The first couple of chapters felt like a coach talking to me when I was down and out. Overall appreciated the advice and gave me a lot to think about in terms of how I reimagine a diss.
despite its slim volume, the book still feels a little redundant. much of its writing advice reads to me as rather common sense in contemporary academic writing. only after its rather long-winded exposition does the real useful advice appear: in particular, the chapters about editors’ expectations, and about planning. the checklists at the end, too, succinctly capture the important points of the book. (maybe that’s all we really need!) mercifully, the prose style is conversational and easy to read throughout.
I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would! Let’s be honest, it just doesn’t sound like a particularly thrilling read. Nevertheless, the writing is witty, relatable, and practical. I can genuinely say I enjoyed reading it and applied many of its insights to my work. I’m not surprised it’s THE go to book for turning dissertations into publications.