A thick textbook only to charge you $150? That sounds
like "6-pack abs the quick way" advertisement... XD
Have you been to college recently? I'm in college right now, and I absolutely believe it. Maybe it's not quite that simple, but only because the publishers are being slightly more devious. College textbooks are a racket.
I received my undergrad education in China. We've got some really good math textbooks, and they're very cheap. Yes I know textbooks in English are very expensive. But during my PhD education I mainly rely on free resources. (For example, Vazirani has written some very comprehensive materials about math and algorithms, search for it. If I don't remember it wrong, somebody posted his algorithm book a month ago on HN)
On the other hand, for what purpose would you like to choose a book that you call "racket"? If forced by your school, then it's done, no choice. If it's your willpower to learn something, why don't do some mining and research first before diving into a pile of junk? :-)
I actually got away without the book for my first semester of physics, but basically yes, it's forced by the school. That's why they can get away with a racket.
