Opinion: Textbooks should be free | The Varsity

By Khodr Jaber

I’ve come to the realization that I will not be able to afford more than a couple of my textbooks for the remainder of my graduate studies. 

It is not uncommon to come across books that cost on the order of several hundred dollars. For example, the Handbook of Atomization and Sprays, edited by U of T Professor Nasser Ashgriz, is listed at over $300 for a paperback copy, and $500 for a hardcover version. 

It is well known that the rate of increase in postsecondary textbook prices has been surpassing that of our tuition fees for some time. For many students, it is becoming infeasible to purchase all the books required for their courses. However, it is difficult to understand why the rate of price increases must be so high. 

A typical first assumption is that textbook companies are simply trying to exploit students, knowing that, in many cases, they’ll have no choice but to buy new books every year. But upon further research, it becomes clear that a variety of economic factors play a major part in raising the final price of textbooks. 

Nonetheless, these high prices can hinder a student’s educational experience, especially when textbooks are required for coursework. Any potential solutions to this problem have to account for the necessity of course books while bypassing their cost constraints.