<p>A few things:
- I still argue that textbooks are near the prices they were in the 1980s, with a few exceptions. Most are under $100, and that was the case then.
- Pretty much ANYBODY can write a textbook. Depending on the subject, it can be a tiny task up to a monumental task. I have reviewed upper level undergraduate and graduate textbooks, and have found silly errors that should not be present in a freshman text. And have found significant but somewhat esoteric (interpretative but supportable) errors in those same texts.
- Most professors are asked to write textbooks regularly, few do in certain subjects.</p>
<p>One thing that gets me is moving from a $60 textbook, with few photos, but color diagrams and charts, to a $250 (list, can get it for $120 or less not at the school bookstore) with full color photos and anecdotes for each chapter (not necessary in science in my opinion). I tell students that the textbook is mandatory, but you don’t need the recommended textbook, you need <em>a</em> textbook. And getting a used textbook for $10 on ebay is no problem at all.</p>
<p>My son is taking an online course, and the textbook was $150 new, and we got it for $30 on ebay, some highlighting but otherwise good condition.</p>
<p>So, if you don’t need a new textbook, WHY get a new one? If you don’t need the exact edition and author, WHY get that exact edition and author?</p>