<p>So I was just looking around, I know textbooks aren't listed just yet, but the summer one is still up. I was looking at the chemistry book and it's offered in the usual hardback which runs in the area of 140 with some wide variation, down to like 80 or so, and then there's a paperback edition which can be had for like, 20 bucks.</p>
<p>Am I missing something here, or is it really that much cheaper to get the paperback? Would the pages and information all be the same?</p>
<p>Paperback textbooks are usually international editions. I’ve gotten them before, and usually they have the exact same content of the regular book. However, I’ve had issues where the problems are the same, but with different numbers, so I had an unpleasent surprise after my first problem set. The other issue with them, is you can’t sell them back as easily as the regular hard cover book.</p>
<p>That stinks… I was hoping to save some big bucks. Haha.</p>
<p>Just download your textbooks online if they’re available. The ones I got were actually posted online by professors who sympathized with the plight of college students, and (like me) believed that the textbook system is a huge ripoff.</p>
<p>The only one I couldn’t get out of all my classes was the honors chem book, which I got on ebay for 60 bucks.</p>
<p>isn’t it kind of hard to use the digital textbook, without being able to write on it</p>
<p>lol i don’t normally write on my textbooks…only doodle when i’m bored + it makes it hard to sell them later</p>
<p>I don’t really see a need to write on or highlight textbooks. Perhaps because I end up highlighting the entire page…so it’s best if I just stay away from highlighters altogether. 
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<p>Anyway, I’ve opted for paperback textbooks a few times and it worked out great.</p>
<p>The majority of the paperback(international edition) textbooks I have used in the past are very similar to their respective American edition. If there is a difference, it is usually the question numbering. If that happens, just borrow a textbook from a friend/the library, and note the corresponding questions.</p>
<p>It’s a great way to save money. I saved about $80/book by buying the international edition.</p>