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From Dissertation to Book, Second Edition

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( 396 ratings, 61 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
From Dissertation to Book, Second Edition guides recent PhDs through the vital process of transforming their dissertations into engaging, publishable books. William Germano emphasises shifting focus from narrow academic committees to broader scholarly audiences, offering practical advice on revising content, managing chapters and footnotes, and cutting jargon. Updated to reflect changes in scholarly publishing, this edition encourages young scholars to write for wider readerships, while exploring alternative publishing options beyond the monograph.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for early-career academics, doctoral graduates, and those involved in scholarly publishing who seek clear, practical guidance on adapting dissertations for wider audiences and publication success.

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Includes a chapter arguing that the future of academic writing is in the hands of young scholars who meet the broader expectations of readers rather than the narrow requirements of academic committees. This title reveals to PhDs the secrets of careful and thoughtful revision.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

When a dissertation crosses my desk, I usually want to grab it by its metaphorical lapels and give it a good shake. “You know something!” I would say if it could hear me. “Now tell it to us in language we can understand!”

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 audience—a committee or advisors—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 revision—a skill that will be truly invaluable as they add “author” to their curriculum vitae.

Series: Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Eric Foner, Columbia University, praises the book for its insight, compassion, and wit, recommending it as essential reading for dissertation writers and supervisors alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780226062044

Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 October 2013

Country: United States

Imprint: University of Chicago Press

Edition: Second Edition

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 1.0mm

Width: 13.0mm

Height: 21.0mm

Weight: 198g

Pages: 184

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.

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