Every Other Thursday: Stories and Strategies from Successful Women Scientists

By Ellen Daniell

Book Overview

A book about the power of not trying to navigate a career path alone

This book tells the story of a professional problem-solving group that for more than 25 years has empowered its members by providing practical and emotional support. The objective of "Group," as Ellen Daniell and six other members call their bimonthly gatherings, is cooperation in a competitive world. And the objective of Every Other Thursday is to encourage those who feel isolated or stressed in a work or academic setting to consider the benefits of such a group--a group in which everyone is on your side.
Each of the high-achieving individuals in Group (including members of the National Academy of Sciences, a senior scientist at a prestigious research institute, and university professors and administrators) has found the support of the others to be an essential part of her own success. Daniell provides detailed examples of how members help one another navigate career setbacks or other difficulties. She shows that group support, discussion, and application of common experience bring to light practical solutions and broader perspectives. In an inspirational conclusion, the author offers advice and practical guidelines for those who would like to establish a group of their own.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300510845
• ISBN13: 9780300510843
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.7" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

universal advice, especially for scientists

The book "Every other Thursday" presents strategies to deal with many situations typical for research and academia, especially for independent scientists. After postdoctoral training, scientists who get on the tenure track can do science: plan experiments, project and execute them, analyze the results and write papers. What they are not prepared for is managing the lab and dealing with administration, teaching classes on a regular basis (well, some have limited experience in teaching, usually not nearly enough). Most of them (especially women) also do not have enough confidence and have to learn to be bold and assertive. Ellen Daniell's book describes the self-help group, initially meant as a group for all willing people from the scientific environment in the San Francisco Bay area, later turned into women's group. The author offers examples on different ways of dealing with work-related stress, from acknowledging it, discussing with peers, and using the advice. There is also advice on maneuvering between personal and professional problems and effectively combining work, family and friends to be successful and happy. The book is very practical, personal and honest - describes moving stories from women scientists, who have been meeting for 20 years and consider their group as an essential tool in their careers, at the same time valuing the friendship with other group members. There are different personalities and different problems, but the book ultimately offers universal advice for women scientists and generally for scientists at different stages of their careers. I benefitted a lot from this book and I think there is still a need for this type of help: women are now not so unusual in the scientific community, but they still encounter similar difficulties.

A book for all professionals

Let's say you have problems at work. You have an unreasonable deadline. You're up for promotion. Your boss seems intent on attacking you. You are going to have a baby and that's not welcome news at work. You feel excluded from important conversations. No one will go to lunch with you. Ellen Daniell tells us all a great way to handle these work-related emergencies and bad vibes: form a weekly discussion group focused on professional issues. In addition to providing friendships, now at a premium in this society, the group can say how strategies worked (or didn't work) for them, support the stressed worker, and keep her/him from giving in to the pressures of work. Daniell's own group includes members of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers and professors and industry scientists. Most have been women historically (over the 25 years this group has functioned). She was invited to join by a prominent male molecular biologist 25 years ago. She gives us the history of the group, lots of detailed anecdotes of its functioning, and then turns to how to form and run such a group for your own sanity. I found this book both inspiring and disquieting: Daniell herself describes how she was denied tenure at a prestigious university, fought the decision, and was denied anyway. Then she became an administrator in the biotech industry, and today she's a full time writer. Her self esteem came through thanks to the group process. But as a woman in science, who took the trouble to read Daniell's pre tenure publications, I am appalled that she was denied. What were they thinking? But don't get the idea that this book is full of rage. That's my own, not Ellen Daniell's. Through her group, she has dealt successfully with the decision and put it behind her comfortably. I recommend this book very highly; get it for your mental health and well being. I agree with Rita Colwell (former director of the National Science Foundation) who is quoted on the back cover saying that she wished she could have read it back at the start of her career.

Should be reading for anyone struggling in a competitive field.

Life is tough. Scientist or nonscientist, man or woman, we go up against great odds to make progress, teach and inspire others, and pave the way for the future. So why does the world make this process so hard? In this book, Ellen Daniell describes the support network of young scientists, mostly women, that helped its Bay Area members overcome family troubles, deal with the whims of fate, and face despair in academic and institutional settings. Along the way she describes the psychological approach to success that we can provide for one another. Read this book, and make friends, and be happy that we get this great chance in life!