A PhD Is Not Enough!: A Guide to Survival in Science

My graduate Astronomy Research professor strongly recommended this book, and I'm glad he did. I bought the paperback and the Audible version. The audiobook was great, as I have a long commute every day, and it is read by the author, which I always prefer. The paperback was a must for me as well. I plan on rereading it several times and using it as a reference. Being able to highlight and quickly find a section or chapter will be crucial. It is a short, easy read, full of information. If you plan on being part of a research community, or even just publishing a handful of research papers, this book is worth a look.

First off, let me point out that I'm reviewing the first edition of this book (1993) which I very recently bought. Had I known a second edition was coming out so soon, I would have bought that instead. Anyway, this book is basically advice for young people who are interested in a career in science. If you are planning to go to graduate school (for a Ph.D.), it will be especially of help. There are 8 easily readable chapters that take you from graduate school all the way up to establishing yourself as a reputable scientist. Given that the book is only 100 pages or so, the material is obviously succinct. There is also some useful material on preparing (and delivering) scientific presentations, and writing science papers. As a young scientist myself (in academia), I can relate to much of it and also learned a few things (e.g. in terms of what to expect at this point). The only issue I had with the book is this. While Feibelman's background is physics, his advice his still largely applicable to people doing research in other areas. However, his perspectives are very US-oriented. The depictions of processes and life in both academia and industry are therefore not very accurate if you look at science and scientists in other countries. In fact, taking his advice - assuming it all works the way he says they do - in *your* country, could actually be detrimental to your career. I found myself shaking my head at times, realizing that this may be how it is in the US, but it's a bit different where I'm from. Some things are better, some things are worse. Ultimately, as a scientist (whether in academia or industry), you should basically want to do the best science you can in the time you have. If your intentions are genuine and work thorough, you are more likely to be the most satisfied at the end of the day.

I am a PhD student who is going to graduate in a year. I feel lucky I bought some books on how to survive in academia. "A PhD is not enough" is the second book I read. The first one is "From student to scholar", which I believe you also have heard about. If I have to give a ranking, I choose the "From student" one as the best (in various academic survival books). This book certainly is good. It is short and informative. I have learned a lot. But I think the author of the book is a little cynical. Many people like the way the book is written. But I think the book conveys some negative emotion which is not very good for a PhD student who is eager to start an academic career. For example, in Chapter 6 'From here to tenure: choose a career path', the author gives a long list of the disadvantages of being a professor in a university. I sense that the author particularly hates teaching. He mentioned many times how stressful and boring teaching is. The author also talks about how wonderful working in a national lab is. I notice that the author himself is a scientist in a national lab but not a professor. That perhaps can explain why he likes national labs instead of universities. But after all, it is also good to be aware of all kinds of disadvantages of professorships. After all one needs to get well prepared to pursue a professorship.

I am currently pursuing my PhD and devoured this book. A PhD Is Not Enough is full of practical, useable advice and information. This book takes the reader through finding an advisor, giving presentations and seminars, teaching loads, postdoc job considerations, publishing papers, everything. The author's background in physics is close enough to my own field that every insight into graduate school and the subsequent career path translates into my own experience nicely. Dr. Feibelman gives a great rundown of the motivations of professors you may choose to work with during the various stages of their own careers and how that will affect their students for better or worse. Topics such as what sorts of projects to take on during your postdoc position, pros and cons of university labs verses government labs, obtaining funding, setting up your own lab or research area, and what interviewers are looking for prove very helpful insights into academia and will allow the student better preparation for each stage. It's a quick read, insightful, with an honest look at the sometimes contradictory forces of the academic environment. I highly recommend this book for anyone pursuing PhD and pursuing a scientific career.

Contiene una serie di suggerimenti pratici che permettono di intraprendere con serentia' l'attivita' di ricercatore Adatto soprattutto a chi inizia il percorso di ricercatore (dottorandi) Scritto in un inglese chiaro e semplice

Sobre el envío: Llegó a tiempo y en buenas condiciones. Sobre el libro: Excelente guía rápida que describe las implicaciones de meterse en el mundo de la investigación, sus ventajas y desventajas. Además proporciona útiles consejos para no morir en el intento. Me parece que es un libro muy útil no sólo para estudiantes y graduados de Doctorado, sino para aquellos que apenas están considerando estudiar uno. Ya que no todos contamos con alguien que te describa la realidad a la que se enfrenta un estudiante recién graduado de Doctorado, del área que sea.

I recommend this reading not only to those who finished their PhD but mainly to the aspiring ones. Feibelman gives us a honest view of the scientific workplace and many advices on how to drive our career as a scientist.

This book is simply wonderful. It reads lucidly and explains so many aspects of a researcher's life/career that makes you respect the author's perfect coverage of the subject and his true appreciation of the problems facing the research daily. This includes issues like planning you career, writing papers, getting job security, effectively getting what you want across in the scientific community, etc. I personally never thought I would be reading such books - I had presumed that it would be one of those over-hyped books that have wordy, obvious arguments that any reasonable researcher would have picked up in practice. Further, more often than not, I find it quite hard to finish such books. However, this little gem is certainly to the point, succinct and true to its mission. The author has touched upon pretty much every nerve in the researcher career's watershed moments. So enjoyable his style, so accurate and logical, that it is both brilliantly-simple and godsend to you at many points. All in all, if you are a PhD, postdoc, or a researcher in general, I urge you to consider this lovely little book, for if it didn't benefit you greatly or resonate with your experience, in the very least it would be a nice, reflective read.

Es un texto muy entretenido y rápido de leer. La información que proporciona es además muy oportuna, sobre todo para aquellos que estamos comenzando el doctorado.