Here in this post, we have mentioned everything you need to know about Ph.D. and some of the best Ph.D. books for everyone pursuing a Ph.D. or planning to pursue this degree.
The Doctor of Philosophy or Ph.D. is the most popular and most extensive research program in various fields like Science, Engineering, Mass Communication, Management, Commerce, Law, etc. It is considered the most common and prestigious degree that aims to offer good academic jobs. Moreover, a Ph.D. is an earned research degree offered in diverse specializations.
To graduate with a Ph.D. degree, the students need to contribute some effective and original output and ideas in their field of interest. At the end of the program, the students must submit a Ph.D. thesis or dissertation. Their research will help to analyze their knowledge in the specific subject.
Why Should You Pursue a Ph.D.?
Ph.D. full form is Doctor of Philosophy. It is one of the highest degrees in the education domain. Once you complete the degree, it will be considered a greater accomplishment in the field of study. Moreover, this degree helps to analyze the research and analytical skills of the student.
This degree trains the students to improve their methodology, analytical, and research skills. Here are a few things you must know before you start pursuing your Ph.D.:
- The total Ph.D. course duration is a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 5 years.
- Students need to have a postgraduate degree before applying for a Ph.D. degree.
- Students applying for Ph.D. need to score at least 55% in their post-graduation program to apply for a Ph.D.
- Students with work experience in the same area of interest can also apply for a Ph.D.
- Students who have cleared national entrance examinations like CSIR-UGC-NET, GATE, UGC-NET, and more can also apply for a Ph.D.
Now that you have a little idea about Ph.D., you must have known that it is a prestigious degree that will open doors for significant career options. If you wish to choose a Ph.D. as your career path, we are here to help you. In this article, you will find the 10 best Ph.D. books available.
So let us get started.
10 Best Ph.D. Books For Students In 2024
Here in this section, we have listed the 10 best Ph.D. books for everyone who is pursuing a Ph.D. or wants to pursue this course.
1. How to Get a Ph.D.: A Handbook for Students and Their Supervisors
Author: Estelle Phillips, Derek Pugh
Latest Edition: 16 August 2015 (6th Edition)
Publisher: Open University Press
How to Get a Ph.D.: A Handbook for Students and their Supervisors is one of the best Ph.D. books that offers a practical and realistic approach to learning Ph.D. This book also offers extensive support and reassurance to the students and supervisors.
The newly updated 6th edition of the book includes:
- New content on how students pursuing a Ph.D. can use online forums, social media, various online survey tools, and other online technologies to make pursuing a Ph.D. easier.
- The 10th chapter explains some of the most common challenges you will face throughout your Ph.D. program. It includes some practical advice to help you deal with the pressure you will face while writing your thesis.
- The importance of avoiding plagiarism and avoiding poor academic practices. The authors also put light on all the problems faced by Ph.D. students.
- The book provides clear advice for Ph.D. students, including writing proposals, applying for funding, time management, writing an engaging Ph.D. thesis, and ways to ace your viva.
It is a “bible” for every Ph.D. student and supervisor looking for an extensive Ph.D. guide.
You can buy this book here.
2. PhD: An Uncommon Guide to Research, Writing & Ph.D. Life
Author: James Hayton
Latest Edition: 1 January 2015
Publisher: Zaccheus Entertainment
Ph.D.: An Uncommon Guide to Research, Writing & Ph.D. Life by James Hayton offers a unique approach to solving the most common challenges faced while doing the Ph.D. research.
It offers solutions to problems like getting familiar with the literature in your field, developing research ideas, and improving your academic writing skills. Moreover, it helps to cope with the stress, managing publications and presentations, writing, submitting, and defending your thesis.
This apt guide offers practical tips that help you become a better professional in your chosen field. The authors have written this book in a very simplified and understandable way. Moreover, if you are the one who feels you are not doing fine in your Ph.D. journey, this book will help you get over the work and study anxiety.
You can buy this book here.
3. The Unwritten Rules of Ph.D. Research (Open Up Study Skills)
Author: Marian Petre, Gordon Rugg
Latest Edition: 16 March 2010 (2nd Edition)
Publisher: Open University Press
The Unwritten Rules of Ph.D. Research by Marian Petre and Gordon Rugg is a bestselling Ph.D. book that focuses on the P.hD. research process that provides the readers with discussions and guidance on various aspects of the course which other books do not focus.
This book covers all the important topics including the real meaning of Ph.D., how to do one well, how to understand what your supervisor is really expecting when they say “good referencing” and “real research questions.” The book also focuses on designing, reporting, and defending your research. In this Ph.D. book, the author explains the complete Ph.D. process in detail.
The new edition of this Ph.D. study material includes:
- Research skills
- Critical thinking
- Different study models
- The root to research independence
This book is a must-read for anyone who is planning to pursue Ph.D. or is already pursuing one. This book explains solutions to the problem that many students wish someone answered.
You can buy this book here.
4. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing
Author: Paul J Silvia
Latest Edition: 1 January 2007 (1st edition)
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing is a practical, light-hearted, and encouraging Ph.D. book. In this book, the author explains that writing does not have to be an innate skill or a special skill one person has but it is all about knowing the tips and tricks to write good content.
He explains this with the help of his own experiences in the field of psychology. The author also teaches how to overcome motivational roadblocks and become motivated to write without having to sacrifice your evening, vacations, and weekends.
Apart from the strategies to write effectively, the author offers advice on submitting, revising, re-submitting articles, ways to improve the quality of your content, and steps to publish your academic work.
You can buy this book here.
5. Authoring a Ph.D.: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation
Author: Patrick Dunleavy
Latest Edition: 28 April 2003 (1st Edition)
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
We all know that Authoring a Ph.D. is a very time-consuming and complex process. To author a thesis, you need to have a bunch of creative ideas, plan and organize these ideas, write based on the plan, upgrade your content, and finish it with good quality.
Patrick has written this book after supervising over 30 students and offers full-proof advice which helps the students to cope up with both the intellectual issues and practical difficulties of organizing their work.
This book is a highly-readable and time-saving guide for students specializing in humanities, education, social sciences, business studies, arts, law, health, and other related disciplines.
You can buy this book here.
6. AP Calculus Premium, 2024-2025: 12 Practice Tests + Comprehensive Review + Online Practice: With 12 Practice Tests
Authors: David Bock M.S., Dennis Donovan M.S., Shirley O. Hockett Ph.D.
Latest Edition: 4 January 2022 (16th Edition)
Publisher: Barron’s Educational Series
Barron’s AP Calculus Premium: 2024-2024 offers in-depth content review and online practice for the AB and BC examinations. Since this book is written by experienced educators, all the content is composed and reviewed by AP experts. The book offers tips, strategies, and some study advice for the examination day.
AP Calculus Premium includes:
- 12 full-length practice test papers: 6 AB practice tests, 6 BC practice tests.
- In-depth review that covers all units on the AP Calculus AB and BC Exams.
- Multiple Choice Questions after each chapter.
- Online timed test options
- Online detailed answer explanations and expert advice.
You can buy this book here.
7. Writing Science: How to Write Papers That Get Cited and Proposals That Get Funded
Author: Joshua Schimel
Latest Edition: 12 March 2012
Publisher: OUP USA
Writing Science explains that successful science writing helps to tell a story. This is one of the Ph.D. books that explain how to write content more effectively. The author uses lessons from other genres of writing with those from the author’s experience as an author, editor, and reviewer.
The book shows scientists and students different ways to showcase their research more clearly and in a comprehensive way. It takes an integrated approach to discuss different aspects of successful science writing, the overall structure of the paper, every section paragraph, sentence, and words.
The book uses core arguments, then explains reasons why some of the stories are engaging than others. Then the author talks about the different elements of story structure. Writing science most focuses on the internal structure of the paper, explaining how to write clear and professional content that is very compelling to read.
The final section of this Ph.D. book deals with challenges like how to discuss research limitations and how to write effectively for the public.
You can buy this book here.
8. A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science
Author: Barbara Oakley
Latest Edition: 31 July 2014
Publisher: TarcherPerigee
A Mind of Numbers is one of the Ph.D. books that offers various tools which will help you better in writing intimidating materials. Barbara Oakley, an engineering professor, knows the struggles we all face with maths.
Since she was also the one who flunked in maths during high school and during her graduation, she understood the need for a comprehensive maths guide that will help the Ph.D. students throughout.
In this book, the authors tell the secrets of learning effectively. The learning strategies mentioned in this book are not only for maths and science, in fact, it also applies to all the subjects that students might find difficult to learn.
You can buy this book here.
9. Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student’s Guide to Earning an M.A. or a Ph.D.
Author: Robert L. Peter
Latest Edition: 11 April 1997
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Getting What You Came For by Robert Peters is one among the classic Ph.D. books that help students to answer some complex career questions like “is graduate school the right thing for you?”, “Should I get a master’s degree or a Ph.D.?”, “ways to choose the best school?”, and more.
Since this book has interviews with educational counselors, graduate students, and professions, it offers some real-life experiences and case studies that help the students to understand better.
It also teaches the students to not only survive but also thrive at a graduate school. This book also covers some instructions on applying to school and how to manage your finances. Moreover, this book also covers how to score good marks, manage academic politics, and write a high-quality thesis.
You can buy this book here.
10. AP Statistics: With 6 Practice Tests (Barron’s Test Prep)
Author: Martin Sternstein Ph.D.
Latest Edition: 4 August 2020 (11th Edition)
Publisher: Barron’s Educational Series
Baron’s AP Statistics is all you need for preparing for the exam day. It includes all the in-depth content reviews and practice papers.
Since this book is written by experienced educators, all the content is written and reviewed by AP experts. The book offers tips, strategies, and some study advice for the examination day.
AP Statistics includes:
- 6 full-length practice test papers.
- In-depth review that covers all units of the subject.
- Multiple Choice Questions after each chapter.
- Online timed test options.
- Online detailed answer explanations and expert advice.
You can buy this book here.
Conclusion
The Ph.D. is the most prestigious and extensive research program that offers specialization in different areas like mass communication, mathematics, management, law, commerce, engineering, and more.
To excel and graduate with good grades and to create the best thesis of all time, you need to have great study material which will guide you throughout the course. Here in this post, we have listed the 10 best Ph.D. books that will help you throughout the process of getting admissions to completing your thesis.
Happy Reading.
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