University lecturers plugging their own books?

[dowie]

How often does this happen at your university (or did happen when you were at university)?

I've got mixed views on it - on one hand the book might well be quite well known and regarded (better still it might be available for free in pdf format on the author's website) in which case great... it has clearly been written with that particular module/course in mind and also used by other universities.

On the other hand when it is part of a module, a bit specialist and costs a hefty sum of money... I'm not so sure when the lecturer then sticks his or her own book as one of the recommended texts.

 

[dowie]

of course it happened, why are you even surprised?

Who said I'm surprised?

 

[dowie]

Why is it even a problem as long as it is up to scratch?

You are being taught by this lecturer and this is their book they have written for just such a course.

I don't think that is a problem as already mentioned in the OP.

 

[dowie]

The question was how often does/did this happen not what to do if it happens, I think you're misreading the OP muon.

 

[dowie]

Isn't this exactly what Gilderoy Lockhart did?

indeed

If they are lecturing on the subject, they are an expert in that field. Why wouldn't any books they've written on the subject be in the recommended list?

any number of reasons - for example maybe it is at too high or low level, maybe it is specialist and the course is introductory or vice versa

 

[dowie]

Tbh, I wouldn't try to use those arguments as they aren't specific to books written by the lecturer more so to their competency as lecturer.

why not? they're valid reason for a lecturer deciding not to use his own book for a particular course, competency isn't really relevant as far as answering amigafan's question is concerned

 

[dowie]

competency isn't really relevant though - amigafan's question was why wouldn't they and there are any number of reasons why someone might chose not to, yes they can also apply to books in general but that is also not really relevant

though this is sidetracking somewhat

 

[dowie]

Of course it can be, I'm not sure how much more to expand on that without coming across as patronising but a text suitable for a masters module might well take a different approach to one aimed at an undergrad level and vice versa - perhaps requiring certain prerequisites. Maybe the module is more applied and the text is quite theoretical and contains very few applications. Maybe someone else has written a better book. Like I said in answer to your question there are any number of reason why someone might chose to not use their book for a particular module.

However the thread was an open question about people who do use their own books.


edit - an old award from Sheffiled University's student's union seems to cover this nicely:

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/self-publicists-prize/151114.article

Sheffield University's student newspaper is launching the Golden Plug Awards. Academics at Sheffield must work out the cost of personal publications on a required-reading list, and multiply it by the number of students that they force to read them. First prize goes to whoever makes the most money from plugging their own work.

 

[dowie]

indeed, often better to find multiple sources in general tbh... as you may well prefer another author's explanation of something or simply working through things in a different way (or trying more exercises where applicable) can give a better overall understanding