I really am not promoting this book and I not affiliated with it, it's authors or the reviewer but the review of the book had so many passages that remind me of the CHE Forum folks that I am sure it must have been written by a lurker here. The only thing missing is the word "snarky." I've chopped out whole paragraphs because it was rather long. To be honest, it does sound like a possibly useful book.
"This book is lewd, rude and superb!"
Playing The Game: The Review
Giggle Towards Graduation
Want to laugh instead of snooze as you read advice for getting degree?
Buy Playing the Game: The Streetsmart Guide to Graduate School.
Instead of the usual, dry advice from a senior faculty member, this book is an irreverent take on the process of succeeding in master's and doctoral programs.
The authors - using the pseudonyms Karl Frank and Fred Stein - provide great tips, but they cloak their sage suggestions in an obnoxious tone, with plenty of juvenile humor. The result is a side-splitting take on the secret rules for finishing graduate programs quickly.
Embedded in a humorously obnoxious tone, these bad boy authors provide great advice. Who needs to read a book where professors and readers are routinely insulted, misogyny sometimes erupts and cocky white male egos are celebrated with tongue-in-cheek cheekiness? This book is USEFUL. And if you are a grad student, or want to be a grad student, you need to read it.
I think you'll find that it's sassy and fun rather than stodgy and dull - a far cry from the tomes that earnestly profess to help students with their dry, pedantic exhortations.
These guys are irreverent and sarcastic. If they offend you, well, they mean to. They're happy to insult anyone and everyone (especially each other). No one flies beneath their radar.
Frank n' Stein's underlying premise is quite important: most graduate students take themselves way too seriously, and this only contributes to their stress and anxiety. Frank n' Stein want you to lighten up and enjoy getting helpful advice in a naughty package. Take note of their tone and relax. Get a life. You'll not only enjoy graduate school more, you'll do better.
Frank n' Stein point out that you should choose your dissertation chair and committee wisely. Yes, this advice is obvious, but it is amazing how many students I work with have picked their main professor on the basis of scholarly expertise, despite evidence that the person is a narcissistic jerk. With funny (and accurate) profiles of typical professors, the authors explain in detail what you should be looking for and what you should avoid when choosing your dissertation advisor. You've got to dodge inattentive, incompetent and malevolent advisors in order to get out. And they point out the often-overlooked importance of making sure your committee members work well together.
Despite their naughty style, the more serious and earnest personalities of Frank n' Stein do peek out from time to time. They genuinely understand the plight of overworked professors. Specifically, they are realistic about how long it takes professors to read and return material, and they give good suggestions about the work you can be doing while you wait to get your comments back. I'm so glad that they point out the pro-active strategy of staying on track while you wait for feedback. So many students I work with come to a screeching halt for weeks (or months) while they're waiting for their advisors to return drafts of dissertation chapters.
Finally, and happily, Frank n' Stein have found funny quotes to sprinkle throughout the book. I laughed out loud when reading some of the quips they've unearthed.
In short, buy the book. You need it.
Mary McKinney, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
Academic Coach
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