Text Books, Conflicts of Interest
and Revisions

The authors of text books are largely made up of college professors. Students obviously need learning materials to complete the course work, but there's the temptation for professors to abuse this system.

Professors have the power to “require” students to purchase learning materials produced by themselves, or by friends and colleagues. Apparently passive income received from royalties is one of the perks of being in the profession. In fairness, there’s a lot of value delivered in most publications. Although, the practice of adopting a text book as “required," to help a colleague, then not including it in the course work is deplorable.

Authors don’t receive royalties from the sale of “used” copies. This has prompted the practice of frequent, but unnecessary revisions. Surely you’ve heard about all the changes in US history prompting the release of the twentieth edition of the publication, right? This effectively wipes out the existing market of used copies and forces the student to pay up for the brand new edition.

There are even cases where professors have gone to cheaper custom print on demand materials for a new text each new term, but continue to charge hardbound type prices for their work! Intellectual property has its value, but where do you draw the line when you have the power to require students to purchase it? Maybe the professors who are abusing this privilege should be required to audit the course on ethics at their school.

Negligent college professors fail to research the final cost of their learning material selections, even attempting to remain insulated from any potential guilt. You won’t find a professor near the college bookstore during the first week of a term. You will however find students and their family members suffering panic attacks by the large register totals being rung up.


Return to:

Inflating Prices

Required or Optional?

Sell Used Textbooks for More


Additional research worth reading by a former University President:

Text Books





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