Monkey on my Back: Personal Reflections on Doing a PhD - Paperback

by Jean Boles (Author), Thomas J. Carroll Phd (Author)

Considering entering a PhD programme and don't realise the weight of the monkey? Already in a PhD programme and feeling the heavy weight of that monkey on your back? Thinking about getting rid of that monkey on your back by abandoning your PhD quest? If you answered "yes" to any of the above, READ THIS BOOK! If you want to know more about what it's like to do a PhD this book will give you a good insight into the key issues and challenges involved. This book is especially relevant to the long-suffering families and friends of PhD students. If you are contemplating doing a PhD this book will help you decide if this is the right choice for you, potentially saving you lots of money, time and heartache as a result of a poorly made decision. If you are already doing a PhD this book will help you decide to keep working at it or 'let go' and move on to something else. If you decide to keep going at your PhD this book will help you to spend less time thinking about your own fears and insecurities and more time actually working on your PhD, possibly saving you years.

Author Biography

A native of Ireland, Thomas Carroll obtained a Bachelor's degree and his first master's degree in Dublin. He moved to Kenya in Africa in 1993 and as a volunteer, worked on rural development and poverty alleviation programmes. He earned a second master's by Distance Learning from Stirling University, Scotland. Spurred on by successfully completing this latter degree, he began his PhD in 2006 while working and supporting his wife and three children. THAT'S WHEN THE MONKEY CLIMBED ON HIS BACK! Through challenges and set-backs, Tom felt the weight of the monkey for six years. He successfully completed his PhD in 2012.