Opinions and Reviews

 

SHORT COMMENTS ON VARIOUS BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

“This is an excellent book” Amazon Review

“Written for students…One of my personal favorites!” Penn State University, USA

"Great book“ Marius Andreiana, Student and Linux/Unix system administrator

“A good general resource for student entering college” Columbia University, USA

“All kinds of tips from A to Z to ensure your success as a student" University of Regina, Canada

“The information is useful and helpful for the prospective college student” Griffith University, Australia

 

“A really good book....full of practical advice and I thought was well worth the money”, Charles Brennan, Amazon Review

“Highly recommended...not only essential but interesting as well” Rebecca Stow, Book Review Club

“Excellent book by Kevin Bucknall” Donald Simanek, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, USA

“This is a seriously good book” Sheila Waterman, Australia

“Written by Kevin Bucknall, really interesting ....take a look” North East Wales Institute

“This book is easy to read , to the point and easy to dip into” Sheffield Hallam University

“Four Star Rating. This fabulous guide is a must for students from year 10 on” Four Star Australian webs

"5 Stars - Very informative and well written”, Johnny Zeven, Belgium

“I have no hesitation in recommending this book. It is a must read for anyone...” Brian N. Cox, Canada

 

REVIEWS OF GOING TO UNIVERSITY: THE SECRETS OF SUCCESS

Amazon review

“Although I wish I had read this book before starting uni, I am still finding it very useful and relevant as I prepare for second year. It is jam-packed with useful hints and tips to make not just study easier and more enjoyable, but the whole uni experience. It is simply written and also quite funny which aids readability.

This book is very comprehensive. It covers pretty much everything a person new to uni would want to know - from finances and transport, through to what to expect in the way of lectures, seminars, tutorials, lab work and oral presentations, as well as providing advice on how to write essays and prepare for exams. There's only one thing I would have liked to have seen included which wasn't - tips on editing and proof reading assignments.

I found the stuff on developing team skills and processes very useful. (The research components of my course have a lot of team-based assessment.)It is well laid out and can be picked up and put down as needed.

The personality of the author comes through in his comments. It's kind of quirky which I like and the book is dotted with jokes which reinforce key points. A couple I particularly enjoyed were: `Art students: does your heart belong to Dada?', `There are three kinds of mathematicians: those who can count and those who can't', and `Dyslexics of the world untie' (no offence to people with dyslexia intended).

Its useful tips for staying motivated are already helping me to get organised/excited about the new uni year. I will make sure I get myself a `study buddy' next semester to help me mid-semester when the work piles up and it's hard to know where to start.

I think it's invaluable for anyone thinking about going to uni, enrolling in uni, or already at uni. I highly recommend it.  (Michael Bower,  student)

 

Amazon review

“I bought this book for my husband as he went to uni. It is a good book, but as we are older and married with children, it really wasn't too helpful for us. It has parts about student living, how to plan your finances and get by on a budget. Also a good part on how to get over the 'OMG this is a whole different world' feeling you get when you actually walk into the place (we've all been there) a book I wish I had at 18.  (Aisha V. Shawcross)

 

Student Newspaper review

This is the end, beautiful friend
"There comes a time in the life of each student when they realise that the end is nigh. It is now necessary to resist the temptation to do a second masters in procrastination and to accept that the next decade or two will require total submission to the corporate whorehouse. In a futile attempt to escape the inevitable passing of time and in the hope of returning to a place where the university experience was in the future rather than the past, books such as Kevin B. Bucknall’s ‘Going to University: The Secrets of Success’ have become a suitable source of solace.

Bucknall’s book, written with the aim of offering a brief guide to those about to arrive at university (including the often ignored mature student), explains the fundamental issues each student is likely to face at university - be it when searching for suitable accommodation or when delivering the inevitable end of term essay(s). For the nervous pre-university student, it can become a reassuring hand on the shoulder. As a succinct guide it can easily be read from cover to cover. Bucknall’s engaging writing style and genuine belief that ‘life is beautiful’ shine through and will offer some reassurance to those fearful few who worry about what university life will hold for them. A second use for the book will become clearer upon arrival at university. As a well-constructed and concise offering, you can dip into the chapters on oral presentations and end of year exams, for example, at the appropriate times of the year. You can either re-read the advice on, say, preparation and delivery or just quickly recap the main bullet points summarised at the conclusion of each chapter.

Help! I need somebody
Of course, this type of quasi self-help book is going to appeal to a certain audience. Those with innate confidence in their ability to settle down in a new environment will not need to be spoon-fed advice on completing work in time or be told about the advantages of an effective filing system. There are those, though, who do need this, who have been shielded from the realities of life to such an extent that the simplest of tasks requires a step-by-step explanation. Bucknall makes good points about not sitting like a pudding in tutorials and about re-reading lecture notes throughout the year. In turn, this aim is reflected in how Bucknall expresses himself. In the preface he hopes that he will not come across as an ‘academic bore’. Naturally any attempt to be down with the kids is difficult for a 22 year old durham21 writer, let alone a 60-something year old who describes himself as an ‘ancient academic’ on his own website. Bucknall tries hard and given that his market isn’t the sort who snorts gak off any available surface he is more Aiyegbeni Yakubu than Darius Henderson i.e. he hits the target more often than he misses. The light-hearted comments scattered around each chapter (which are accompanied by a smiley face icon), are evidence of him relating to the reader. In many instances he plays on the meanings of words (‘testing animals is bad – besides they always get the answers wrong’ and ‘does my asp look big in this?’).

As a curmudgeonly swine who is less familiar with the joys of laughter than Gordon Brown, the throwaway comments didn't really do anything for me. Bucknall’s own view in the preface that they are not intended to distract and that ‘it’s easy to ignore them’ suggests that he too had second thoughts about their inclusion. Again, though, and without wishing to labour the point with all the nuance of Jeremy Clarkson, it is all about the target audience that will, most likely, be amused by these little jokes and also be familiar with the ideas of a ‘study buddy’ and working hard.

A 2:1, a 2:1, my Kingdom for a 2:1
With soon-to-be students heading off to different courses at different universities across the country the nature of the beast is such that Bucknall’s general observations will have limited applicability depending on who you are and what you are doing. The familiar details on managing finances are universally relevant (it is true that ready-made meals are expensive and that bottled water is a waste of money) but then the outline of a typical marking system does not ring true for a History and Politics student at Durham. When a 2:1 (and 60%) is the name of the game, his suggestion that this is the equivalent to somewhere between a C- and a C++ is both somewhat worrying and also inaccurate. I would also dispute some of the other advice offered. Yes, it helps to do some work in your first year but every percent above the pass rate is a wasted mark. If you don’t revel in your own idleness in the first year then you will regret it in the more strenuous years that follow. Also, people who make notes in the margins of academic books (irrespective of whether it is their own property or if it belongs to the library) have always annoyed me. You have your own paper to use so why graffiti the work of others with your inane scrabbling?

But then my obvious inability to adhere to many of Bucknall’s key points is perhaps the reason why my success at university is questionable and may explain why I won’t be receiving a First come June.

You can read an excerpt from 3 chapters of this book at:

 

http://www.zen40585.zen.co.uk/Excerpt2nd%20Edition-C_N.pdf "

Richard Benstead (student)

 

 

A FEW STUDENTS USED TO SEND THE AUTHOR NOTES WHEN HE WAS TEACHING FULL TIME - HERE ARE A FEW OF THESE UNSOLICITED NOTES

“To Kevin Bucknall. I just thought I’d drop you a line to say that last year (June-ish) I purchased a copy of your book “An academic’s advice to a tertiary student” and although it came half way through my degree, I felt it was a great benefit in my studies for the second semester. It was a basic, frank book of hints and suggestions which although now obvious have had an important influence on my study skills (not to mention my budget). Thank you for your insight! Regards.” HF, Third Year Student

 

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“Dr. Bucknall. Thanks for the truly wonderful letter of recommendation. I am very glad that I have been able to study under you, as your knowledge is seemingly non-exhaustive! I enjoy and also hope to emulate your vitality, passion and wisdom, in the nearing future. (I believe that you are one of the only ‘practical’ lecturers that I’ve ever had.) Sincerely.” JN, student

 

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“Thank you. This is a long time coming… This is just a token of my appreciation of all the help you gave me with my OFC project.” – J, student

 

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“I am a postgraduate student. I was so impressed with “How to Succeed as a Student” that I printed out several chapters. Thank you Kevin Bucknall you are helping many undergraduate students with your sound advice I am sure. Regards.” KC, postgrad student

 

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“To the Dean. Last semester I completed the subject AA12501 offered by the Faculty of Modern Asian Studies... In the two and a half years during which I have been enrolled in the Bachelor or International Business Relations at Griffith University, I have never gained as much practical or theoretical knowledge from a single subject as AA 12501.

I found the teaching team of Dr Ivory and Dr Kevin Bucknall to be exemplary. Each gave up extended periods of their personal time to students and expressed sincere interest in their students development and progress.

… I would like to commend the teaching of Dr Ivory and Dr Bucknall. After my graduation from Griffith University I shall remember their ‘words of wisdom and guidance’. I believe that my future successes shall be partly owed to them both and therefore am extremely grateful. Sincerely” JAN, third year student