Textbook Cost
Posted Wed Oct 28, 2009 in
University
On one of the mailing lists I read (Mac OS X LaTeX) an off-topic message came across the interwebs late yesterday afternoon. The thread was about the cost (and declining quality) of textbooks used in higher education. One poster lamented the fact that textbooks that cost $25 in 1975 were now over $100. A number of comments in the thread were about the challenges of producing a text and the process, and how LaTeX might fit into the process.
That started me thinking about the cost of things (and the quality). I did a quick calculation. I assume that the average rate of inflation of US$ was about five percent per year over the period between 1975 and now. I also assume that the period is about 30 years. (That’s close enough for this game.)
So, the multiplier is (1.05)30=4.3 (more or less). That means a $25 textbook from 1975 would cost about $108 in today’s money. That’s probably about what they cost.
Other things cost like that too. Remember in the early 70s you could buy a car for $5K? Well, that car is $20-30K now, isn’t it?
The decline in the quality of textbooks is also evident. But, I think part of that is the number of textbooks produced during this period of time. I think there were fewer textbooks produced 30-years ago than there are now. As an example, when I was in graduate school there were basically two texts for open channel hydraulics — Chow’s 1959 text and Henderson’s 1964 (?) text. Much of their content was the same — after all, basic physics is basic physics no matter how you roll it.
However, they differed in some of the advanced material. This was good because both were (are) good texts and the differences in approach are actually a strength because those differences offer additional insight that might not be gained from a single source.
I remember the excitement of buying a copy of French’s open channels text, only followed with bitter disappointment that it was really a knock-off of Chow’s excellent text, only not executed as well as Chow’s. I wonder if McGraw-Hill saw a need to offer a fresh look at open channel hydraulics, given the improvements in computer technology of the time, but didn’t execute the effort well for whatever reasons. In the end, I abandoned French’s book and stayed with my copy of Chow with supplemental material from other sources for my teaching of open channels. I also recommend Henderson’s book as a supporting book, if you can find a copy. I managed to find a reprint (softbound), but it will do.
A similar situation exists for textbooks treating hydrology. There are several decent textbooks on hydrology, but there are also a lot of textbooks that aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on. It was a challenge to find good books for my students. I expect that trend to continue for the foreseeable future.
I’m still interested in the notion of e-books and e-readers. Barnes & Noble is released a new reader and service in November. I’m looking forward to seeing it and handling it. There is potential there. But, to date, I think it’s unrealized as far as university texts are concerned.
But, that’s just my opinion…
There’s a solution for the lack of a good hydrology text. It could be a group effort.
— Dazed n Confused 2 November 2009, 17:12 #I started drafting a hydrology text about 10- or 12-years ago. It was based, in part, on some material my advisor shared with me before that. (He started down the path as well, but retired before finishing.)
What I learned in going through the exercise is that there are many decisions to be made concerning what should be contained in a text. In part that depends on the audience — undergraduate or graduate students. I think the two are very different audiences.
It was at about that point I bogged down, got busy with other things, and let the project languish.
I really wanted to write a small book that contained just the core concepts and little technology. I think the technology is generally done reasonably well. The science is often relegated to something less prominent.
— ruminator 2 November 2009, 17:47 #