How to Complete and Survive a Doctoral Dissertation

I didn't take all of Sternberg's advice. He generally seemed to recommend weeding people out of one's life who were not particularly understanding or supporting of the dissertation focus. He seemed to recommend maintaining a constant focus on getting the work done--just keep working. In my own case, I moved forward when I budgeted plenty of time and psychological energy away from the dissertation. When I conquered workaholic tendencies, the time I actually spent working was much more productive. If I allowed myself time with friends and family who weren't particularly concerned in my dissertation, it was quite energizing. In other words, this is akin to "incubation effects" that one reads about in introductory psychology classes. (e.g., Crick and Watson took plenty of time off to play while discovering the DNA double helix...)

If you feel that your dissertation effort is on the skids despite all your work, I might suggest finding a good dissertation coach (or therapist). Several years ago, I heard a presentation by a dissertation coach in the San Diego area who seemed to be on target. Her site on the web was something like "dissertationdoctor.com" or some such... I'm sure there are others out there.

I wish that Sternberg would publish a new, updated edition of this book, especially now that there are newer competitors on the market.

Final note: If you are shopping for a book on this topic, then get this one. Lots of people have found it to be very helpful; some haven't. For [the money], or so, it is worth the gamble.


A structured approach which gives one a feeling of control.   June 30, 1998
 23 out of 23 found this review helpful

Sternberg's book performs two important functions for the ABD: providing basic (but sensible) advice on rearranging one's personal life to accommodate the dissertation writing activity, and soothing the panic of the dissertation myths which he insightfully identifies and disarms. I had been trying to write my dissertation at my office (I'm a college lecturer); naturally I met with the difficulties of a remote and distracted work environment. Sternberg's suggestion of creating a separate dissertation office at home (and keeping a log to monitor how much work one is really doing there) turned out to be a boon. Secondly is his suggestion of an on-going, revised, expansive "prospectus", as a mini-dissertation. This gives the candidate a concrete picture of the end product. Lastly, his suggestion of the "dissertation file" was a life saver. I had been drowning in inspirational scraps of paper, and was easily distracted by "new and cool" things that I hit upon (my dissertation is in "cultural studies," a field full of inspirational cul-de-sacs); his suggestion of having a file even for these things did much to both defuse the power of these sparks of enthusiasm, as well as allow me to focus and expand in the areas which are clearly important. The demythologizing of the dissertation myths is fairly reassuring, and shows that Sternberg (who apparently runs a dissertation completion consultation service) has a lot of experience with these anxieties. There is, however, little here for the www generation, and almost no mention of use of personal computers, but that is not the focus of the book. It doesn't tell you how to research and compose your proposals and the like; it's about adjusting your life to complete the task. Also, most of the advice on the "politics" of the the committee is wasted on many European ABDs as the committee is often not assembled until the work is already submitted and accepted by the university. Sternberg's book gave me ! a feeling that I was "riding my dissertation" instead of it riding me, which, as any ABD can tell you, is an especially intense nightmare.


timeless advice on the process, dated on the details   May 29, 2003
 14 out of 15 found this review helpful

I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because of the amount you can skip about things like "Whether or not to use a computer."

This book is fabulous though, and having received my PhD a week ago, I can say it was immensely helpful - especially when my advisor turned into a monster as if from nowhere.

You will read almost all you need to know about the types of advisors, finding and working with committee members, and (perhaps most importantly) the dissertation myths and anxieties that paralyze us all from time to time.

I have read several of these "How to write a dissertation" guides, and this was the one I came back to again and again.


Dissertation MUST READ   June 25, 2001
 11 out of 11 found this review helpful

We're taught that info more than 10 years old usually isn't apprpriate for a dissertation. However, this is a MUST READ for all who intend to complete the dissertation process. It is guaranteed to save you time and heart ache (not to mention many of the frustrations that are a natural part of the dissertation process). In fact if read BEFORE you even start your Review of Literature you will find that manyfrustrations that are usually presumed to be "natural" can also be avoided or at least limited in their scope and severity. If you are already well into the process read it any way. It is still going to save you time and hassles.


This book needs a major update!   July 17, 1998
 9 out of 12 found this review helpful

I can't imagine anyone ever completing their dissertation if it is as truly awful as he describes! While I am sure the information about dealing with stress and depression are valuable, what I wanted at this point was something to help me get going, not shrink back in anxiety.

The author talks about the importance of a good typist and going to computer centers where someone else runs your data. He also talks about how he hand tabulated the data. I wonder if his time estimates are accurate given Word, SPSS, Excel and the Web. (It might be that time is the same, but that expectations are now higher...)

I finished this book feeling that I had the choice of my husband and son or a dissertation. Luckily I talked with other ABD's who managed to cheer me up.