I believe that it "depends". I had bought old Norton's books for English Lit & the books for American Lit classes for $5 each book at Borders & before I enrolled in the courses; think that they were only 1 or 2 editions old at the time of my having to use them. All reading assignments were in the old editions; I just did not think that the professors would add new stuff for reading assignments.
I also bought a old edition of Victorian literature from Powell's bookstore & had them send the book where the cost of shipping was double the cost of the book; BUT it was still lower than the over $100 used from the school bookstore; my cost of the used book was $10 for the book & $20 s&h. Only had 1 reading assignment where the newer edition expanded the material.
I do think that books for literature courses are more likely to have less changes than other topics; or Greek & Roman mythology.
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