This book looks at things the other books don’t tell you about doing a PhD – what it’s really like and how to come through it with a happy ending! It covers all the things you wish someone had told you before you started : What a PhD is really about, and how to do one well The "unwritten rules" of research and of academic writing What your supervisor actually means by terms like "good referencing" and "clean research question" How to write like a skilled researcher How academic careers really work An ideal resource if someone you care about (including yourself!) is undergoing or considering a PhD. This book turns lost, clueless students back into people who know what they are doing, and who can enjoy life again.