Peggy Hawley

As Peggy Hawley explains in the opening chapter of her book, her goal is to write from a student-advocacy position, aiming toward insight and personal experience rather than science and statistic. While the personal anecdotes that make up a large bulk of the text seem to run a bit long, they add personality and insight to the overall study. Beyond these lengthy anecdotes is a wealth of good advice for doctoral students, or those considering pursuing a PhD, in the humanities or social sciences.

From the beginning of the book to the end, Haley takes on the role of mentor/advisor, coaching students and potential students through the process of navigating turbulent academic waters. This is a good book to read before facing difficulty in one's doctoral program, as it provides advice on many of the necessary steps to building a firm foundation in one's department and field of study. Sadly, far too few students receive this sort of advice as they work through their programs, and such ignorance can only contribute to the nearly 50% drop-out rate of doctoral students. I would go so far as to say that this should be required reading for anyone contemplating a PhD in the humanities or social sciences, as the advice and information that Hawley provides are not only accurate and relevant, but possibly degree-saving.… (plus d'informations)