February 15, 2008

One Way to Rein In the Cost of Textbooks: Make Them Free

By PAUL F. DELESPINASSE

Back in 1981, I published a political-science textbook with Van Nostrand. Thinking About Politics: American Government in Associational Perspective was 517 pages long, and the hardbound edition sold for $20 in college bookstores. Adjusted for inflation to 2008 dollars, the price would be $45.39.

In the advanced courses I taught, I generally did not use textbooks but instead had students read a series of paperbacks. When I started teaching at Adrian College in 1964, I tried to keep the

Digital or Print Subscription

Web Pass

Already have an account? Log In Now.