It is interesting to examine the evolution of textbooks, especially for colleges. I have taken the opportunity to examine chemistry for the freshman level. Specifically both what is presented, how it is presented, and how much it costs. I tried to examine texts from the 1960 period to the present. The time selection is based upon the Sputnik inflection point in 1957.
First of all, chemistry for college freshman is generally a
collections of disconnected ideas. It does not build like calculus or physics.
For example the typical course would include:
1. Molecular and atomic structure, the periodic table
2. Bonding, types and uses, basic quantum numbers
3. Lewis bonds and structures
4. Stoichiometry
5. Reaction rates
6. Reaction Kinetics
7. Aqueous Solutions
8. Acids and bases
9. Thermodynamics of reactions
These topics seem to be covered in most books. Oftentimes
these are separate and do not build upon the previous steps.
The trends seem obvious.
1. The CPI has gone from a normalized 1 to a current 8.5.
Namely prices have gone from $1 to $8.50 approximately.
2. The current prices if about $160.00 or about $19.00 in
1960 levels.
3. In 1960 the price of such a book was about $9.50. Thus a
doubling of the old price.
4. A massive introduction of color pictures. Just how many
times must the student see Einstein!
5. The style has changed dramatically. The older books were
fairly linear in presentation. The newer one seem to interject cultural,
political, technical as well as chemistry related materials.
6. Besides the book one needs to purchase an equally costly
book of problems. This doubles the price. Also some "on-line" purchase
may be required.
Overall it seems that the publishers are just loading up on
useless materials to get a greater price. The trends seem to be as follows:
1960-1980: Overview approach to the above topics, plus a few
others with limited graphics and often limited experimental references.
1980-2000: More detailed material with reasonable numbers of
worked examples and details on experimental efforts.
2000-2018: Explosion of useless details and confusing
layouts. Near impossible to determine what is important and what is fill. Comes
with costly separate problem and answer books almost always mandated.
Considering how this can be placed in an on-line mode, one
wonders why this still prevails. Answer, publishers profits, at the costs of
the students!
References (Prices are current from Amazon)
1. Atkins, Chemical Principles: The Quest for Insight 7th Edition, Freeman,
2016, $177.93
2. Averill and Eldredge, Chemistry, Pearson, 2006.
3. Black and Conant, New Practical Chemistry, McMillan, 1936
4. Brown et al, Chemistry: The Central Science (13th Edition), Pearson,
2014, $228.76
5. Dickerson et al, Chemical Principles, 3rd Ed, Benjaman,
1979.
6. Gilbert et al, Chemistry: The Science in Context (Fifth Edition),
Norton, 2017, $157.37
7. Kennan and Wood, General College Chemistry, Harper Row, 1961
8. Mahan and Myers, University Chemistry, 4th Ed, Benjaman,
1987.
9. Pauling, L., General Chemistry, Dover, 1988, $15.49
10. Quagliano, Chemistry, Prentice Hall, 1958
11. Sienko and Plane, Chemistry, 2nd Ed, McGraw Hill,
1961
12. Silberberg, Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of Matter and Change,
McGraw Hill 2017. $138.95
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