Modern academia is increasingly competitive yet the writing style of social scientists is routinely poor and continues to deteriorate. Are social science postgraduates being taught to write poorly? What conditions adversely affect the way they write? And which linguistic features contribute towards this bad writing? Michael Billig’s witty and entertaining book analyses these questions in a quest to pinpoint exactly what is going wrong with the way social scientists write. Using examples from diverse fields such as linguistics, sociology and experimental social psychology, Billig shows how technical terminology is regularly less precise than simpler language. He demonstrates that there are linguistic problems with the noun-based terminology that social scientists habitually use – ‘reification’ or ‘nominalization’ rather than the corresponding verbs ‘reify’ or ‘nominalize’. According to Billig, social scientists not only use their terminology to exaggerate and to conceal, but also to promote themselves and their work.

本书以其合理的建议、清晰的表述、温和的风格而为读者称道。本书为所有想要写作的人而写，不论你想写的是人、地方、科技、商务、运动、艺术还是你自己。书中的原则和观点，已经被几代作家和学生分享。
本书为30周年纪念版，增加了新的前言，以及撰写家史及回忆录的章节。

With all of the new developments in information storage and retrieval, researchers today need a clear and comprehensive overview of the full range of their options, both online and offline, for finding the best information quickly. In this third edition of The Oxford Guide to Library Research, Thomas Mann maps out an array not just of important databases and print sources, but of several specific search techniques that can be applied profitably in any area of research. From academic resources to government documents to manuscripts in archives to business Web sites, Mann shows readers how best to exploit controlled subject headings, explains why browsing library shelves is still important in an online age, demonstrates how citation searching and related record searching produce results far beyond keyword inquiries, and offers practical tips on making personal contacts with knowledgeable people. Against the trendy but mistaken assumption that "everything" can be found on the Internet, Mann shows the lasting value of physical libraries and the unexpected power of traditional search mechanisms, while also providing the best overview of the new capabilities of computer indexing. Throughout the book Mann enlivens his advice with real-world examples derived from his experience of having helped thousands of researchers, with interests in all subjects areas, over a quarter century. Along the way he provides striking demonstrations and powerful arguments against those theorists who have mistakenly announced the demise of print. Essential reading for students, scholars, professional researchers, and laypersons, The Oxford Guide to Library Research offers a rich, inclusive overview of the information field, one that can save researchers countless hours of frustration in the search for the best sources on their topics.

The admissions process for graduate and professional school is more competitive today than ever before. "How to Write the Perfect Personal Statement" will de-mystify critical aspects of the admissions process by providing insight into how to create and write personal statements that respond to the questions that appear on the applications of many popular graduate schools, whom to approach for letters of recommendation, and how to make the best impression at the interview.

《人文与社会科学学术论文写作指南(汉英对照)》是关于投稿于国际期刊的学术论文写作指南，可以帮助初级写作者以及有经验的研究者更有效地展现其科研成果；也是在校大学生、硕士生、博士生撰写和发表毕业论文或者申请国际大学需要的论文写作指南。全书包括提出问题、寻找线索、搜集资料、明确论点、正式写作到文本编辑等学术论文从构思成文到出版或发表的各个环节，逻辑清晰，简明扼要，深入浅出，并附有大量生动的案例。