This book is an invaluable handbook for young economists working on their dissertations, preparing their first articles for submission to professional journals, getting ready for their first presentations at conferences and job seminars, or undertaking their first refereeing assignments. In clear, concise language--a model in itself--William Thomson describes how to make written and oral presentations both engaging and efficient. Declaring "I would certainly take up arms for clarity, simplicity, and unity," Thomson covers the basics of clear exposition, including such nuts-and-bolts topics as titling papers, writing abstracts, presenting research results, and holding an audience's attention. This second edition features a substantial new chapter, "Being a Graduate Student in Economics," that offers guidance on such essential topics as the manners and mores of graduate school life, financial support, selecting an advisor, and navigating the job market. The chapter on giving talks has been rewritten to reflect the widespread use of presentation software, and new material has been added to the chapter on writing papers.

"This slim volume, by University of Rochester economics professor William Thomson, deserves a place on the bookshelf next to classics such as Strunk and White's The Elements of Style and Kernighan and Plauger's The Elements of Programming Style. Like those classics, it is clear and direct, focused and well-written...Thomson's advice is breathtakingly sensible"

—Ed Blachman, Tekka


William Thomson is Elmer B. Milliman Professor of Economics at the University of Rochester.