Playing the Game: The Streetsmart Guide to Graduate School

Rating:
Summary: Thorough--Clever--Worthwhile
Review: After guest speakers "Frederick Frank" and "Karl Stein" visited the first-year seminar in my doctoral program at Wake Forest in September, I immediately went out and bought their book. I wasn't disappointed, and you won't be either. My professor compared them to The Motley Fools, and I think that is appropriate. Three words sum up this practical tool: thorough, clever, and worthwhile.

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read !
Review: As Abbie Hoffmann would say, "Steal This Book!".If I'd been able to have access to this brilliant guide during my grad school daze, I might have finished my degrees without resorting to bribery and self-abnegation. At least my daughter will now have the benefit of Messrs. Frank & Stein's wisdom as she begins her graduate school career. Definitely recommended for the academically gifted but socially maladjusted student.

Rating:
Summary: Travel With A Guide
Review: Before I went to Ireland last year, I bought a couple of guides so I could prepare to understand the local culture and to use my time efficiently. When I traveled there, of course I brought the guides with me. My point is, grad school is a place with a culture (and map) all of it's own, too. With that in mind, I wouldn't recommend going to (and through) grad school without a good guide. Some guides try to intimidate (or even scare) you, though, and are actually discouraging. Be careful which one you choose. I liked Playing the Game for a couple of reasons: First, the authors wrote the book in a down-to-earth way and were really entertaining. Their humorous approach is absolutely unique. Second, the stories and advice are first-class, and have the effect of calming the readers' nerves. The authors really know what they are talking about.

Rating:
Summary: Five Stars Not Enough!
Review: Common sense, yes! Absolutely! I'm a couple of years into my Ph.D. program, and ugh...there are already so many stupid things that I've done to slow myself down and make this experience harder than it had to be.

The book spells out things that seem so logical in retrospect. I've got to tell you though, before I experienced them, well...I didn't have a clue. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish I had this book two years ago, but I'm glad I have it now. The authors encourage their readers to always act in the present while thinking ahead. The good news is, they tell you what to expect while helping you prepare to handle it. It is great to finally understand what is coming my way.

Thanks for buying it for me Mom!

Rating:
Summary: underwhelming
Review: I was eager to see this book because of the excellent reviews it got from other readers, but was disappointed when it arrived. The book lacks substance. Most of the chapters are only a page (or in some cases only half a page!) long and are simply "fleshed out" by famous quotations. There is very little information here that you don't already know (a lot of it is common sense) or can find in a cheaper book. Besides the lack of information, I have to seriously wonder about the qualifications of the authors. While the authors say they both have PhDs, they wrote the book under "assumed names" and provide no concrete informaton about their academic backgrounds, except to periodically reiterate that they went to "prestigious schools" (the meaning of this could be debated). While the tone is light and amusing, the language is so casual that it is almost vulgar in some places. The comments about professors and their responsibilities seem so flippant that, even if I believe the authors' claims to have PhDs, I don't think they could have gotten teaching jobs or respected positions in the academic community after grad school. I hope not, at least. Your best bet is to buy the book, skim it in one night (easily done) and return it the next day. If you're looking for another resource book on grad school, try Writing your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day by Joan Bolker (and it's 2/3 of the price of Playing the Game).

Rating:
Summary: Graduate School For Dummies
Review: If they had a Graduate School for Dummies (or Idiot's Guide to Graduate School, etc), this would be it. With an edge. The authors are straight-shooters. They tell it like it is, and they'll make you laugh. From someone who has spent the last four and a half years in graduate school, that is refreshing. If you are getting ready to go to graduate school or are already there and are suffering from the graduate school blues like me(and need something informative but funny and light-reading), this book will help. It has given me perspective on where I stand. That will help me down the home stretch.

Rating:
Summary: In all seriousness..
Review: It's great to see so many people finding the humor with this book and its accompanying website. But I just wanted to add that this book (all humor aside) has given me some REALLY valuable information! It really explains things in an understandable way. VERY refreshing!

Rating:
Summary: You Won't Be Able To Put It Down
Review: Oh my God! The nerve of these guys! The authors have taken the arrogance and pomposity of higher education and brought it down to earth in a humorous way that is sure to have the many self-important snobs cringing...I say its about darn time somebody did! With that said, the best thing this book does is explain the mysteries of the grad school experience in good ole' plain-spoken English (They break it down into three stages: "Getting In," "Getting Through," and "Getting the H--- Out."). You won't be able to put this book down once you get started. It even has outtakes like a movie, and they're frickin' hilarious (or is it freakin'?)...you'll have to read it to find out...

Rating:
Summary: Playing The Game
Review: Playing the Game is a parody of the university world which strips away the robes of pretense. The book gives a "no frills" approach to the "maddening crowd of education" known as graduate school. The book identifies the pitfalls and perscribes the right amount of humor. It's time to get into the group and see yourself and your professors and find the whole truth.

Rating:
Summary: Not Just For Graduate School!
Review: This book is an outstanding one that would benefit all students not just grad students. Having taken the time to read more than half of this book in two days it is clear that any student, collegiate level or not, would greatly benefit from the tools and tips provided here, particularly in the studying and paper writing departments. If you master the skills early when it's time for graduate school you will be well prepared.

These gentlemen present their tips in a practical way tempered with enough humor to remind folks not to take themselves too seriously. I have previously used some of the tips provided and can't wait to put the new ones to use. Of course this is to my benefit as should most, if not all, of the decisions/actions you make/take regarding your educational career.

This is one of many great tools to help keep students from meandering through school without a clear goal in sight. The best tip, in my opinion, that all students would be wise to learn early on is that no one cares about your education more than you; be your own advocate. This book is a great place to start learning to be just that.

Life Rewards Action; Make careful decisions and then pull the trigger.