Although I was a college student some 25 years ago, I can still recall the anger I felt at having to buy expensive new textbooks at the beginning of the semester, as well as the greater anger I felt when I then re-sold those books to the campus bookstore at the end of the semester — often for a fraction of the original cost. (What little money I did receive back was used to buy beer which, admittedly, made me feel a little better.)
I mention this because in the coming years fewer and fewer college students are going to experience the same angst. This is because I believe more college professors will begin using electronic textbooks. To this end, I’d encourage you to read this recent New York Times article. I especially like this quote from a professor who has already made the transition: "This market [for college textbooks] is not working well — except for the shareholders in the textbook publishers. We have lots of knowledge, but we are not getting it out."
The transition will occur more quickly if more college instructors can unlearn their reliance on standard textbooks.
