What type of used book do you prefer?

[StangGang92]

I haven't gotten my booklist yet, but I'm just preparing so that when I do I can buy everything right away. I noticed on amazon there are differen't types of used books.

Do you like to buy the "Like New" where it doesn't have any highlighting or anything or do you like the "Good Condition" where the books in good shape but has notes and highlights in the book?

Also a little side note, what books do you keep? I'm assuming you keep the A&P books (Well at my school we have Anatomy and Physiology seperate, but thats beside the point). I'll probably keep my organobiochem and micro books. What else?

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

Look at the prices. Sometimes "Good" is only a few dollars less than "Like New." I had to get over ten books for my first semester of nursing school, so I've been going for the least expensive books possible -- which have no more than notes and highlights in the book. Perfectly fine. I highly recommend bigwords.com for books. It searches many sites for the cheapest books, rather than having to check on the individual websites. People always told me to keep books, but when you've spent $300+ on them, no thanks. I have not had any problems with selling my books. If I really need to keep a book, I sell the current edition and buy an older edition for less than $10 usually. I keep these books-- nursing diagnosis, assessments, and the drug book. Most of the nursing books have reviews of A&P, chem or micro in them if it is relevant. My professors regularly provide resources for review material as well.

[Saysfaa]

I find writing of all kinds very distracting. I don't want underlining, notes, or highlighting. I won't buy a book unless the description says it has none (occasionally I will consider those with a few marks if the number of pages is given, just saying 'little writing' isn't enough.)

I prefer tight bindings. Dings, scuffs, dog-eared pages don't bother me; I'd rather have a beat up (but writing free) book for less money than a nice one for more money.

I go by the written out descriptions, not the "like new" "good" labels.

So far I've kept all the science books except chemistry, I'll probably not keep all of them long term but don't know which.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I prefer clean books. You dont know how big of an idiot the person before you was. What they found important might not be the same to you making it real confusing.