Customer Reviews

Surviving Your Stupid, Stupid Decision to Go to Grad School

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'm starting grad school in the fall, so I picked up this book--and read most of it in one day. It's laugh-aloud-on-the-bus funny all the way through, and I couldn't put it down. (And I have a feeling I'm going to go back to it time and again over the next several years.) Ruben has a popular stand-up act about academia, and it's clear on every page that he's been able to hone and polish his jokes over time. It isn't really an advice guide per se, and should probably be shelved in "Humor" rather than "Graduate School Reference." But don't let that stop you from reading it--it does give you a real feel for graduate student life, and that alone is invaluable.
This would make an excellent gift, particularly for a student entering grad school or in their first year.

This book had me laughing! I read it on the bus to the university ever morning (yes, I am a grad student and cannot afford a car, or a parking pass for that matter). I would recommend it to any science grad student.

Even those of us who have loved the grad school experience can relate to the hilarious and ironic circumstances that Dr. Ruben describes. Most people question their life choices at some point, but this book reminds a person to smile. It might be a good idea to read this BEFORE grad school, just to make sure you have the sense of humor to survive it. =) Dr. Ruben did a great job on this and he ends on a high note.

I got my Ph.D. 8 years ago at a very reputable program in my field, and this book left me helpless with laughter. Spot-on humor that's so funny it hurts. I LOVE that another reviewer said this was shelved in the Grad School section rather than in the humor section, that is PERFECT!
Seriously people, don't go to grad school thinking that it will be a fun or fulfilling experience. Really.

I don't have enough money to buy this book, but from the preview I can get on Amazon, it looks hilarious... I guess. In a way. Kinda in the same way as if you were to fall and break your arm and someone came up to you and told you, "Man, that looks broken. I bet that hurts." Hilarious.

I guess it's good that most graduate students can at least laugh at how ridiculously stupid a decision it is to go to grad school. I guess. If you are reading this book and are not in grad school but are thinking about it, realize that it may be funny when reading about it, but when you're actually going through it, you hate it. Absolutely positively hate it. It destroys your morale, depresses you significantly, and makes you age at about 4x the regular rate. Those are not jokes. Those are truths.

Going to grad school is a really stupid decision, no joke. The problem is, for whatever reason, we never listen and don't realize how stupid a decision it was until we're years deep and start thinking "Well, I'm this far already, I may as well finish up," as if this "finish up" process was just around the bend.

I'm going to go turn my heat up 1 degree now to kick it on for a minute or two and then turn it back down. My toes are freezing, but I don't make enough money to heat my place to a reasonable value. Hahahaha hilarious....

Do not go to graduate school. Do not go to graduate school. DO NOT GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL.

I got this book for free when the author was doing a talk at my school (free food AND free book!), but I have no qualms recommending it. If you like PhD comics, you will like it too. Just don't expect serious self-help advise! That said there are a few things there that I wish I knew when I was a first-year.

The only place I think this book falls short is that despite all the horrors of grad. student life (greatly exaggerated), it fails to mention that "regular jobs" in an office are often much more soul-crushing, probably due to the author's own lack of experience with "regular jobs".

In the 5th year of my phd, I'm loving this book and how incisively it makes the quirks of school hilarious. It's a lighter, wryer, funnier PhD Comics.

If you're a grad student, or thinking about it, read this book!

At the age of 50 (I'm a Ninja, the author says), I've chosen to return to school. What better way to affirm my decision than by reading a book telling me it's a stupid, stupid decision.

While much of the worst of grad school won't actually apply to me since I'm doing a good percentage of this degree online, every descriptive word he uses tells me that he has experienced the good, the bad and the very ugly.

This book is a quick, wonderful read. It will make you laugh, make you question your decision (if only for a heartbeat) and will affirm the fact that you are completely insane for desiring more education in a system designed to suck you in and bleed you dry. I can hardly wait. No really, I can hardly wait!

Honestly, I've been away from the world of academia for 30 years and am now reminded (because of the great tips - ok, that's a little tongue in cheek) of the ins and outs that I had forgotten when I left those hallowed halls. I'm pretty sure that these humorous reminders will pop up when I least expect them and most need them.

I will ensure that everyone I know who is preparing to enter grad school gets a copy of this book, if only to laugh and commiserate with the insanity of the decision. Pure entertainment, pure enjoyment, pure literary gold (oh, I think that's his phrase for the book too!)

I laughed so hard I cried. If you ever went to graduate school, or plan on going, read this book.

Bought this for my girlfriend who is applying to grad school. Provided a humorous look at an otherwise important and stressful time in your life.