The Dissertation Marathon: A Three-Year Guide to Crossing the Finish Line is Dr. Lawrence Bolar’s practical, personal roadmap for surviving and thriving through the doctoral journey. Drawing on his own PhD/EdD experience, Bolar walks readers through every phase — choosing the right degree, selecting a committee, navigating comprehensive exams and the IRB process, writing and defending the dissertation — with checklists, sample forms, motivational quotes, and real “Did You Know” research nuggets along the way. Part guide, part mentor in book form, it’s built to help doctoral candidates avoid common pitfalls and cross the finish line as “Dr. ___,” with the same encouragement Bolar received from his own mentors.