Craftways ― On the Organization of Scholarly Work

While a plethora of books have been written about various studies in social science, few works are dedicated to the instruction of how to be an effective social science scholar. Serious students are not only interested in their specialty subject, but also in how academic life is lived and how scholarly work is carried out. In this second edition of Craftways, Aaron Wildavsky provides an introduction to the norms and mores of political science in particular and social science in general.
Aaron Wildavsky has long been admired as one of the most productive political scientists of his generation. Repeated expressions of interest in his scholarly craft led him to gather together essays concerning how a professional scholar works. In this new edition, Wildavsky focuses on what he believes students of the social sciences most want to know: what kind of person is a social scientist? How do and how ought social scientists treat one another? What does excellence consist of in research and in teaching?
Intent on providing thorough answers to these questions, Wildavsky has added chapters dedicated to the organization of professional life. "Talking and Teaching" reflects on the necessity for a social scientist to give seminars and lecture effectively. "On Being a Department Chair" concerns the political administration of an academic department and the norms of academic life. Also included are entirely new chapters on how to read social science, how to work with others on collaborative projects, and how to improve one's academic writing. This enhanced volume will be a valuable resource for both students and faculty in the social sciences.