Core Texts and Suggested Reading?

Gemmzie

The other thread on references made me think of this.

I got the list yesterday for my HND which starts in October - I was keen to get the list to start reading in the summer since I have six weeks post op recovery.

But I just wanted to get some feedback from current students about how much suggested reading is needed?

And do I really have to buy all those books?

crazy_guy

Gemmzie wrote: »

The other thread on references made me think of this.

I got the list yesterday for my HND which starts in October - I was keen to get the list to start reading in the summer since I have six weeks post op recovery.

But I just wanted to get some feedback from current students about how much suggested reading is needed?

And do I really have to buy all those books?

I think again it depends on the subject, for mine, on one particular subject i read the core text chapter, and then there is usually some recommended journals for the critical analysis.

For me there is little point to read more than one textbook on a particular subject as they would merely be repeating themselves, the only time it is advisable is if the book is lacking in that particular chapter.

I'd advise looking at all these books and then choosing the best one or two, our reading list is huge but its pointless to buy them all.... if you need them there is always a library which is usually well stocked on the suggested reading.

melancholly

i'd second that - don't spend hundreds of pounds on books. you'll usually be able to swap and share with other students, and most core texts should be in the reference section of the library (as well as other copies) so there should always be one you can access, even if you can't take it home.

wait and see what particular lecturers recommend - the text books will also probably only cover what is in the lectures so you'll need other papers/journals/more specialised books to do extra reading anyway!

you could get one book to look at in advance, but i really don't think you need to buy lots of books! you might find some in your local library too (depends on the subject though).

Nealmason1986

From experience ill give you one piece of advise. I work for the uni and this is what i tell everyone.

Core and suggested readings arnt always used. I went out and spent 200 pound on my core readers and i barely used them. Go to your library and rent them. During your course u might only need to use the book once or twice and if you can save yourself 30 odd quid then just borrow it and read what you need. Also if you deffinately want to buy the books look at amazon new and used section. You will get it a hell of a lot cheaper then buying new.

Alot of courses differ but not everything in a text book needs reading only certain sections. It might be worth emailing or contacting your lecturer and asking him what topics you will need to cover that year so you can read around that specific topic.

hope that helps

Meatballs

Depends totally on your degree, I didn't have to write essays and I could do the assignments by researching online, using lecture notes etc.

There was one module that I required the book for to do the work for it. And one book that I found useful for revision for another module.

For my second qualification I was a bit more proactive and thought I'd be studious, I bought 4-5 books. 3 of them I don't use at all - and could easily get away with 1. Books for my essay have all been out of the library.

silaslang

If you really feel the need to own the books for use at any time then check out the notice boards in uni, halls of residence as theres always people selling last years books at half the cost at the the end of the year.

Id take the route sugessted by the other posters as I too also spent £200+ on books with some only requiring the reading of one chapter for modules. Id just photocopy the chapters that our needed.

Another tip which I learnt I learnt a costly lesson is dont buy the books till your 100% sure that you will be sticking to a module. Before one of mine started I decided to switch to a module that had better applied knowledge, however I had already bought books on the subject matter for the module I then decided I wouldnt like.