Memoir
Diary of a Ph.D Student: To Be or Not to Be By Mayank Mishra Book Review
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BOOK DETAILSTitle:- Diary of a Ph.D Student: To Be or Not to Be Author:- Mayank Mishra Genres:- Memoir Pages:- 170 Language:- English Publisher:- NotionPress Publishing Date:-10/08/20
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK |
Mayank Mishra was born in Lucknow, India, and currently an Assistant
professor in Civil Engineering at the Indian Instuitute of Technology,
Bhubaneswar. He completed his Ph.D. from the University of Basilicata,
Italy in 2017.
After reading this book, the first thing I would suggest is to do some
homework, because you go abroad for work,studies, or vacation. This book
is about the Ph.D. journey of Dr. Mishra. It’s a breath-taking journey.
The book is been divided into five parts. Introduction, first year,
second year, third year, the aftermath.
When you read the above, you feel the author must have written all his
daily life routine things in the book. I would say, 20% is routine
things, but the other 80% is his struggle in the new place. he had his
first impression about his professor, who guided him to land to their
place. it was amazing to see such an arrangement from the University.
Next comes, his obstacles. The first struggle he had in Italy; Potenza
was the language problem. Even though at one point in time, he tried to
understand the Italian language, but still the conversation was not
understood fully.
He always would require a translator from English to
Italy. Even to buy simple groceries, he would require a translator. Not
always somebody would stay with you just to translate a language!
We Indian, when we land in a foreign county, the first thing we do is
start comparing our country with them. That’s what even Dr. Mishra did
initially, he has written his thought so clearly, we can relate to it
and at the same time smile while reading. Then comes, from choosing his
topic for the doctorate, changing of stay every year, food, visiting
tunnels and thoughts about failure very well.
But getting in a degree in a foreign country is not easy! And I felt the
book was too much-unwanted information, which would have been ignored.
Otherwise, I liked it. I would personally respect Dr. Mishra for his
journey of Ph. D
