A challenging journey (a metaphor used by the author) is always easier when led by an experienced guide, and few journeys are as challenging as those leading to a Ph.D. (especially in engineering). The author of this book provides the proverbial 20/20 hindsight of her own Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, combined with many years of mentoring her own Ph.D. students, impressive credentials that are conveyed with humor and humility. Like much advice passed back, some elements may seem obvious (certainly in hindsight), but like an airline pilot’s checklist, they are a good way to ensure a safe trip to the ultimate destination.
As any good guide, the author asks a lot of questions, starting with the true north―“Why pursue a Ph.D.?”―which is different for each aspiring Ph.D. candidate. At every step, the author prompts the traveler to contemplate the many challenges and perils of the journey (starting early on with the possibility of wasting some years without completing the degree). The diagrams are particularly useful at illustrating concepts that otherwise might sound too general to be useful: original contributions, pushing the frontiers of knowledge. The advice itself spans the range from the big picture to the minute details, written clearly, in a friendly tone, with multiple examples and with lots of supporting references.
Looking back at my own Ph.D. days, I only wish I had access to such a marvelous book. While the journey itself will remain challenging for future Ph.D. candidates, this book will at least make the navigation a bit easier for those who read it. Moreover, the book has excellent advice on project management, research, writing and publishing that might come in handy for newly minted Ph.D. graduates or other engineering professionals.
Review by Bogdan Hoanca, University of Alaska Anchorage, USA.
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or its publisher, Optica (formerly OSA).