Importance of Textbooks?

[wockys]

Next quarter I'm enrolled in a class that has a textbook tagged as 'optional'. How important is it to get the book when it's tagged optional? Does that mean I'd be able to cover all the material in class and will be totally fine without it?

I'm just not that into spending $100 on a 2 credit course if I don't have to :/

Comments

[pendragon23]

Honestly it depends on the class, but if it's listed as optional you'll probably be fine without it. Also try looking for it used online, including old editions that might have much of the same material for a fraction of the price. Or buddy up with someone and share it!

[wockys]

Thanks, I'll definitely shop around before I buy it if I decide to get it :P

[ilovetetris]

Yeah, definitely depends on the class. I've taken classes where the optional books were really just recommended readings and they were never mentioned in class after the first day - in this case I would recommend getting it from the library to skim over it and see if it's useful in any way. In a lot of science classes (chem, bio) the optional book is a study guide - I find these helpful only if they have full solutions, and even then science textbooks change so little that I Just buy an old edition for ~$5. I would hold off until you've attended the first day of class and just ask if the book is useful - since it's option, you certainly won't need it during the first week of class.

[wockys]

Awesome, thanks for letting me know :)
I think it is a good idea to wait until class starts, so I'll make my decision once i see if it's actually necessary :P