This innovative book is the first study skills guide written directly for students on degree courses in the humanities and social sciences. It is intended to help students make their studying more systematic and efficient and the main focus is on subjects where essay-writing forms the basis of student work and course assessment. The emphasis throughout is on providing a large menu of practical ideas and suggestions which students can try out in their own work. All the central problems of studying for degree courses are tackled in separate chapters and the final chapter discusses how to transfer study skills into life skills. The text is carefully designed to be easily accessible with reading guides and chapter summaries. Many detailed and immediately useful suggestions make this a valuable manual for beginning students and a resource book which experienced students will want to consult throughout their courses. Teachers and lecturers will also find the book of value in stimulating their own tutorial ideas and reinforcing their advice. Patrick Dunleavy is currently Professor of Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science, having previously worked at the Open University and Nuffield College, Oxford. He has published widely in political science. He has been teaching study skills courses for several years and helped set up a Study Counselling Centre at the London School of Economics.