I saw a journalism textbook today retailing for $120. A journalism textbook. People: send me $15 and I'll teach you all you need to know. Tonight's Good Question comes from several viewers, wondering why textbooks are so expensive.
It's interesting. Local company Thomson-West used to have a higher-education publishing division, and they sold it because it wasn't making enough money. But the major publishers are making a tidy return on their investment. Bookstores say they're not the ones cashing in. Authors say compared to the time it takes to publish, they're not getting rich either.
At the U of M today, they told us on a $100 book, $75 goes to the publisher. The average student spends $900-$1000 a year on books. The government said that textbook prices have been rising at twice the level of inflation.
Why do you think texts are so costly? What's the most expensive textbook you ever had to buy?
One take on this. Another. MNSCU propsal to cut textbook costs (funded by the state legislature).
Terri Gruca has tips on how to save money here. Kim Wencl e-mailed and said her daughter buys and sells all her texts at half.com.
