Book Review: Navigating an Academic Career

This book is a little gem that can be defined as a “survival guide” for PhD students, postdocs, and new (and not only new) faculty members to approach a career in scientific research with a conscious attitude. The book is based on the academic experience of prof. Jeffrey J. McDonnell and his leadership in his scientific field, and offers plenty of suggestions, personal advice, practical thoughts, and solid recommendations on how to live a happy life in academia, especially in the initial period of a researcher’s career. There are several available resources (books, articles, blogs, interviews, etc.) about how to conduct a successful PhD and achieving personal goals when working in university. However, this book addresses these concepts from a different point of view, offering real life-based examples and personal perspectives deriving from the long experience of the author in mentoring young and less young students and postdocs, and accompanying them to successful careers. The author focuses on how to approach science in terms of personal behavior, inclination, relationships with colleagues and peers, and balance of working and family life . . . elements that all members of academia deal with on a daily basis