Saldana 1

John Saldana
University of New Mexico
ENGL 219

Textbooks be gone
An Intimate Look at the Causes,
The Consequences, and
The Solutions to
Overpriced
Textbooks

Introduction
The rate at which textbook prices have risen in the United States is not only staggering but mindblowing. It is one of the only commodities that has not only withstood the depreciating financial
effects of several past and recent recessions, but has the power to maintain, and even double or
triple in value. Textbooks play a central role in our economy; they educate our young. They
provide a structure and syllabus to a program that allows a person to learn and improve their
skills. Without textbooks, education as we know it would not exist. Education is the crux to our
survival. My target audience is my fellow college students. College students are negatively
financially affected when we are required to buy overpriced textbooks. That is, we are put in a
financial bind by purchasing expensive textbooks because these books actually play a role in our
education. A US Government Accounting Office report shows that textbook prices rose 40
percent between 2002 and 2007, and 186 percent between 1986 and 2004 (McGrath). Bottom
line, we need textbooks if we are going to succeed in school. But university students do not have
to make financial compromises when it comes to acquiring textbooks. The problem precipitated
by the procurement of expensive books can be remedied by adopting a set of alternatives. The
purpose of this paper is to show average students, like myself, how to save money when buying
textbooks. It will be accomplished through a series of steps that will lessen the financial burden
on my fellow students when it comes to acquiring university books. The proposal will take a
step-wise approach focusing on three facets: a look at the grand scheme of how textbook prices
have run rampant, that is, the causes; the harmful effects current textbook prices have on us---the
consequences; and above all, cost effective solutions that can benefit all students at the register.

Tool Tip 1
Textbooks are
expensive

Causes:
Corporate
greed...

Consequences
: Hurts
students...

Solutions:
Alternative
uses...

Background
University books are too damn expensive. We struggle to make ends meet to attend college.
Furthermore, add in the rising cost of required textbooks; it makes our struggle a burden. Just the
other day, I was waiting in line to purchase spring books at University of New Mexicos
bookstore. I asked a cashier to show me their collection of used Calculus, Economics,
Programming and CPR books. She took me around rows and rows of neatly, individually, seethrough, plastic-wrapped textbooks that had bright fluorescent yellow stickers that read NEW
on the cover. Then she stopped I told the young lady, there must be a mistake; I wanted to see
used books. She replied, All Math and Science classes require current and updated books. I
sighed. But I kept my cool. I knew this was going to cost me an arm and leg: $250 for a Calculus
3 book, $300 for a Economics book, $200 for C++ book, and $120 for a CPR book. I had four
very expensive textbooks as I approached the cash register. I slowly and deliberately placed each
book on the counter like they were fragile Faberge eggs. I anxiously waited for the cashier to
ring me up. I could feel the sweat on my palms. I knew this transaction will be expensive but I
did not know how expensive---sales tax and all. As the cashier rung me up; my heart rate
increased. My eyes widened. And then she did it That will be nine hundred thirty dollars and
fifty three cents. $932.53! Thats a months-worth of rent! Stunned, I pondered the essence of
what transpired. How in the blue hell have textbook prices gotten this out of hand and, more

importantly, is there some way to earn a decent college education without having to pay an arm
and leg for books?
Unfortunately the rise in cost is nothing new; in fact, these costs have increased and will
continue to do so in the future. From 2002 to 2012, U.S. textbooks have increased 82% (Fig. 1)
that is nearly three times the rate of inflation,
according to a recent study by the Government
Accountability Office (Weisbaum). With each year,
the percentage point for college books mirror the
cost of college tuition. How is that possible? It
appears someone or something is causing this
Fig. 1 Line Chart

upward trend in cost that is ultimately causing us to

pay more. Something needs to be done about this right now.

Causes
Tool Tip 2

Causes

Book
publisher's
have a
monopoly...

Government's
inabilty to
regulate...

Some faculty
members have their
hands in the cookie
jar...

According to Ethan Senack, a higher education associate at United States Public Interest
Research Group (U.S. PIRG), the problem is that Textbooks are so expensive because
professors assign specific editions and just five publishers have a lock on the market. That means

theyre able to drive up prices without fear of market competitors (Wood). Therefore with lack
of competition, monopolies occur (Fig. 2). Textbook
monopolies are a byproduct of book publishers
greed. Monopolies have the ability to cause market
instability. For example, under a normal market setting
with competing markets, a pencil may cost between three
and five cents. Under a monopoly, with no competing markets,

Fig. 2 Locking in a market

that same pencil may cost upwards of $15 to $20. The cost is set at the monopolys discretion.
More often than not, the price is set to increase profitability without concern of who is affected.
In this case, we---as students---are affected. It is this arbitrary pricing that leads to price gouging.
Monopolies are illegal due to the fact they can do whatever they financially want.
publishers prop up their profits, from bundling textbooks with software that forces students to
buy new editions instead of cheaper used copies, to suing a low-cost textbook start-ups over
flimsy copyright claims (Weismann). To increase profits, publishers only need to make minute
modifications to eliminate the option of reselling old books. This practice essentially kills off
used book sales resulting in stacks of overpriced textbooks.
It is not only this egregious behavior, or rather, greed, on the part of book publishers but the
inability of the government to regulate textbook prices that has allowed book cost to skyrocket to
82% (Fig. 3). Why is this monopoly unregulated? Why does the government sit idle and do
nothing? The government took action in 1984 when ATT was found using monopolistic
tactics; they also did the same to Standard Oil back in 1911. Maybe government does not
regulate college book prices because they do not know anything about it. Is it possible that

teachers do not make a big deal about it because they are in on

it? Do teacher play a role in price gouging? Some do
As Tom Bartlett reported for the Chronicle of
Higher Education, one small textbook
Fig. 3 Government

publisher paid thousands of dollars to junior

professors to bribe them to adopt their textbooks. Other incentives are more
subtle, but Bartlett quotes a sales representative from a larger publisher as saying
To be blunt, you have to find a way to buy off the professor. (Farell)
Not all teachers can be bought. Teachers who have the passion for wanting to train, motivate, and
educate students are few and far between, but they can be pressured. There are teachers who do
the right thing: using cheaper and older textbooks, but are punished for it:
The Orange County Register reports that Alain Bourget, a math professor at Cal
State Fullerton, is in danger of serious disciplinary action from his employer. His
crime? Refusing to teach the assigned textbook, which costs $180 and was cowritten by the chair and vice-chair of his academic department. (Farell)
Teachers who sell their discipline for an easy buck hurt us financially. Is it this financial reward
that has allowed teachers to keep quiet, or rather, not make a big stink to the government about
price gouging?
This type of capitalistic behavior cannot exist in an academic setting. Three causes have led to
the upward rise in the price of college books: price gouging from book publishers,
unregulation of text book prices by the government, and use of techniques that has kept
teachers quiet about this behavior which affects us in the worst of ways.

Consequences
Tool Tip 3

Consequence
s

Students can
not afford
food or rent...

Students not
being
prepared for
class...

Students
taking longer
to graduate...

The rising costs of textbooks affect us in four harmful and

dangerous ways: we cannot buy food, we barter to make
rent, we are not prepared for classes, and some of us need a
longer time frame to graduate. We sacrifice basic living
necessities for academic necessities (Fig. 4). Purchasing
expensive textbooks not only means not eating for a week but having the knowledge there is a
high probability of not being able to pay rent. On average, college students spend around $1,200
each year on books and supplies (Fitzgerald). $1200 spent on academic textbooks in a year is a
lot of money to students. I asked a couple of my UNM friends how much they paid for books for
the spring semester, and they said, Around $600. I also called a couple of my friends at
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and asked them the same question: Jeanie told me
around $800 and Nick told me $500; but my other friend, Wyatt, a Navy veteran, replied,
Free---cause of the GI Bill plus they gave me a top of the line laptop. Lucky! But he served our
country. For those of us who did not serve in the armed forces, we may have to barter our
services for rent. Consequently, losing out on our precious study time in lieu of bartering services
rendered. Furthermore, with a loss in study time, what follows is a quick reduction in a letter

grade. Some

of us
choose to not purchase books and are therefore not prepared for taking classes. Out of 2000
nationwide students, two-thirds of respondents said they chose not to buy a textbook because
it was too expensive. (Murray). That is 1,333 out of 2000 students in this case study who did
not have all the tools they need to succeed in a class (Fig. 5). If university students do not have
the appropriate tools, how can we effectively achieve success in a classroom? By not purchasing
expensive and required books, we not only risk withdrawing from classes but earning poor
grades. "Not only are students choosing not to purchase the materials they are assigned by their
professor, but they are knowingly accepting the risk of a lower grade to avoid paying for the
textbook," (Bidwell) This is a huge problem that needs to be addressed. Buying affordable up to
date university books are essential for us to achieve success in the classroom. Still, some of us
choose to take a route that is less travelled, that is, taking a longer route to graduate. Instead of
the proverbial 4 years to earn a degree, some students will earn their degrees in 6 years.
Essentially costing us more money, or rather debt for the extra two years (Fig. 6). At University
of New Mexico, this is $40,524 for residents and $69,696 for non-residents for 2015-2016
academic year. Do we want to financial burden a new generation of students because book

publishers want to egregiously pad their check books? Education in this society should be fair,
just, and above all, affordable.

Solutions
Tool Tip 4
Fig. 4 A student asking for

University books are expensive. Additionally, there is a direct relationship between high priced
textbooks and poor performance in school. But this relationship can be countered threefold: by
the use of E-books, the use of open source books, and the use of renting or buying older text
books.

Fig. 5 Pie Chart

Fig. 6 UNM's 2015-2016 Cost of Attendance

Solutions
Stud en ts use
of Students
E-b oo ks...
use
of E-books...

Stude nts use

of ope n
Students
use
source
of open
boosource
ks...
books...

Stude nts use

of
ren ting use
Students
olderof
b ook
s...
renting
older books...

By using E-books, we only need a digital

device that can be found at almost any retail
store for under $50. Walmart sells E-readers
for $45. An E-book is a book composed in
or converted to digital format for display on
a computer screen or handheld device

Fig. 7 An Electronic Book

(Merriam-Webster). Information for a particular class can be purchased for the price of a new
textbook. The benefits of using E-books as an alternative to buying expensive textbooks are Ereaders are significantly lighter, capable of holding a huge amount of data, and most importantly,
has a lower cost compared to a full set of semester college books. E-books are a great alternative
to purchasing new textbooks at retail price. Amazon and Alibris are great places to find E-books
(Fig. 7).
Another alternative is the use of open source books. Open source books are basically books that
are contributed by a community. Students use these books for a current semester then return them
to the community pot for other students to use. The cost: nothing. Advantages, or rather benefits:
we do not have to pay for books. Disadvantage: paying it forward; that is, we cannot keep books,
and we cannot mark or highlight the books. The main advantage to this particular option is that
books are essentially free; that is, they are donated by the community. This process is a great way
to save money on textbooks. A 2010 report from Student Public Interest Research Groups
(PIRGs) shows that open textbooks could reduce the average cost by 80 percent (4 Sources Of
Open Source Textbooks). Using open source books is another alternative to counter the greed
that is prevalent in book publishers. One of the best open source textbook resources can be found
at openstaxcollege.org.

Another solution in lieu of buying expensive college books

is the renting or buying of older textbooks. For example,
calculus will neither change or be modified in the coming
years. Why not use older textbooks? They provide the
same information as newer books---often times, older
Fig. 8 Amazon

books explain difficult material in a clearer and concise

manner. Finding used textbook to rent or buy can be accomplished by looking at local college
bulletin boards, scanning local craigslist ads, and the most popular, using auction sites like E-bay
or Amazon (Fig. 8). In fact, Amazon has a pending lawsuit against The National Association of
College Stores (NACS). The online bookselling giant has filed a lawsuit against NACS,
claiming the association is trying to prevent it from offering students an alternative to high
textbook costs (Goral). Cost: basically the cost of new books. Benefits: same as the cost, with
an exception that notes made by previous users may help understand difficult and challenging
concepts.
By incorporating these three methods, we can not only save money but earn our degree without
losing an arm and a leg financially.

Conclusions
Textbooks are expensive! There are no two ways around that. If not kept in check, the rising cost
in books could jeopardize our future. Being aware of the cost-benefit analysis an issue is integral
in determining whether an action is good or bad. With that in mind, what is the cost of
purchasing expensive textbooks compared to its benefits? It is no doubt that having a textbook is
crucial to performing at a high academic level but it comes at a cost. That cost being losing a

huge chunk of money from our checking account; a chunk of money that we, as students, do not
always have. But, the benefits are tremendous: a thorough understanding of the subject matter, as
well as, an academic grade that mirrors our understanding of the material. We need to be able to
afford textbooks. By keeping the benefits and lowering the cost of textbooks through the use of
low cost alternatives, we can not only achieve success in the classroom but save money. The
costs and benefits associated with alternative uses that counter the rising cost of college books
far outweigh the need to purchase inflated and expensive textbooks. Why did I pay close to
$1000 for books this semester? Hindside is 20/20, it would have been cheaper to buy an E-reader
or use Amazon to get my books and save money.
But the sad reality is rising cost of books will not go away. The problem is visibly present to
students but it appears no one is looking, or rather cares. Book publishers have created the ideal
environment to milk us of what little money we have through price gouging. What book
publishers fail to realize is there are series of options that circumvent their flagrant misuse of
power.
Going forward, we need to stand up and take action against inflated book prices. Through the use
of E-books, open source books, and used or rented textbooks, we can not only save money, but
we do not have to spend an arm and leg for our degrees. By taking these steps to bypass the
rising cost of college books today, we prevent passing this travesty from being passed to our
classmates, and more importantly, to the future generation of students.
After reading this report, we welcome you to join our efforts in implementing options to curb the
rampant costs of college books. We would like to schedule an appointment with you to discuss
these options.

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or
email. You can contact John Saldana at 916-349-4320 or at his email: jsaldana@unm.edu.

Works Cited
Fitzgerald, Michael. Free Textbooks Spell Disruption For College Publishers. MIT Technology
Review 116.1 (2013): 65-66. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Jan. 2016
Goral, Tim. Bargain Book Battle. University Business 14.6 (2011): 19. Academic Search
Premier. Web. 9 Jan. 2016
McGrath, David. College tuition is expensive enough, let alone the textbooks. Christian
Science Monitor 15 Mar. 2010: N.PAG. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Jan. 2016
Wood, Annie. "Textbooks Too Expensive? There Could Be A Policy Solution For That."
Generation Progress. N.p., 22 Jan. 2015. Web. 07 Jan. 2016.
"E-book." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 07 Jan. 2016.
Weissmann, Jordan. "Why Are College Textbooks So Absurdly Expensive?" The Atlantic.
Atlantic Media Company, 03 Jan. 2013. Web. 07 Jan. 2016.
Farrell, Henry. "College Textbooks Are a Racket." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 21
Oct. 2015. Web. 07 Jan. 2016.

Murray, Patty. "How High Textbook Prices Affect Student Decision-Making." WPR. Wisconsin
Public Radio, 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 7 Jan. 2016.
Weisbaum, CNBC Herb. "Cost of College Textbooks out of Control, Group Says." USA Today.
Gannett, 02 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 Jan. 2016.
Bidwell, Allie. "Report: High Textbook Prices Have College Students Struggling." U.S. News
and World Report. U.S. News, 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 7 Jan. 2016.
"4 Sources Of Open-Source Textbooks." TeachThought. TeachThought, 11 Jan. 2013. Web. 08
Jan. 2016.
Images:
[Untitiled diagram of books and money]. Retrieved from http://socawlege.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/01/preview4.jpg
[Untitled diagram of a line chart]. Retrieved from
extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site568/2014/0127/20140127_101117_eoak0128textbook
web_300.jpg
[Untitled diagram of a monopoly man]. Retrieved from http://imgs.tuts.dragoart.com/how-todraw-monopoly-the-monopoly-guy_1_000000015332_5.png
[Untitled diagram of the white house]. Retrieved from http://globaltalentidaho.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/09/white-house.jpg
[Untitled diagram of a couple in stress]. Retrieved from http://www.debt.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/04/Money-Stress-526x395.jpg

[Untitled diagram of UNM cost of attendance]. Retrieved from

http://admissions.unm.edu/costs_financial_aid/index.html
[Untitled diagram of an E-book]. Retrieved from
epmgaa.media.lionheartdms.com/img/photos/2015/03/09/tumblr_static_13hi5cp2zau8oc8cocccc
kg0o.jpg
[Untitled diagram of Amazon]. Retrieved from
http://www.mabel-music.de/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/amazon.jpg