Lifting a Ton of Feathers: A Woman's Guide to Surviving in the Academic World

Rating:
Summary: more depressing than useful
Review: Caplan's book focuses on what a terrible place the academy is for women, without giving adequate attention to ways students and faculty members can avoid or solve problems. It's a pessimistic choice, so read it with caution. If you feel discouraged, this book might help you realize that you are not alone in facing patterned discrimination, but if you haven't had problems, it might make you want to give up before you have reached your goals.

Rating:
Summary: Reaffirming that you're not crazy
Review: I got this book because Amazon recommended it along with one someone else told me about (Ms. Mentor's guide). I like this one better. The arguments are logical and supported, and in many cases the author told me things I knew subconsciously but had never heard articulated before. Some of the Myths about Academia are annoyingly overlapping, and in some places I found myself skimming, but in general I've found it completely reassuring. It's good to know there are other women who have experienced similar things. I like that the book made me aware that some of the things I thought I was imagining are in fact very real, and very common. I think all the negative reviews of this book are very misleading- the first chapter is an incomparably beautiful description of why we went into Academia in the first place- because there are a lot of great things about it. I will probably go back and reread this book over and over.

Rating:
Summary: Realistic advice for women in academia.
Review: What impressed me the most about this book was the way Caplan integrated real life stories and anecdotes into her book. Not to say that there isn't a lot of research to back her points up as well, on the contrary! But if a picture is worth a thousand words an anecdote is worth a thousand more. Despite the sometimes depressing state of academic life for women, Caplan indulges neither in recrimination or despair. She includes a great deal of helpful advice for women, organized for easy reference by your career stage (from student through full professor). I regularly reread my copy. I find that there's always something new and relevant to be gleaned from this book.