University books: Latest editions or cheaper older ones?

James J

James J

James J

Soldato
Joined
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Quick question to the OcUK crowd.

My reading list for my course has the following books on it:

Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology with IP 10-System Suite
Judi L. Nath, et al.
Mixed media product
Promotion: Student Price Check 44.99

Microbial Life
Stephen Lory, et al.
Hardback 49.99

Practical Skills in Biomolecular Sciences - Practical Skills
Rob Reed, et al.
Paperback
Promotion: Student Price Check 26.99

Brock Biology of Microorganisms
Paul Dunlap, et al.
Mixed media product
Promotion: Student Price Check 44.99

iGenetics: A Molecular Approach
Peter Russell
Mixed media product
Promotion: Student Price Check 44.99

Fundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
Carl A. Hoeger, et al.
Hardback 80.99

Total £292.94

Thats the latest new copies of each of the books from waterstones and I was abit taken back by the price lol. Due to that, I've been looking at the second hand market on other sites and can get older editions for on average 80% less so was wondering peoples thoughts on doing this as I'd run the risk of using outdated information and wasting my money.

The copies in the library have basically been on permanent lease by the looks of it as well :(
 
I have always been paranoid about reading outdated books. The trouble is as you've pointed out, is that they are so ruddy expensive.

Can you not borrow them when required from the library? I'd not start a course and buy lots of books, get into it for a few weeks and you'll find out which ones you frequently use and/or favour and therefore are worth investing in. That'll always be a lot less than the reading list. Or try students more senior than you, they'll have a good idea what's worth getting or not.

Or if there are third/fifth years that have just done what you've done and are looking to sell - see if you can get any latest editions that way.
 
One of my lecturer's pointed me in the direction of abebooks.com (there's probably alternatives) where I was able to pick up all of my course books for a fraction of the cost. Most of them were an edition out of date and ex-library stock but were in good enough shape and I just photocopied anything missing which was required from my classmates.
 
Older editions usually aren't recommended - as you point out, information will have been updated, mistakes corrected (and new ones introduced!), etc.

Second hand copies of the correct edition are usually the way to go. And/or textbook share with fellow students.
 
use the libraries copies and only buy ones if you find them particularly helpful or unavailable.

i wouldn't buy without knowing that you will use/read them enough to justify it
 
Latest editions are often recommended if one of your faculty writes or contributes to one of the books.
Only my experience, but I'd guesstimate 5% course content missing per edition.
It depends if you can make up that 5% from other sources to save to 20% cost?
 
Greenlizard0 said:
I have always been paranoid about reading outdated books. The trouble is as you've pointed out, is that they are so ruddy expensive.

Can you not borrow them when required from the library? I'd not start a course and buy lots of books, get into it for a few weeks and you'll find out which ones you frequently use and/or favour and therefore are worth investing in. That'll always be a lot less than the reading list. Or try students more senior than you, they'll have a good idea what's worth getting or not.

Or if there are third/fifth years that have just done what you've done and are looking to sell - see if you can get any latest editions that way.
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I've explored some of these options throughout the week and students in their last year still use all 6 of the books often enough to warrant buying them. Sadly for me, no one seems to be selling the newest editions.

I just tried the website antar pointed out but the first one I put in was nearly as much as it is brand new lol.

I've spoken to my tutor about this issue also and shes recommended I buy new instead of second hand. Just wish it wasn't so damn expensive :(
 
It may help if you think of it as an investment, some of these books you might be using for years. If the books are that much in demand then surely at least one or two copies of each should be on short loan whereby you can't take them out the library?
 
Look on Amazon for your books, there are always second hand ones. I get mine for next to nothing on there and I have to buy loads of them. Sometimes the book is £0.01 and you just cover the £2.75 postage.

Seriously, if you spend full whack on them you'll just be out of pocket. If you get them cheaper you'll be able to scribble all over them, you won't be upset if they get damaged or you lose one.

Also, your university may have E-book access through their online system. You can log on, download the E-reader software and just download the book. Print out what you want and the university subscription covers it.

Edit: looking them up on Amazon, even if you were to buy them new you'd save over £50 getting them there instead of Waterstones. It's still a lot but £50 is a better than a poke in the eye.
 
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I have brought a few books whilst i've been at university in all honesty I have only really needed one. Your course looks very different though.

Few good shouts of where to get them cheaper in this thread, if you think it will help you you should get the latest editions, would be worth having a look at them first though.
 
Jonny69 said:
Also, your university may have E-book access through their online system. You can log on, download the E-reader software and just download the book. Print out what you want and the university subscription covers it.
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Publishers are wise to this one now. Many of them are heavily encumbered with DRM protection to make it very inconvenient to try this - pdf downloads are encrypted as well as function locked, some are never downloaded at all and are delivered through the browser only and track how many pages you print and which ones you are allowed to.
 
Don't buy them now. Keep them in mind, and see whether you actually need them once your course is underway. Loads of students fork our hundreds for books they look at once or twice in the year and never really need.
 
I recommend if you buy them, buy the latest editions. Especially for Biology. I don't know those books specifically, but your tutors should, so ask for their thoughts.

"buddying up" is also an option. I.e. course friend buys 1 book, you buy another and alternate. You need a reliable friend for this.

Also, don't forget to get an NUS Extra card and enjoy your 5% Riverplace discount.
 
Mr Jack said:
Don't buy them now. Keep them in mind, and see whether you actually need them once your course is underway. Loads of students fork our hundreds for books they look at once or twice in the year and never really need.
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I bought three 'core' books when I was at uni, the rest of the suggested reading list was needed so infrequently that the uni library was more than adequate to cover those needs.
 
I bought everything new, now I've graduated I have an impressive bookshelf - which I never read. So my advice is to get everything cheap, except those you think you'll use as a reference later.
 
books in university are over rated. i bought a load of books and i rarely used any of them. only one of them was actually useful as the lecturer was crap and i needed to actually understand the subject (it was chemical thermodynamics).
 
Jonny69 said:
Look on Amazon for your books, there are always second hand ones. I get mine for next to nothing on there and I have to buy loads of them. Sometimes the book is £0.01 and you just cover the £2.75 postage.

Seriously, if you spend full whack on them you'll just be out of pocket. If you get them cheaper you'll be able to scribble all over them, you won't be upset if they get damaged or you lose one.

Also, your university may have E-book access through their online system. You can log on, download the E-reader software and just download the book. Print out what you want and the university subscription covers it.

Edit: looking them up on Amazon, even if you were to buy them new you'd save over £50 getting them there instead of Waterstones. It's still a lot but £50 is a better than a poke in the eye.
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Yeah amazon has been the port of call really in regards to my search for cheaper alternatives. One of them can be had for half price compared to the quouted price which is vastly better lol.

NUS extra card is also a decent suggestion, will look at getting one of these next week.
 
franco_22 said:
You don't get old books specially if you're studying Science... jeez, I thought that would be pretty obvious.
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Its not actually as the refencing guidelines vary massively between subjects. If citations are allowed for upto 5-10 year old sources, I'd get away with buying older editions without penalties. I dont know this is the case though until late next week at the earliest.
 
franco_22 said:
You don't get old books specially if you're studying Science... jeez, I thought that would be pretty obvious.
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not true - i have maybe 200 science textbooks now and the old ones are often the most useful. it depends on the subject but even books up to 60/70 years old are still relevant.
remember that doing a degree is a very basic level and you only need to understand the basics/background - thats what textbooks do - anything new is in papers, not in textbooks.
 
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