Colomb and Joseph Williams. I wish I owned the copyright to this one because I am sure they sell a shed load every year. Although it seems to be written for undergraduates, PhD students like it for its ...
Our Top Books for PhD Students
Take a look at The PhD Viva: How to Prepare for Your Oral Examination by Peter Smith. There are lots of great books out there about the viva. However, Peter Smith's extensive experience puts his at the top of our list. Having sat in over 100 viva examinations as a chair, examiner and supervisor in a range of subjects it's safe to say that ...
5 must-reads for doctoral students
Capella University faculty, doctoral students, and alumni recommend these five books for doctoral students in any discipline. 1. How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading by Mortimer J. Adler. "One book fundamental to my doctoral education that my mentor had my entire cohort read, and which I still recommend to this day, is ...
16 Best PhD Degree Books of All Time
The 16 best phd degree books recommended by Dr Arona Dison, Dr Jonathan Stoddart, Michela Bearzi and others. The 16 best phd degree books recommended by Dr Arona Dison, Dr Jonathan Stoddart, Michela Bearzi and others. Categories Experts Newsletter. BookAuthority; BookAuthority is the world's leading site for book recommendations, helping you ...
8 Essential Books For Graduate Students
4. Playing the Game: The Streetsmart Guide to Graduate School, Frederick Frank & Karl Stein. If you're looking for a realistic, down to brass tacks guide to going to graduate school, this is for you. Both Frank and Stein graduated from prestigious doctoral programs, and used their combined experience in publishing, researching, conference ...
Doing Economics: What You Should Have Learned in Grad School―But Didn't
The book also draws from various conversations, examples, and anecdotes, which add to the insights and make this book fun to read. This is a true gem and a must-read for all graduate students, aspiring researchers, and young professionals in the fields of economics and related fields who want to thrive better and suffer less!
The best books for physics graduate students
Modern Electrodynamics is a graduate-level textbook of classical electrodynamics. I wrote it to give professors and students an alternative to a book by J.D. Jackson that has shaped the pedagogical approach to this subject since 1962. Jackson has virtues, but it focuses too much on the mathematics needed to solve his difficult homework problems ...
(PDF) Fundamentals of Research Methodology
Abstract. Academic research is a relatively simple process when a PhD student knows the methodologies, methods and tools that underpin it. Although it is assumed that students holding a master's ...
Recommended texts :: SGSA
Stochastic Calculus. Stochastic Calculus is an advanced topic that interested students can learn by themselves or in a reading group. There are three classic texts: ''Continuous Martingales and Brownian Motion'' by Revuz and Yor. ''Diffusions, Markov Processes and Martingales (Volumes 1 and 2)'' by Rogers and Williams.
The Best Macroeconomics Textbooks
It is the book over which generations of PhD students in macroeconomics have sweated blood. And any good book for PhD students in macroeconomics should be stained with sweat and blood, because it needs to be highly technical. This book is. ... The Best Nonfiction Books: The 2024 Duff Cooper Prize.
Phd Books
avg rating 4.08 — 477 ratings — published 2006. Want to Read. Rate this book. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. Books shelved as phd: The Unwritten Rules of Ph.D. Research by Gordon Rugg, How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing by Paul ...
20 Best Books For Phd Students (2023 Update)
Choosing the Best Books For Phd Students can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as Penguin Random House, WHSmith, Amazon.com. We have done a lot of research to find the Top 20 Best Books For Phd Students available. The average cost is $25.80. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $7.08 to a high of $102.40.
Best books for PhD students
In this video I am going to share with you the best books I have read for PhD students and what I have taken away from each book! 0:00 - Introduction1:50 - B...
10 Books To Become A Pro In Scientific Writing
Scientific writing is a serious business for scientists and academia. The quality of scientific writing can help scientists, postdoctorates and postgraduates with their career. Writing a great article and getting it published in high-impact journals is every academic's dream. In this blog, I recommend 10 books that you can make use of to improve your scientific writing. If you are a scientist ...
19 Best Books for Recent College Graduates in 2022
Amazon. "I Will Teach You to Be Rich," available at Bookshop and Amazon, from $12.87. Best for: The grad already interested in building their savings. This book gives grads some good news: they ...
Behind the Books: What's Up With Grad Students
"Some of the work that I did was … trying to get some housing back so that students can at least be on campus. Summit on Juniper is very expensive, and it's not leased through Dartmouth … for graduate students." Meng added that some professors' treatment of graduate students compared to undergraduates can prove challenging.