Too High The Price of College Text Books

After work today I helped my stepson out for books at his Junior College. I had to intervene he was talking about dropping a class so he could afford the books. When I got there I thought it would be a bunch of books.


I browsed around the bookstore. Finally he is ready. Looks like one book, some papers, and a cd maybe. I'm thinking this won't be that bad. He tells me he can download the other books free. I'm feeling confident now. Then they  rang it up. $411 and change. Just a little more than one book!


A quick search on the interwebs I found his article. According to the NBC article textbook prices have risen by 73% since 2006. I know I thought books were expensive when I went to school  but these prices are insane.

Students have to get required books.The school charges them an arm and leg. The books are on top of room and board (if you live on campus) and the ever growing tuition. It looks like the college kids are getting taken advantage of.

Though a bit of advice for kids check out ebay, bookstores, or thrift stores.. I mean the book store was selling a used copy of "To Kill A Mockingbird" for $22.  $22 for a used paperback? On ebay I found it less than $4. I guess it is just keeping the poor college kids poor!

On Reading in The Technical Age

This week I downloaded the Kindle application for my smart phone. I did it to support an author I know who released his first novel on the electronic media. The novel hasn't been released in a physical form. It is a drastic change for me since the last novel I read was a Japanese Nobel Prize winning book that dates back to the 50s or 60s.  A book that has aged, developed dog-ears and creases, and even yellowed with age.

Purchasing the new book was easy and downloading the app was a breeze. The kindle app is really ease to use with my touch screen phone. It even saves my place. However, if I drop my phone I risk an expensive deductible. I need my phone and gadgets so I can't afford to misplace it and my electronic book for months on end.

In short it is not a book. It does have it advantages and I could grow to like it. However, I am am old fashioned reader. I like the feel of a book in my hand as I read it. I even embrace technology to hunt down a book I want to read. I like searching through thrift stores, flea markets, and those great used book stores.

I fear technology. Book stores could vanish like record stores. Yes, I called them record stores when I purchased cassettes and compact discs as well. Libraries are shrinking will this technology make them landmarks of the past.

Am I wrong to hold on to the outdated books? Do outdated books turn into classics? Will classics still be made when you flick screens instead of turning pages?