The textbook scam

[Bret Ludwig]

Spending large sums of money for textbooks for EE is a scam because
classical EE is an old discipline and it could be taught perfectly
using mostly booke now out of copyright from old age or from government
free use texts like Navy rate training manuals.

They pay professors enough, they should be prohibited from writing
textbooks and then making them mandatory.

 

[[email protected]]

Bret, hate to tell you this but the US Navy has never pplublished an EE
text. They have some great technicians texts, but that's about all.

You're correct that EE textbooks are far to overpriced and often
uneeded new versions are introduced, but that's simply a way to keep
them up to date. While the basic theory hasn't changed in over 100
years, new applications have, and the profs try to keep their students
updated on new developments.

Would you want to fork over a tuition payment of now over $20K per year
to any university that didn't?

Harry C.

 

[Ian Bell]

Spending large sums of money for textbooks for EE is a scam

No it is stupid because there are plenty of them around second hand.

Ian

 

[Naveed]

Spending large sums of money for textbooks for EE is a scam because
classical EE is an old discipline and it could be taught perfectly
using mostly booke now out of copyright from old age or from government
free use texts like Navy rate training manuals.

They pay professors enough, they should be prohibited from writing
textbooks and then making them mandatory

Why don't you share with friends or borrow from the library and make notes
from the material?

 

[Mike Berger]

Yes, but that's a separate problem. EE is one of the areas where
I think textbook revisions are useful. You could probably convince
me that calculus doesn't change all that much. The basic theory
textbooks are a very small part of the whole package.

 

[Charles Schuler]

Spending large sums of money for textbooks for EE is a scam because
classical EE is an old discipline and it could be taught perfectly
using mostly booke now out of copyright from old age or from government
free use texts like Navy rate training manuals.

NAVPERS manuals are simply great (for technicians):
http://www.tscm.com/NEETS-v13-Logic.pdf No reason why engineering
students cannot use them ... but they are somewhat lacking in theory and
math.

They pay professors enough, they should be prohibited from writing
textbooks and then making them mandatory.

I taught EET at universities for 33 years and chose to write textbooks and
consult to be able to feed a family of four and live in a decent home and
drive a decent car and afford dental care (not provided by my employer) and
send my kids to college. Point of view is everything! My book royalties
and consulting income exceeded my salary for 15 of those years.

I absolutely agree about the mandatory part! That sucks and should not be
allowed.

 

[Winfield Hill]

Paul Perry wrote...

I notice that some universities put material on the web (sometimes
at least as comprehensive as the average text). That way, it can be
updated whenever the need arises. I was a secondhand book dealer for
many years & you can tell that most books were very lightly read.
The vast majority of texts are completely unnecessary, & the stuff
that changes from year to year could easily be coveredby a few web
references today.
As for 'timeless' stuff like calculus.. each year the books are
fatter, more colorful, and more dumbed down, on the average.
I'm not sure where the pressure for "me too" average texts comes
from, probably more ego than greed.
When it comes to a basic practical analog text, Horowitz & Hill
"The Art of Electronics" will do me fine. I can fill the gaps from
the web, no problem.

Well, as an author of the fine book you mention above, I can tell
you that both Paul and I have massive personal electronics-book
libraries, that we rely on frequently, and that we're constantly
seeking to expand our holdings. The web simply doesn't hack it.
But I agree textbook prices over $100 is crazy. The addition of
CDs of dubious value, accompanied by $180+ prices, is an outrage.