57 Ways to Screw Up in Grad School: Perverse Professional Lessons for Graduate Students (Chicago Guides to Academic Life)

I’m considering applying to doctoral programs and I really enjoyed this book. It had new information for me, even though I’ve read several other books about graduate school. I’d highly recommend for anybody considering doctoral programs.

This book is useful for those considering a graduate education. It communicates it's content frankly, earnestly, and with a smidgen of humor in a way that is easy to understand. It gives practical and applicable advice for prospective students and is an excellent tool for planning one's future in Grad School.

57 Ways is a quick, easy, and humorous read about successfully navigating graduate school. Much of the advice in the book may seem obvious, but it will be a revelation to anyone in the fog of beginning graduate studies. In fact, many students fail to realize or understand the rules governing graduate school, even after completing 2 or 3 years in the experience! This book definitely has the potential to save students multiple years of frustration. I strongly suggest it to graduating seniors and frequently give it as a graduation gift to students going on to graduate school. I also recommend it to anyone in the process of working on an advanced degree, especially if the experience seems different from what you expected. Read the book before, during, and after graduate school, and each time you will uncover new insights about your own experience or the different struggles of students around you.

As a scientist I thought there were some useful tidbits in here, but (not unexpectedly) the authors are in the social sciences, and so certain ways are more relevant to their programs. A lot of the interpersonal interactions, and extracurricular activities are relevant to all fields though, and even more applicable to any job in general. It's an easy read, I got through it in a week just reading to/from work on public transport. And I have since given it to a labmate who is just beginning on his grad school journey, such that it can be used to its fullest.

This is an easy read that will better prepare any future academic for the world that they are about to enter. The life advice provided by the authors is practical and it forces you to actually think about where you see your academic career going. The book is separated into bit sized pieces that provides the reader with a robust understanding of what it is like being in an academic setting day in and day out.

There are a lot of useful tips and sections within this book, however this book has more content relevant to those pursuing Doctoral degrees. This does not mean that the information contained in the book isn't useful - it certainly is. I am happy to have read this book but believe the Grad School Essentials by Zachary Shore to be more suited to Master's Candidates.

Gave as a gift to a new graduate student and future grad student. Both seemed to like it and thought it was helpful.

My graduate students both loved and hated this book. If you're in grad school, or about to go to grad school, read this book. It will save you a lot of trouble.

This book should be mandatory reading for every student worldwide considering grad school. I had thought there was something wrong with me because I felt so dislocated and disconnected, as if I had entered some surreal space where I was suspended into nothingness—until I read that entering into grad school is such a different world and is not an easy transition. I had these romantic ideas of what grad school would be like, it has little resemblance to my fantasy. However, as the authors write, having a most amazing committee is so very important. The authors talk about the importance of knowing why you are going to grad school and this has helped me to ground myself and reconnect with why I am here.You can read it all in one sitting, bits and pieces, and/or revisit sections. It is a book that I carry with me now and re-explore. Written based on years of experience, this book is full of stories that reinforce the ways that students can screw up in grad school from becoming "that" student, to deciding to being isolated, to choosing the wrong fit with committee members.This is an accessible book written by two highly experienced professors and authors who truly care about students' success. They are willing to tell the good, bad, and ugly of grad school. They are willing to talk about the deep commitment that grad school takes—emotionally, mentally, financially, etc. without scaring anyone off.Such an important read and resource for anyone considering grad school, those in grad school, professors, and committee members.

A gift to a grad student who found it contained sage advice...and warnings.

Looks like an excellent book for my son who is considering grad school!

J'ai beaucoup apprécié ce livre: Les sujets abordés sont pertinents et le contenu est bien amené, drôle. Une lecture instructive et divertissante pour les doctorants de tous horizons !

Great title, but not as amusing as I expected. The advice is fairly good, but not surprising. If you need this advice, you may not be able to read it.