The cool professors used to make a “study guide” especially if it was their own book that they’d give out for free and told everyone to return the books
It’s been a minute, so not sure if it’s a thing still.
But yeah. Unregulated capitalism pretty much always ends this way.
You have to buy the book, so they pump out new editions constantly and charge insane prices. It’s a captive market
baronvonj@lemmy.world 2 days ago
And a lot of professors write their own text book.
Voyajer@lemmy.world 2 days ago
At least those professors seem to either price their books reasonably or readily pirate it themselves to distribute.
anomnom@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Probably once they realize how little they get compared to the book price.
Quill7513@slrpnk.net 2 days ago
the good ones ensure older verisons are still valid for their course work and only do annual editions because they’re contractually obligated by their publisher.