<p>It seems book publishers are getting extremely ridiculous. I'm taking an intermediate French class this semester and the latest edition recommended for the class is not particularly different from previous editions; matter of fact, the only difference seems to be the cover. But hey, who knows? Maybe the French introduced a new word to their vocabulary (highly unlikely, since the French love to keep their language as pure as possible - it only has 50,000 words).</p>
<p>I imagine Math/Science books are more ridiculous. Has there been any significant changes in basic undergraduate Math/Science since 2000?</p>
<p>Well. My neighbors still have their old thermodynamics book from 1999 and it cost them less than 100 dollars. But almost the same book that I have to buy in a few days will cost me 250 dollars.</p>
<p>It has got to be more than monetary inflation that is causing this!</p>
<p>Yeah, most “later-edition” textbooks are crap - just a way for the publisher (and the professors) to make some cash. I often talk to the prof teaching the course and see where an earlier edition is acceptable - it usually is.</p>
<p>I seldom engage in crackpottery, but I feel book publishers enlist colleges, and perhaps even professors, to push these new editions. I mean, come on, what has changed in calculus since 2000? 1990? 1980?</p>
<p>The entire textbook industry is a scam and many professors are their satanic partners. I don’t even go near my college bookstore anymore. I either go to used bookstores or amazon. Hopefully the rise of e-textbooks might lower the costs for students.</p>
<p>Often the only real changes are to the problems and those are sometimes just renumbered. It’s really part of a scheme to milk college students for all they’re worth now that a college education has become extremely common, bordering on mandatory.</p>
<p>Some e-textbooks are a massive ripoff too. A friend had the option of buying an e-book for approximately 1/3 less than the price of a new book from the school bookstore. After 180 days you lose access to the book (although you could print it). A quick look on Amazon found the book for less than the e-book price from some book reseller.</p>
<ol>
<li>find a pdf version online (crack one)</li>
<li>pay a pdf version online and share the cost with multiple classmates</li>
<li>just book a used book, or rent it.</li>
</ol>
<p>I’m old fashioned. I prefer to have a physical book in front of me. I’m also against renting since I like to keep the book as reference and for my future offspring. So, I’m buying used books, preferably 1-2 previous editions from the course recommended book.</p>
<p>Btw, Jwxie, I was at the CCNY bookstore today… those people have criminal prices!</p>
<p>Pearson owns a big a** building on 6th Ave. in Midtown Manhattan and I know Scholastic has a big building in SoHo. Those guys have money and it’s very unsurprising.</p>
<p>Hahahaha Enginox. Yes. Don’t buy from Bookstore unless you have a very good reason.</p>
<p>My 3 suggestions are very very good. ROLF
There are two main places to look at the beginning of each semester the walls outside the Cafe and the bullet boards next to the escalator (go through the door by the cafe).</p>
<p>The other posters are correct, and it’s hardly a secret. Book textbook publishers and accredited colleges rake in the dough big-time by requiring these new editions every year.</p>
<p>1) Buy an old version for cheap.
2) Rent a new version from the library/borrow one from a friend for a couple days.
3) Photocopy/take pictures of the pages with problems on them (these are usually the only ones that are different.
4) There is no step 4, you’ve already got everything you need.</p>