Book Review: Letters to a Young Researcher: Lessons on Doubt, Rejection, Belonging, and Finding Your Way

In Letters to a Young Researcher, Alvitta Ottley writes a series of letters exploring the questions, feelings, and experiences that arise while learning how to do research. As Ottley writes, “This book lives somewhere between practical advice and emotional recognition.” Its three sections focus on learning to be new, learning the craft, and finding your place. Entering a new field means encountering unfamiliar terminology, concepts, skills, and expectations, and sometimes feeling like “the dumbest person in the room.” Drawing from her own experiences, Ottley addresses these challenges in a relatable way while offering advice, encouragement, and a glimpse into her path toward becoming a researcher.

The book connected with my own experience of earning a PhD. I remember sitting in research meetings without fully understanding the discussion and having to catch up by learning the topic and the field. I also had to become a better writer, receive criticism, and respond constructively to rejection. One of my papers took four submissions before it was finally accepted, and I had to decide whether continuing was worthwhile. Ottley describes a similar experience with one of her papers, including the emotional question of whether to keep trying.

I would recommend this book to young researchers who are trying to find their own way. Ottley writes in an accessible and understandable style, and her experiences are relatable. Although the book is written for researchers, its lessons about entering unfamiliar areas, developing new ideas, collaborating with others, and persevering through setbacks can also resonate with readers in other professions, such as engineering, business, and teaching, to name a few.