The Modern Researcher (with Infotrac) [With Infotrac]

This book is a very useful tool for the researcher. It gives you all the insight necessary to conduct an investigation. The narratives is written in a very easy to understand language. Highly recommended.

This book has guided more Ph.D. theses into successful completion and more decent, serious academic works through research and writing and into print than any other single work available. Those who might not find this book to their liking bring a story to mind about two young people walking through an art gallery and commenting loudly on what they did and did not like. A guard approached them and said, "Gentlemen, the art is not on trial here." Sometimes an opinion says much more about the person rendering the judgment than about that which is being evaluated.This classic work is not on trial. It proved itself long, long ago.

If there ever was a book that teaches you how to be a scholar in 600 pages or less, this is it. Very clearly written. And Barzun has proven many times that he has a fine mind and good judgement. Hence this book violates the witticism "Those who can't do, teach." Every serious university student of humanities or social theory should read this book carefully.

I read this book (cover to cover) in the midst of Master's thesis work. The authors' words often reassured and heartened me. I appreciated their sensitivity and thoroughness. On several projects since, I've wished I had a copy at hand. I look forward to the 2002 edition to include much more about computerized research considerations.