Elizabeth Nichols has an important complaint. The textbook racket is at least as old as I am. Prof.Phogg writes the textbook for his course, and it’s a required purchase at an outrageous price due to limited sales volume and the prof’s boat payment. The following year, he slightly revises one chapter. Now, students must buy the 12th edition, not the 11th. Secondhand copies were a savings; now they’re worthless, and Dr. Phogg’s boat sails on.

I went to college when the Dead Sea was only coughing, so textbooks are no doubt on line, still overpriced, still updated to protect the price.

Jim Evans
Ithaca NY
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