The colors in the books are very important. A student who aims for a C
just has to read the red stuff; for a B, the student has to read the blue
stuff also; but for an A black print is also important.
On Tue, May 01, 2001 at 05:41:32PM -0700, Colin Danby wrote:
> Congratulations to Eric for doing this and I hope more people follow.
> This material should be free.
>
> Look at, say, one of Kindleberger's textbooks from 30 years back. You
> get excellent, clearly-written, _text_: sentences, paragraphs, sections,
> and chapters meant to be read like a real book, not a magazine to be
> browsed through. No colors, no photographs, no special design, nothing
> that would justify an exorbitant price. In pedagogical terms books have
> improved very little since then, and their useful content could be still
> put in a trade paperback. Instead they've been tarted up with color
> photos, ostentatious graphics, and enough white space and extras to add
> pages and weight.
>
> Todaro's _Economic Development_ costs $93.33. This is grotesque.
>
> As Eric notes, publishers try to sell you elaborate packages including
> supplemental readers and workbooks, lecture notes, transparencies, and
> exams -- so all you have to do is stand at the podium, turn over the
> transparencies, read the notes, and give the multiple choice tests! If
> anything pedagogy has retrogressed.
>
> Another deadening feature of the market is that each book is supposed to
> resemble all other books, on the assumption that instructors are too
> lazy to change their classes, but will switch books on a whim. Look at
> how carefully Brad tries to argue that though his book is highly
> innovative, the changes "do not require recasting of courses."
>
> We need an evolving collection of freeware books, chapters, exercises,
> problem sets, handouts, examples, interactive tutorials, and whatnot --
> enough so that you could put on a decent intro course without making
> students buy anything. Then let publishers turn their efforts to
> innovative and useful things that might actually be worth buying.
>
> Best, Colin
>
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
