Book Hunting
Now that the project is over and we have another 3 papers standing between us and the much valued B.E degree, it’s almost like an anticlimax. We are supposed to do the same thing we have been doing for 4 years now. The same drill. Read some crap, write some crap. Pray a lot. Clear the Semester papers.
I had to get this book for my semester, “Wireless Communication: Principles and Practices” Second Edition by Theodore S Rappaport.
Now, if you should have found this book on my website already, then you should also know that that book is the first edition. It is also a badly scanned copy. 
I actually got an e book printed out for my other text book and it came out real nice.
So, I finally decided it was about time I went and bought this book as my exam is sometime next week. 
People at home were pretty shocked to hear that I was going to buy my books for exams that was starting next week. Well, as long as I get them and clear the papers. Not like it matters really. It’s engi-sneering you see.
To my shock, couple of book stores I called didn’t have the book. One in T Nagar, one more in Adyar – Kamal Book Stores and yet another in Mylapore – Ravi Book House. The Ravi book house guy seemed to have an abridged edition. (Something I must suggest to my classmates.) But then I said no thanks and the guy promised to get me the book by tomorrow. Not that I’d be needing it now.
I finally took Abhi with me to Mylapore and bought my book in Vijaya Book House. What a Rip-off. They sold me the book for the MRP!! That’s like day light robbery. I usually buy books for 25 % less.
So anyway, I bought the book, went to Ascendas,ate yet again at Mc Donalds with friends. (Only because it’s cheap and I don’t have much money after I was robbed by the book store guy) Came back home and am on line. So please learn from me. Never buy books when you know that you won’t be using them anyway. And never but books at MRP.
Great! I told my parents during 1st year itself that i’ll join book bank for getting books rather than wasting money by buying them. Hmm…my dad was like no way just buy the book don’t need to join any book bank or so. I thought if they were ready to waste money then why should i explain to them like dad all books are going to be USE AND THROW only, coz we’re studying under AU. Where all our syllabus is too vast and not at all useful later except very few.
Finally, all my books( USE AND THROW) are sleeping inside the loft in my room.
Rachel
April 21, 2008 at 7:49 pm
How much do your books cost?
George
April 22, 2008 at 7:37 pm
It depends on the author i get. But the minimum cost would be 300 or so for each book. Imagine 6 books every semester, damn it.
Rachel
April 22, 2008 at 8:57 pm
@Rachel,
If you buy the prescribed authors, then I don’t think it would be a waste at all. Hey if you don’t want to retain the books, you could either sell it in second hand shops or donate it to some library you like (not the college library
)
Some of your books you shouldn’t throw away if you have them,
Data Structures by Tanenbaum
Computer Organisation by Carl Hamacher
Operating Sysytems by Silberscatz, Galvin, et all.
Data Communication & Networking by B A Forouzan.
VC++ by Kruglinski,Shepherd and Wingo
Windows Programming by Petzold
I’m sure there are many more such good books.
For me, book bank was a nightmare. REC buggers never gave me the book I wanted. This went on for some 3 semesters after which I said “No Thank You”. I was better of buying and borrowing books.
You know, for the last semester or so I’ve been buying books for a concession of 20-25 %. A 400 rupee book costs you 300. Isn’t that great ?
Karthik
April 23, 2008 at 4:59 am
Wow, okay, that’s expensive. That Tanenbaum book, is it the Andrew Tanenbaum who wrote Minix?
George
April 23, 2008 at 6:26 am
@Karthik, i always buy only prescribed authors. A 400 rupee book at 300 great man, at least you can save a 100 rupees. I’ve all the books except windows programming by Petzold.
@George, i guess your right about the author.
Rachel
April 23, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Hey, then maybe I could buy some books from you
Go ahead and quote your rates. 
Karthik
April 23, 2008 at 2:23 pm
@Karthik
Definetly, no concession dude. Now are you ready to get books from me
ROFL..
Rachel
April 23, 2008 at 3:01 pm
[...] Karthik posted about searching for books and the trouble involved in paying for them. Well, when I need a book I usually drive down to Pycrofts Road and there’ll be huge rows of used book sellers. I’ve gotten some really good books from there for dirt cheap because they charge you on the weight of the book or on what they think is its value. If you’re good at bargaining you can drop the price to 50% of what they ask, which will be a fraction of the cost of the book and you can get a book that’s worth 500 bucks at 80 bucks or so. [...]
Implicit Truths » Blog Archive » Buying books in Madras
April 24, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I bought the books today. There were two or more books prescribed per subject so I simply went and bought the low quality ‘local author’ crap.
Marc
April 24, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Engg is that boring and wothless now? Once upon a time it used to be a big deal to be an engineer..
jillu
April 25, 2008 at 2:30 pm
@Rachel,
You are offering to sell me second hand books for the MRP when I can get first hand books for 25 % off. You must really think of me as an Idiot
So, to prove you wrong, I ain’t buying it.
@Marc,
Yet another excuse for studying from local author books. I am sad.
@Jillu,
Which part of the post made you believe so ? And when was this once ?
Karthik
April 25, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I don’t care enough to buy two expensive books.
Marc
April 26, 2008 at 12:33 pm
@Marc,
You should ‘book pool’ you know. Rachel could buy the other book.
Karthik
April 26, 2008 at 2:26 pm
@Karthik
Your pulling my leg ha, no problem. Don’t even dream i would get any book for others, that too MARC. Cha no way
Rachel
April 26, 2008 at 11:14 pm
@Rachel,
It was supposed to mean he buys one book, you buy one book and then you both exchange books after studying from each. I did not even merely suggest you buy books for Marc. It would benefit you too. Now instead of buying two prescribed books, you’d have to buy only one.
Karthik
April 27, 2008 at 6:00 am
Ha ha, I like this comment thread. Typical of engineers. I love it. Karthik, you’re an exception, dude.
George
April 27, 2008 at 6:23 am
@George,
I don’t know whether I should feel good about it or not.
Thanks anyway.
Karthik
April 27, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Well, I was wondering if I was going into that post about engineers on unfounded preconceptions. I’m just glad to have more data to reinforce.
George
April 27, 2008 at 4:41 pm
With your non-existent semester fees you can afford all sorts of fancy textbooks.
Marc
April 27, 2008 at 8:30 pm
[...] leave a comment » [...]
Book Hunting « BLAZYBEAST’S BLOG
December 7, 2008 at 4:15 pm