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One of the more interesting experiments is to take a look at the list price of books at various times and compare that with the current list price of a similar book. In 1993, a hardback was listed at $22. Based on inflation, that book would cost a bit over $39 now.
The first hard back that I ever bought was a first print/first edition of the Silmarillion from 1977. I still have it, though the price is not listed on the dust cover as later became the custom, but according to google, the original price was $12. That would be a bit over $46 now.
Looking at some of the hard back prices for recent books, I generally see books listed at just under $30 and are sold for under $20.
Sometime people have a tendency to get a price stuck in their head and forget that time and inflation rolls on. My parents use to think that a dollar was a great tip for a waitress, since way back when my mother worked as a waitress in high school, a dime was a great tip. People ask why are books so expensive, but I would flip that and ask, why are books so cheap now?
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