The Road retaken Book

Every doctoral supervisor should read this book, every year. The powerful argument raised here is that individual students are blamed for leaving a doctoral programme, but actually the reasons for leaving a PhD candidature programme are about connections. Connections with peers. Connections with their supervisors.

Importantly, failure in doctoral education is not 'about' the level of scholarship students bring into the programme. Students leave the programme through a lack of connection and communication with supervisors.

This is a well written and well researched book that is a warning to supervisors. Doctoral supervision is about commitment, selflessness, care and respect. Students leave a doctorate when confronted by selfishness, neglect, carelessness and disrespect.