Comments on: Worthless technical books http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/ The blog of John D. Cook Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:02:57 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Gene http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/comment-page-1/#comment-26518 Gene Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:07:59 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=3473#comment-26518 PHP 4 book: $0.50 value Learning Perl: $0.50 value Art of Computer Programming: Priceless! PHP 4 book: $0.50 value
Learning Perl: $0.50 value
Art of Computer Programming: Priceless!

]]> By: Lori Mathhead http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/comment-page-1/#comment-26320 Lori Mathhead Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:32:38 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=3473#comment-26320 Sooooo, I guess I should recycle just recycle that Photoshop 7 book, huh? Duoh! Sooooo, I guess I should recycle just recycle that Photoshop 7 book, huh? Duoh!

]]> By: John http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/comment-page-1/#comment-26301 John Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:20:24 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=3473#comment-26301 Jason, the books are were all related to computing. Engineering books hold their value better. They also retain their <em>perceived</em> value better. There are two issues here. First, some computer books really are worthless after a few years. Second, some computer books are worth reading, but people presume they're worthless because there are so many books in the first category. Jason, the books are were all related to computing. Engineering books hold their value better. They also retain their perceived value better.

There are two issues here. First, some computer books really are worthless after a few years. Second, some computer books are worth reading, but people presume they’re worthless because there are so many books in the first category.

]]> By: Jason Fruit http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/comment-page-1/#comment-26299 Jason Fruit Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:55:34 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=3473#comment-26299 When you say "technical books", do you mean specifically computer-related, or technical in general? Because certainly the autodidact has a lot to gain from a book on aerodynamics from twenty years ago, or a fifty-year-old book on wooden building construction, even though they might be abandoned as school textbooks. When you say “technical books”, do you mean specifically computer-related, or technical in general? Because certainly the autodidact has a lot to gain from a book on aerodynamics from twenty years ago, or a fifty-year-old book on wooden building construction, even though they might be abandoned as school textbooks.

]]> By: Jason Adams http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/comment-page-1/#comment-26298 Jason Adams Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:16:19 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=3473#comment-26298 I like going through antique stores and finding collections of books to see what sort of technical books they might have. Saw an intro to computer hardware and architecture the other day from 1982. $9 is too much to be asking for something like that, when it's not even in mint condition. :P I usually offer my old tech books on craigslist. I can almost always get rid of them all that way.. I like going through antique stores and finding collections of books to see what sort of technical books they might have. Saw an intro to computer hardware and architecture the other day from 1982. $9 is too much to be asking for something like that, when it’s not even in mint condition. :P

I usually offer my old tech books on craigslist. I can almost always get rid of them all that way..

]]> By: John http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/comment-page-1/#comment-26283 John Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:47:10 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=3473#comment-26283 True, but some books retain their value much better than others. Here's an interesting exercise: Which of your books might your grandchildren care about? I would hope that my grandchildren are interested in my copies of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895267896?ie=UTF8&tag=theende-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0895267896" rel="nofollow">Witness</a> (1952) and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OEA066?ie=UTF8&tag=theende-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B000OEA066" rel="nofollow">Story of Civilization</a> (1963). True, but some books retain their value much better than others. Here’s an interesting exercise: Which of your books might your grandchildren care about?

I would hope that my grandchildren are interested in my copies of Witness (1952) and Story of Civilization (1963).

]]> By: Daniel Lemire http://www.johndcook.com/blog/2009/10/20/worthless-technical-books/comment-page-1/#comment-26282 Daniel Lemire Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:36:26 +0000 http://www.johndcook.com/blog/?p=3473#comment-26282 Even non-technical books lose value quite fast. Even non-technical books lose value quite fast.

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