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.

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.

21 thoughts on “Book Hunting

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. @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 ?

  4. @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.

  5. 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.

  6. @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 ?

  7. @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 😉

  8. @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. 😉

  9. 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.

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