3 ms·
In one way, many newer editions of textbooks are worse than older ones: the printing. That's courtesy of modern print-on-demand systems, where instead of sharp
by tmoertel 2y ago
In one way, many newer editions of textbooks are worse than older ones: the printing. That's courtesy of modern print-on-demand systems, where instead of sharp offset printing you get glorified inkjet output that's noticably blurry. And instead of a bulletproof Smyth-sewn binding, your "hardcover" book gets you a short-lived perfect-bound paperback glued into a hard cover.
When it comes to buying textbooks, unless a newer printing has corrections that I care about, I'll purchance an earlier printing to get the better book.
- perihelions 2y agoI wish there were a service that would unbind cheap books and sew them into a new binding of something bulletproof.
- goosedragons 2y agoThey exist. Book rebinders are a thing. I recall my school's library had a fair number of rebound books. There's probably one around you.
- tmoertel 2y agoThe problem is that the cheap books have already had their signatures cut into individual pages so that they can be perfect bound, basically running a strip of hot melt glue down the binding edge. At this point, you cannot rebind the pages in a way that will compare to the strength and durability of the original signatures.