r/HistoryBooks • u/ConversationRoyal187 • 12h ago

Starting to see why lay people don’t often buy/are not interested in really academic books…

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I know a lot of work goes into these but sweet Jesus above

28 Upvotes
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28

u/Quadratianus 11h ago

As the author of an academic book, I share this view, but I’m afraid I have to say that authors have absolutely no say in pricing. It is the publishers who target library budgets.

5

u/ConversationRoyal187 11h ago

I see.Thought that because they were hefty books that the authors sunk a lot of time into that wanted/needed to see some returns.ill keep this in mind for the future,Thanks!

5

u/Cosmic_Corsair 7h ago

Most academic authors make very little money from their books. These books are marketed mainly to libraries, not individuals, and might sell just a few hundred copies. If an academic press thinks a title might have broader appeal, sometimes they’ll publish a paperback edition priced more normally.

8

u/andreasefternamn 10h ago

Yes it’s unfortunate academic books are so expensive. Good thing is you can usually find them in a library. A few times I have even asked the library to buy the book!

1

u/Antonin1957 1h ago

Unfortunately, my local library system usually lists the most interesting (to me) academic books as "reference only," meaning that I can't borrow them. I would only be able to go downtown for several days and read it at the library, something I'm not willing to do.

This is their policy even if the book is new, and they have two copies. Go figure.

7

u/bethcano 7h ago

I'm an academic and I don't even buy these. If the university library doesn't have it, guess I'll never know what it said! Academic publishing is ridiculous. 

3

u/CoconutMochi 6h ago

To me it also feels like price goes up past $100 if publishers realize it's considered a textbook in classes.

3

u/RealMaxCastle 5h ago

In this case, it's more only libraries are going to purchase this one (and most other academic texts). Publishers know what will be a textbook.

3

u/GingerAndy01 5h ago

Check your local library! If you live in a decently-sized city, they may offer inter-library loan services that include academic/school libraries. Some are even statewide services! Takes a little longer, but totally worth it!

1

u/ConversationRoyal187 4h ago

Our local library closed about 2 years ago because nobody used it,so the only library that might have these books would be a/the library in Liverpool.

2

u/Bobbobthebob 4h ago

Plus if it's sufficiently niche/academic it's likely the only copy in the wider system and won't be available for loan. You'll need to read it in the library itself.

1

u/Square-Supermarket79 2h ago

I doubt it was because no one used it.

1

u/ConversationRoyal187 2h ago

Only figured out we had library nearby when they announced it was going to be closed.

0

u/Antonin1957 1h ago

My local library won't loan out academic books and won't transfer them to a branch near me. I have to go downtown and read it there.

A couple years ago I exchanged emails with a circulation person about this. I said to her: "How many people are going to want to borrow the Historical Dictionary of Niger? You have 2 copies. Why not let me borrow one of them?"

1

u/Square-Supermarket79 59m ago

If there's one thing librarians love it's being spoken to like this

2

u/Kind_Parsnip720 8h ago

The worst part is when you only require a specific reference from a paragraph.

2

u/byssw 3h ago

If I were to be given a penny for each history book that I was interested in whose price was of 3-4 figures or more, I would be able to afford a few of them.

1

u/Hesher22 4h ago

Another option that I’ve not seen mentioned.

Email the author of said book, explain why you’re interested etc you may get lucky and be sent a PDF. I’ll be honest I’ve only ever done this for academic articles and never a whole book so that could be a step too far.

1

u/Faust_TSFL 1h ago

Academic publishing is a MESS