Purchasing Textbooks
Has anyone else ever been scammed by college textbooks, or textbooks in general? I just painfully stubbed my toe on one that fell off my bookcase, and I realized that I've never actually legitimately used most of them. Though given I've only purchased 3 textbooks over the years, just a single book received use. The other two books are what I want to complain about:
The first one is [url=http://i1.minus.com/iEfEAwxUdv1h5.jpg]Calculus, The Early Transcendentals[/url] which cost me $130 [b]loose leaf[/b]. "Oh, you'll use it for all tiers of calculus we teach here and it comes with a Web Assign key! It's a really good book!" the advisor told me. I was a first year at the time and cluelessly bought it. My professor didn't use Web Assign, nor did he assign book problems, nor did I need the book to study; this applied for both tiers of calculus I took. By the end of it all, I couldn't sell my calculus book back to the bookstore because it was a loose leaf book and it had no resale value online because I sold the Web Assign key to another student. How frustrating.
The second book is [url=http://i7.minus.com/ibkgpIdUBaMNT9.jpg]An Introduction to Formal Languages and Automata[/url], for my automata theory course I'm currently taking. Before the semester began, my professor e-mailed the class confirming that we would need the textbook when the class began, because there would be homework due within the first week. I quickly bought a reprint of it on eBay and proceeded to only open the book a total of 4 times. The semester is almost over, dammit. I should also mention that this book makes absolutely no sense and has [url=http://i2.minus.com/ijXqJdd2K1wHj.jpg]more Greek letters[/url] than a quantum mechanics class. Absolutely terrible.
TLDR: I'm done ranting, so how about the other students stupid enough to buy useless textbooks?
14 Comments • Newest first
[quote=BoredAF]Honestly what I think a lot of Uni/college students should do. Is learn or at least read through all textbooks that you bought or own that pertain to your field. Regardless if your classes used them or not, take the material and get a broader understanding of what is or was in your field. I have tons of books, binders, magazines, etc on my field. I also research new trends, new equipment new laws/codes that are passing or in the making. Just to give myself an advantage over others who may not have taken the time to do so.
If you're strapped for cash and you rather get an older edition or just want to borrow a book that's fine as well. But having a collection for your future career, doesn't hurt imo.[/quote]
yea thats what was suggested by one of my instructors but seeing how all the courses are so fast paced I dont have the time to sit in the library and read one. once I start my externship I should be able to without any problems
[quote=2005chuy]Those online homework websites were criminal though; you could buy a code by itself for like 110, or buy it alongside the loose leaf textbook for only 5-10$ more -_-[/quote]
The prices of those online keys should be illegal. I'm taking a counting/set theory course this semester; the Web Assign key was $76, and there are only 10 total homework assignments in this class. I have to pay over $7.50 to do 25 minutes worth of homework? [url=http://i3.minus.com/iwwdkTDt4k1MJ.png]This is highway robbery.[/url] But in this case, I didn't buy the book ($260 with the key) so I had a reason to go to every lecture.
It wasn't until 2 weeks ago when I found out that the Web Assign key also gives you access to the e-book.
[quote=NoobCake]The only book we actually used from start to finish was the Calculus, The Early Transcendental that you mentioned. You should try buying off of eBay instead (although my Electrics Circuits book shipped from Hong Kong, so it was in Chinese LOL)
A lot of students are pirating their books and just using their computers/tablets to study but I need it printed to be able to study o.o[/quote]
Well, Early Transcendentals is a popular calculus textbook throughout North America. I wouldn't know if it's good though, since I haven't read more than 5 pages. I also bought my automata theory book from eBay from an Indian resaler, but I haven't really used it.
I try to find online versions of texts, but there are some books you can't avoid renting/buying (i.e. brand-new editions, certain university-published books, course readers, etc).
The only book we actually used from start to finish was the Calculus, The Early Transcendental that you mentioned. You should try buying off of eBay instead (although my Electrics Circuits book shipped from Hong Kong, so it was in Chinese LOL)
A lot of students are pirating their books and just using their computers/tablets to study but I need it printed to be able to study o.o
We have a bookstore on campus and a bookstore across the street, that's where we are recommended to buy our books...unless I have to, I usually just buy my textbooks from amazon. They are usually cheaper and if the professor isn't a pain in the ass, I sometimes buy the international copy. It's cheaper and the content is 90% [maybe?] similar
these college textbook industries are major scams.. they release a "new" version of the same book every year and charge couple hundred dollars for it...
[quote=iDrinkOJ]I haven't tried ebooks but I find it difficult staring at a screen for a long time..[/quote]
You could get an eReader with e-ink screens that do not strain your eyes.
I usually buy textbooks. I like to have things to read. I haven't tried ebooks but I find it difficult staring at a screen for a long time. I'm considering download some books though cuz I don't feel like wasting money on books that I never have to read. I could buy a new pc every semester if it wasn't used for books.
Yeah, it has happened in my first year. Since then, I just go to class to see if the book is needed. By the way, we use the same Calculus book (8th edition though) which is also on the internet. I stopped attending class and started using the book instead.
I always waited until the first day of class before buying a textbook. I used the textbooks in all of my classes for most of the semester. Those online homework websites were criminal though; you could buy a code by itself for like 110, or buy it alongside the loose leaf textbook for only 5-10$ more -_-
Make friends, borrow text book, make copies? Thats how some of my friends got by, i unfortunately was one of those that actually wasted money on textbooks, since we didnt even use the whole thing only sections of it.
[quote=TheDudeAbides]go to the library[/quote]
My university's library only rents out textbooks for 1-2 hour increments, hardly enough time to get serious work done. And most of the time, the book isn't on course reserve, which makes the library an unreliable resource.
[quote=BoredAF]Honestly what I think a lot of Uni/college students should do. Is learn or at least read through all textbooks that you bought or own that pertain to your field. Regardless if your classes used them or not, take the material and get a broader understanding of what is or was in your field. I have tons of books, binders, magazines, etc on my field. I also research new trends, new equipment new laws/codes that are passing or in the making. Just to give myself an advantage over others who may not have taken the time to do so.
If you're strapped for cash and you rather get an older edition or just want to borrow a book that's fine as well. But having a collection for your future career, doesn't hurt imo.[/quote]
Don't get me wrong, textbooks are great reference material, but I'm talking about useless textbooks in specific. I don't see myself working on compilers in the future, so an automata theory book does me no good, especially if I don't even need it for the class I bought the book for. On the other hand, I've used my Java and C texts countless times outside of their intended courses -- they're incredibly helpful, and students studying something like Java will know how much reference material helps in deciphering all that hideous spaghetti.
I spent around $1000 on textbooks in my first year because I was a naive youngster. Most expensive one was my Java textbook that cost around $200 </3 In my upper years I started buying used from other students and borrowing from my friends.
go to the library
Bought a book for ALG2. Then withdrew the class because I already learned this crap in HS. I DL all my books now.
EDIT: The class required an code for this online program so I had to buy it.