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Rating: 
Summary: Author's review
Review: Since writing the book, I've realised more of its strength and of its weaknesses. What I still think is good about it? If you are a poostgraduate/PhD candidate or a professional qualitative researcher about to design and do, analyse and write-up, research interviews, I think this is a good step-by-step manual with lots of examples of good and bad practice. It goes all the way from designing to writing up, either as regards semi-structured depth interviews in general or as regards biographic-narrative interviews in particular. I wrote it because there wasn't an equivalent, and there still isn't. Weaknesses? I've realised that it is rather like a video-manual: the sections and the chapters need to be read just before or while you're doing the work that the chapter is about. Apart from Part 1, which can be read at any point, the other chapters are not 'about' qualitative in-depth interviewing, they are a D-I-Y manual for each quite complex stage. If you are doing that stage of work, you will find it very useful; if you are not doing that stage, then the chapter will be experienced as too detailed. So: as a conceptual and practical manual for advanced undergraduates, for postgrauates and professionals, I think it works well, and deserves the 4 stars I've generously given it. As a book 'about' designing and doing and analysing and writing up, it doesn't work unless you are yourself doing and grappling with those tasks. For non-practitioners, it gets 1 star at best! Comments and criticisms and other views welcome!
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