The Modern Researcher

Rating:
Summary: Overall an OK book; there are better alternatives now though
Review: A bit outdated (no mention of the internet); and I do somewhat agree with the reviewer below -- there's more than a touch of snobbery in this work. Or maybe it's simply a time-related aberration: this book is old. Now, as far as Art's not being on trial, I can't but respectfully disagree -- Art is always on trial; insisting on Art's a-priori imperviousness to critique doesn't seem reasonable and indeed looks like something only a guard or concierge would propose; we meantime should not mistake pride in uniform for good jugdement in the matters of Art.

One can't go wrong with this book, but, these days, a quick search in your favorite local bookstore will reveal better alternatives (the Turabian book -- less "literary" but more practical and up to date comes to mind; it is of course is not the only alternative).

Rating:
Summary: Good insights but Turabian is better for the mechanics
Review: Barzun and Graff offer a guide to writing and research that is much more than a nuts and bolts how-to guide, which is a good thing because Turabian eclipses them on the technical aspects of scholarly writing. What they offer is concise, useful direction on how to effectively research, analyze and write about a topic. Warnings against bias, misinformation and fallacies are given in the first part of the work, Principles and Methods of Research, which is the better half of the book. In general, they instruct the researcher what to look out for and pitfalls to avoid. The second half of the book is concerned with the presentation of your research. Particularly useful is the section on jargon and cliches as well as their emphasis on clarity and liveliness in writing. As has been mentioned, the sections on footnotes, bibliography, manuscript prep, etc. are less helpful. Overall, the work, when taken in its entirety, is full of wisdom and insight.

Rating:
Summary: Time-tested excellence
Review: This book has guided more Ph.D. theses into successful completion and more decent, serious academic works through research and writing and into print than any other single work available.

Those who might not find this book to their liking bring a story to mind about two young people walking through an art gallery and commenting loudly on what they did and did not like. A guard approached them and said, "Gentlemen, the art is not on trial here." Sometimes an opinion says much more about the person rendering the judgment than about that which is being evaluated.

This classic work is not on trial. It proved itself long, long ago.