Comment by znpy

> More than just their cost, I found that most textbooks really were optional. Most professors never even referenced them throughout the course.

Imho that’s what makes the textbook overpriced: the usefulness in the course. In my academic years i’ve seen some textbook that are actually pleasant to read and that you could actually rely on, alone, to pass the course… and then so many books that where completely useless: either more of a reference than anything else or some poorly written text by the same professor holding the course.

At some point I resorted to ligben first, and then bookstore later and only if the book did deliver some actual value.