>Printer-friendly version

Dissertations, Scholarly Writing and Graduate School

Allison, Alida & Frongia, Terri, Eds.

The Grad Student's Guide to Getting Published

1992

Much of this information is basic and should be provided by your mentor. However, the information is accurate and comprehensive.

Becker, Howard

Writing for Social Scientists

1986

Although many students have given this book good reviews, I find it generally unhelpful.

Bloom, Dale, Karp, Jonathan et al.

The Ph.D. Process

1998

The best book out there for students in the sciences. Explains how to thrive in the interpersonal culture of a lab.

Boice, Robert

Professors as Writers

1990

If you buy one book, get this. It will help with procrastination and creating rough drafts. Boice's work is backed up by research.

Bolker, Joan

Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day

1998

A "must buy" for students in the humanities, and for those just beginning to think about their thesis topics. Easy to read and full of down-to-earth advice.

Davis, Gordon & Parker, Clyde

Writing the Doctoral Dissertation

1979

This has been in print for a long time and there is now a new edition. It focuses on the content basics of dissertation writing - such as "what is a literature review."

Fitzpatrick, J., Secrist, J. et al.

Secrets for a Successful Dissertation

1998

Glatthorn, Allan

Writing the Winning Dissertation

1998

Meloy, Judith M.

Writing the Qualitative Dissertation

1994

Peters, Robert

Getting What You Came For

1997

Excellent, succinct advice. But start with Chapter 12 - the first half of the book explains why you should have never started grad school! The second half of the book is enormously useful.

Rudestam, Kjell Erik & Newton, Rae R.

Surviving Your Dissertation

2001

Sternberg, David

How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation

1981

This is a classic. I find that much of Sternberg's advice is still useful today. I especially like the section on working with advisors.

Van Wagenen, R. Keith

Writing A Thesis

1991

Zerubavel, Eviatar

The Clockwork Muse

1999

Very specific information about how this incredibly organized academic gets his own writing done. A good example of obsessive self-monitoring. I wish that I could do what he suggests!

Other Aspects of Academia

Boice, Robert

Advice for New Faculty Members

2000

Boice has fantastic advice to give. Even though his prose style is repetitive, pedantic and long-winded, this is still one of the most helpful books available for new faculty.

Brinkley, Alan et al.

The Chicago Handbook for Teachers

1999

An excellent overview of teaching tips, succinctly presented.

Caplan, Paula

Lifting A Ton of Feathers

1993

Research about how difficult it is to build an academic career if you are a woman.

Coiner, Constance & George, Diana Hume, Eds.

The Family Track

1998

If you are a woman and/or a parent and hope to remain in academia, this is a superb book. Coiner and Hume have collected a wealth of poignant, personal stories about how challenging it is to raise a family while you're on the tenure track.

DeNeef, A. Leigh & Goodwin, Craufurd D., Eds.

The Academic's Handbook

1995

An edited compilation of articles about surviving and thriving in academia. Check it out of the library, and skim it for articles that interest you. I found only a few that I liked - but those few were great.

Frost, Peter & Taylor, M. Susan, Eds.

Rhythms of Academic Life

1996

Another edited batch of first-person articles. Again, there were only a few worth reading, from my point of view, but those few were well worth checking the hefty volume out of the library.

Gross, Barbara Davis

Tools for Teaching

1993

This is my first choice reading material for both new and seasoned teachers. Gross Davis provides an unbelievably helpful variety of tips and tactics for teachers. I like the format of the book because it is easy to skim. You can pick it up and quickly solve specific teaching problems. Make sure that you have this book within easy reach on your book shelf.

Heiberger, Mary Morris & Vick, Julia Miller

The Academic Job Search

2001

Wow! If you are looking for an academic job, this should be your bible. It is thorough, accurate and highly useful. For best results, begin reading it two years before you want to go on the job market.

Lyons, Richard, Kysilka, M. et al.

The Adjunct Professor's Guide to Success

1999

A helpful overview about teaching. There are only some aspects that are particular to being an adjunct. Most of the book covers general aspects of teaching.

McCabe, Linda & McCabe, Edward

How to Succeed in Academics

1999

This book is best for academics in medical fields, such as physicians on a research track. It is easy to read and covers a broad range of topics. I found the hypothetical illustrations a bit hokey.

McKeachie, W. J

Teaching Tips

2002

McKeachie is the classic name in teaching instruction and for good reason. The many editions of his book are great.

Menges, Robert & Associates

Faculty in New Jobs -

1999

Sowers-Hoag, Karen & Harrison, Dianne F.

Finding An Academic Job

1998

This is a good, workable book and covers all the basics. But my first choice would be "The Academic Job Search."

Toth, Emily

Ms. Mentor's Impeccable Advice for Women in Academia

1997

Read it and laugh. Ms. Mentor is a hilarious guide to the foibles of academic politics. I advise all new faculty to get this book.

Vesilind, P. Aarne

So You Want to Be a Professor?

2000

Written by an engineer, this book is a bit dry. He covers the basics, however.

Zanna, Mark & Darley, John, Eds.

The Compleat Academic

1987

This is a very useful compilation of articles for academics. And I hear that there is a new version out. I especially like the chapter about time management.

Procrastination and Organization

Allen, David

Getting Things Done

2001

Bliss, Edwin

Doing it Now

1983

Burka, Jane & Yuen, Lenora

Procrastination

1983

This is the first book to purchase if you need assistance with time management and overcoming procrastination. Excellent, comprehensive, and still relevant 20 years after it first came out.

Burns, David

The Feeling Good Handbook

1989

A classic work about coping with emotional issues by a top cognitive behavioral psychologist. This is a "how to" manual for the self-treatment of negative emotions. It has been prescribed by therapists for years.

Davenport, Liz

Order from Chaos

2001

I like this slim book on organization. She has some nice tips and uses some fun metaphors.

Ellis, Albert & Knaus, William

Overcoming Procrastination

1977

Knaus, William

Do It Now

1998

I found the tone of this book negative and judgemental. He has some excellent insights, but the critical feeling made it difficult for me to accept his "just do it" mentality.

Lakein, Alan

How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life

1974

Lakein is the grandfather of the time management movement. His book is a classic and still in print for good reason. It is dated in that it speaks to businessmen and housewives. But the advice is still clear, succinct, and incredibly helpful. Others have copied and adapted his concepts for years.

Lehmkuhl, Dorothy & Lamping, Dolores

Organizing for the Creative Person

1993

Levinson, Steve & Greider, Pete

Following Through

1998

Don't be put off by the mass market style writing. This is a superb book that will help you realize that procrastination is a natural part of the human condition. Follow the advice and you'll become more productive.

McGee-Cooper, Ann

Time Management for Unmanageable People

1994

Clever, accessible tips, if a bit "cutesy." The section on "joy breaks" and time off is great.

Morgenstern, Julie

Organizing from the Inside Out

1997

Passoff, Michelle

Lighten Up!

1998

Roberts, M. Susan

Living Without Procrastination

1995

Sapadin, Linda

It's About Time

1996

Winston, Stephanie

Getting Organized

1978, 1991

Creative Writing and General Writing Books

Atchity, Kenneth

A Writer's Time

1995

Boice, Robert

How Writers Journey to Comfort and Fluency

1994

Bolker, Joan, Ed.

The Writer's Home Companion

1997

Brande, Dorothea

Becoming a Writer

1934

* a classic *

Cameron, Julia

The Right to Write

1998

Elbow, Peter

Writing With Power

1991

Elbow, Peter

Writing Without Teachers

1973, 1998

Goldberg, Natalie

Wild Mind

1990

Goldberg, Natalie

Writing Down the Bones

1986

Golub, Marcia

I'd Rather be Writing

1999

Keyes, Ralph

The Courage to Write

1995

Lamott, Anne

Bird by Bird

1994

*** fun bedtime reading***

Mundis, Jerrold

Break Writer's Block Now!

1991

Rico, Gabriele Lusser

Writing the Natural Way

1983

Winokur, Jon, Ed.

Advice to Writers

1999

Zinsser, William

On Writing Well

1998

Self-Help Books, Stress Management Techniques & Other Assorted Writings

Bourne, Edmund

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook

2000

Cameron, Julia

The Artist's Way

1992

Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly

Flow

1990

Bodian, Stephan

Meditation for Dummies

1999

Bolles, Richard Nelson

What Color is Your Parachute?

Every year!

Covey, Stephen R.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

1989

Fisher, Roger & Ury, William

Getting to Yes

1981

* about negotiation.*

Gendlin, Eugene

Focusing

1981

Harp, David

The New Three Minute Mediator

1990

Kabat-Zinn, Jon

Full Catastrophe Living

1990

Kabat-Zinn, Jon

Wherever You Go There You Are

1994

Kiev, Ari

A Strategy for Daily Living

1973

Lore, Nicholas

The Pathfinder

1998

McGraw, Phillip

Life Strategies

1999

Rechtschaffen, Stephan

Timeshifting

1996

Scott, Steven K.

Simple Steps to Impossible Dreams

1998

Seligman, Martin

Authentic Happiness

2002

Taylor, Jeremy

Dream Work

1983

Tieger, Paul & Barron-Tieger, Barbara

Do What You Are

1992, 1995

Zander, Rosamund Stone & Zander, Benjamin

The Art of Possibility

2000