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> 'We faced resistance from the private textbook lobby, who didn't want to invest in fresh textbooks for Python' The private textbook publishers didn't want to

by zeveb 9y ago

> 'We faced resistance from the private textbook lobby, who didn't want to invest in fresh textbooks for Python' The private textbook publishers didn't want to invest in something that would result in their customers replacing all of their books‽ Is there some structural reason for this (maybe Indian schools pay a flat fee for textbooks or something)?

jstarfish 9y ago
My wife and I got through college ordering used textbooks from India for literally pennies on the dollar. I see some mentions that Indian textbooks are sub-par quality-- not so in our experience. We'd have the same hardcover books as our classmates, only the jacket would be a different color and labeled the "international edition." They'd always have page-sized EULAs threatening brimstone and firing squads if the books were used outside of select Indian universities so there's clearly some generous licensing going on. Since the same goes for Indian pharmaceuticals (pennies on the dollar compared to retail price in the US), I doubt they can get away with extorting Indian students to the extent they can American students.
jogjayr 9y ago
Typically in Indian private schools the students are responsible for purchasing textbooks at the start of the school year, not the schools (I don't know how it works at public schools). And they won't change their textbook mid-year. Textbooks don't usually have much resale value, though I'm sure poor students buy them secondhand. They are paper-bound (and not even as sturdy as the average paperback) and tend to fall apart after a year unless you rebind them with cardboard. The quality of the paper isn't great. These are all good things because the books are inexpensive to purchase new (and it's possible some government subsidies may be involved). My guess is that the publishing company would prefer to keep printing the same book and make minor updates year-to-year, instead of investing in writing a whole new book. Unless the number of students enrolling increases dramatically they're not going to make more money by writing a new Python book.

by zeveb 9y ago

jstarfish 9y ago

My wife and I got through college ordering used textbooks from India for literally pennies on the dollar. I see some mentions that Indian textbooks are sub-par quality-- not so in our experience. We'd have the same hardcover books as our classmates, only the jacket would be a different color and labeled the "international edition." They'd always have page-sized EULAs threatening brimstone and firing squads if the books were used outside of select Indian universities so there's clearly some generous licensing going on. Since the same goes for Indian pharmaceuticals (pennies on the dollar compared to retail price in the US), I doubt they can get away with extorting Indian students to the extent they can American students.

jogjayr 9y ago

Typically in Indian private schools the students are responsible for purchasing textbooks at the start of the school year, not the schools (I don't know how it works at public schools). And they won't change their textbook mid-year. Textbooks don't usually have much resale value, though I'm sure poor students buy them secondhand. They are paper-bound (and not even as sturdy as the average paperback) and tend to fall apart after a year unless you rebind them with cardboard. The quality of the paper isn't great. These are all good things because the books are inexpensive to purchase new (and it's possible some government subsidies may be involved). My guess is that the publishing company would prefer to keep printing the same book and make minor updates year-to-year, instead of investing in writing a whole new book. Unless the number of students enrolling increases dramatically they're not going to make more money by writing a new Python book.