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From: vicki@emory.uucp (Vicki Powers)
Newsgroups: sci.math,sci.physics,comp.edu
Subject: Re: How to beat the high cost of text books!
Message-ID: <3466@emory.uucp>
Date: 2 Dec 88 14:52:18 GMT
References: <684@stech.UUCP> <605@poseidon.ATT.COM> <580@oravax.UUCP>
Organization: Emory U. Math/CS Dept.
Lines: 20

Yesterday I received a complimentary copy of a linear algebra book in the mail
(which I never asked for).  This is a big book, list price $40.  (The publisher
is North-Holland.)  The company wants my input on the book, and is trying
to convince me to adopt it for a course.  However, I am not teaching linear
algebra, and most likely won't be in the near future.  This got me thinking -
is this habit of sending textbooks to academics contributing to the high cost?
As I look at my shelves, I see about 5 books that I got this way, and I've
only been teaching 3 1/2 years!  I know of someone who was on a commitee to
pick a calculus book and who received many, many free (unsolicited) copies of
calculus textbooks.  While I like receiving free textbooks, I wonder if
this practice is a good idea.

   Vicki


-- 
Vicki  Powers       |  vicki@mathcs.emory.edu       	    PREFERRED
Emory University    |  {sun!sunatl,gatech}!emory!vicki      UUCP
Dept of Math and CS |  vicki@emory                          NON-DOMAIN BITNET
Atlanta, GA 30322   |