Buying books for MA program

I've been collecting books from my reading list over the summer.  By comparing the used inventories available on US and UK Amazon and Half.com, I've saved myself a ton of money over retail prices.

I'm hemming and hawing about one out-of-print book - written by the major professor of the program.  It's cheaper here ($116), but I can't bring myself to buy it.

I keep thinking that the prof may have copies available, or that I could check it out of the library or something.  It is only one book after all - but an important read, I assume, if I'm going to be spending the next two years working for the man who wrote it.

Most of the professors at UGA had copies of their books available for the original retail price. 

What has been your experience in the UK?

honestly, I didn't buy a single book for my MA programme.  Everything I needed was in the library, which had multiple copies of the most important titles on the reading list and at least a single copy of everything else. I didn't read every single thing on the reading list either- there was no need.

Glad I asked!

I didn't read every single thing on the reading list either- there was no need.

Because (I assume...), based on the topic of your thesis and coursework papers, you focused on the most relevant material?  Just curious.

It probably wouldn't be hard to find a copy of the book. The library at your uni will certainly have it, perhaps multiple copies. You might even find it for sale in a local used bookstore (one that isn't hooked up to sell online, but which has this person's book b/c he's a local).

You can try www.worldcat.org to see which libraries have the book.

My PhD supervisor published a book while I was his student and I did get it at a big discount. But he only had a set number of copies he could do this with, so I wouldn't count on your prof having them, especially if it was published a few years ago or more.

I bought a lot of books because I believe in having my own library. But I didn't buy anything near what I would have liked to, and flat out refused to buy the book by the former head of our dept because it was so damned expensive.

Most of the professors at UGA had copies of their books available for the original retail price. 

What has been your experience in the UK?
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WHERE IN THE UK ARE YOU MOVING? im in manchester i moved her from ATL

Headed for Bristol. 

Looking forward to getting away from the sweaty South, but I sure will miss the frogs, crickets and cicadas.   

good luck. I have been in Manchester about 2 weeks. I have spent soooo much money. arghh! haveing fun?

I also didn't buy any books for my MA courses. All of the required readings were made available in the department library to either read there, or to photocopy. I also was able to find copies of most things in the main library.

As springhaze said, I also found that it wasn't really necessary to read every single thing on the syllabus every week. It was sort of expected that you might find some of the readings more interesting than others, and really delve into those, and perhaps even read other texts on those topics that were not on the reading list. In my experience, really understanding a couple of the texts was better than skimming a bunch of them when it came to class discussions, papers and exams.

I was under the impression that the readings were for the required papers.  Like writing a literature review.  Reckon I'll find out soon!   Tomorrow is our reception luncheon and class(es) start next Tuesday.

Not exactly having FUN per se, but I'm content!  I think fun is on the horizon. 

Except for the part where I have to find a JOB... 

I was under the impression that the readings were for the required papers.  Like writing a literature review.  Reckon I'll find out soon!   Tomorrow is our reception luncheon and class(es) start next Tuesday.

I got through an entire 4-year degree without even knowing what a literature review was, lol!

However, I didn't have any papers to write or seminars to attend during my degree (the joy of being in science), so I could basically get away without reading any of the book list except if I wanted to look up something for my own benefit/to understand something.

Good luck with starting your course, holly. I was out with friends in Clifton last night and could tell that the students were back - there were lots of loud drinking games going on in the Wetherspoon's pub opposite the Wills Memorial Building !

I haven't been buying all the books (there's just too many recommended books) but have been buying the really important ones (1-2 per class) and getting the rest from the library. It's been working for me, so far.