textbook prices: a response from Academic Press

[nibot]

Dear Tobin (if I may),

Thanks for your query re the cost of books. Specific information you seek is proprietary, but I can give you some general guidelines.

Author royalty for technical, advanced-level texts is usually in the 10 to 15% range, depending on a variety of factors including potential market size-- a much more important factor than the physical size of a particular title. The re-seller's mark-up from wholesale (or publisher's discount from retail) ranges broadly. 20% to 30% is not atypical for textbooks. But point-of-purchase prices are beyond the publishers' control.

Publishing highly technical and/or advanced titles are especially costly. Typsetting mathematical symbols and diagrams, art rendering, designing, copyediting, proof-reading, error-checking, and not least of all, the author expertise required, add significant cost-- and value-- compared to non-technical works.

Textbooks are also subject to higher quality standards than other types of books with the expectation (if not always the reality) that they will be used rigorously, and often kept for years in personal libraries. You will see a substantial difference in the quality of the binding and paper between a book like Enderton's and a typical trade title.

The point at which such expenses are paid for (as you note below) is no more an issue for books than it is for other products. Just as an auto maker might offer a rebate on selected models, publishers or resellers may offer special discounts on selected titles (at professional conferences for example, or for bulk orders). But generally the price of the product increases over time, until demand no longer warrants its support. Successful products help to support the development of new ones, and are what keeps a company in business.

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) may be able to provide you with more information industry statistics. Meanwhile, I hope this helps to satisfy your curiosity.

Regards,
Mike Sugarman

Comments

[odd-dog.livejournal.com]

"--I'm not so young but not so very old,
said screwed-up lovely 23."
     --John Berryman, "A Stimulant for an Old Beast"

Happy birthday Tobin!!!

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

Amazing! They responded!

I seem to do more communication with you through lj comments than in person or in morse code through the ceiling. Anyway, now I'm caught up in reading lj! Yay!

[emidala.livejournal.com]

Wow! De svarade! Jag är mycket, mycket imponerad.