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Re: Textbooks



This problem of filtering and preserving best ideas is certainly very
important. Is it true that one copy of every book published in the US
is preserved in a central national library (the Library of Congress?)?

If it were up to me I would impose the following tasks on AIP.

1) Subdivide physics textbooks according to subjects and levels, such
as: high school, introductory college (with calculus), introductory
college (no calculus), mechanics first level, thermo first level,
optics first level, e@m first level, modern first level, etc., perhaps
15 or 25 different categories, or so.

2) Process each category once every 50 years in order to extract what
is the best, according to experienced teachers. A team of three teachers
would be selected to process a category in 3 to 5 years (full time jobs
with financial resources for publishing, etc). That group would select
"the best" textbook (according to their own criteria) and edit another
book (or two) as appendices. Selected appendices would be extracts
from other books to compliment the first reference.

3) The books would be published, both on paper and electronically.
They would be preserved as important historic documents.

Jenkins and White, for example, could be a candidate for the "best
in Optics-first-level (for 1940-1990)". With only one deadline, every
50 year per category, and with 25 categories, there will be one start
every two years, on the average. How costly can it be? Would it be
a good investment? I think so.

Donald E. Simanek wrote:

..... As I go through my bloated library deciding which books to keep
into my retirement, that is one on the short list of "keepers". I can't
help noticing what is special about those "keepers". They are books which
stand out from the crowd because the author had a personal viewpoint,
special expertise, clarity of style, ability to explain, and refused to
write a book which was merely a clone of the others. I've noticed that the
"keepers" are often books which never saw a second edition, because in the
opinion of the publisher they "didn't make it" in the marketplace. The
ones which do well in the market-place, like Hewett, I happily give away
or trash.

And what of the others? What to do with them? Some go to the library, but
even libraries are selective, and already have the standard books. Some
libraries refuse to acquire textbooks. I can understand that. Such a tiny
fraction of them have lasting value, and their cost is outrageous. Some
books I have given away to students, but most students these days don't
want a textbook even if it is free. They don't read even the ones they are
required to buy. I notice that *even those who plan to be high school
teachers* aren't interested in building a library of their own. It's
discouraging. ....