<p>What a great idea! I'm kind of surprised the textbook publishers are willing to let this happen.</p>
<p>Would that make them cheaper than Amazon-bought books?</p>
<p>The article says the rentals will be less than half of retail prices. It probably depends on the book. Also, not all textbooks will be available, only the most common ones.</p>
<p>Less than half of the retail price is a nice deal. And along with Amazon, you'll find good discounts online for used books -- just pay attention to the seller's ratings. Also, some students sell their books after class. It sounds like the rental option is ideal when you
know from the start that you don't want to keep the book after the class ends.</p>