Synopses & Reviews
When a dissertation crosses my desk, I usually want to grab it by its metaphorical lapels and give it a good shake. and#8220;You know something!and#8221; I would say if it could hear me. and#8220;Now tell it to us in language we can understand!and#8221;Since its publication in 2005, From Dissertation to Book has helped thousands of young academic authors get their books beyond the thesis committee and into the hands of interested publishers and general readers. Now revised and updated to reflect the evolution of scholarly publishing, this edition includes a new chapter arguing that the future of academic writing is in the hands of young scholars who must create work that meets the broader expectations of readers rather than the narrow requirements of academic committees.
At the heart of From Dissertation to Book is the idea that revising the dissertation is fundamentally a process of shifting its focus from the concerns of a narrow audienceand#8212;a committee or advisorsand#8212;to those of a broader scholarly audience that wants writing to be both informative and engaging. William Germano offers clear guidance on how to do this, with advice on such topics as rethinking the table of contents, taming runaway footnotes, shaping chapter length, and confronting the limitations of jargon, alongside helpful timetables for light or heavy revision.
Germano draws on his years of experience in both academia and publishing to show writers how to turn a dissertation into a book that an audience will actually enjoy, whether reading on a page or a screen. Germano also acknowledges that not all dissertations can or even should become books and explores other, often overlooked, options, such as turning them into journal articles or chapters in an edited work.
With clear directions, engaging examples, and an eye for the idiosyncrasies of academic writing, From Dissertation to Book reveals to recent PhDs the secrets of careful and thoughtful revisionand#8212;a skill that will be truly invaluable as they add and#8220;authorand#8221; to their curriculum vitae.
Synopsis
The aftermath of graduate school can be particularly trying for those under pressure to publish their dissertations. Written with good cheer and jammed with information, this lively guide offers hard-to-find practical advice on successfully turning a dissertation into a book or journal articles that will appeal to publishers and readers. It will help prospective authors master writing and revision skills, better understand the publishing process, and increase their chances of getting their work into print. This edition features new tips and planning tables to facilitate project scheduling, and a new foreword by Sandford G. Thatcher, Director of Penn State University Press.
Synopsis
"Provides rare insight into the process of finding the most effective ideas, passions, and structures for a well-turned revision."and#151;Douglas Mitchell, Executive Editor, University of Chicago Press
"At last! An authoritative, up-to-date, succinct, intelligent, and witty guide to making the transition from dissertation to book. A must-give to a graduating Ph.D."and#151;Charles Grench, Assistant Director and Senior Editor, University of North Carolina Press
"Luey deserves our thanks. . . . Indispensable for scholars."and#151;Sanford G. Thatcher, Director, Penn State University Press
About the Author
William Germano is dean of the faculty of humanities and social sciences and professor of English literature at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Previously, he served as editor in chief at Columbia University Press and vice president and publishing director at Routledge.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
1 Why This Book
2 Getting Started, Again
3 Nagging Doubts
4 The Basic Options
5 Reading with an Editorand#8217;s Eyes
6 Planning and Doing
7 Getting into Shape
8 Making Prose Speak
9 The Snow Globe and the Machine
10 What Happens Next
Three Checklists
For Further Reading
Index