ArrantPariah wrote:
Orwell wrote:
The editions of the books sold overseas (usually with cheaper binding) are not intended for sale in the US, and typically contain a notice to the effect that selling them here is illegal. My topology book has such a notice on the front cover. The reason is that the books have to be sold cheaper overseas because no Bangladeshi student has the cash to buy a $200 book for every class. The publishers mark up the prices when selling to rich Westerners to make up the balance.
The academic publishing industry is a terrible racket. Open-access is the way to go, but it won't gain traction until professors decide to use (and contribute to) free and open materials, and that won't happen for at least a generation. The old professors are mostly set in their ways.
Also, some of the professors write textbooks, and can make money hand-over-fist in this racket.
Some, but not enough to be a significant driver here. Only a couple times have I used a book written by the professor teaching the course, or even by an acquaintance/colleague of the prof. And most of that cash is pocketed by the publishers anyways.
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WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
30 Nov 2012, 2:09 pm
