Hey folks, Anyone have the inside scoop when the new Bear's Guide (a.k.a. " The Distance Learning Bible") will be out soon? I'm looking to trade my old one in for an updated model. - Shawn
I couldn't find the 16th edition on Amazon. But Barnes and Noble (bn.com) says it will be available on Dec. 28th. $22. The publisher says "Fall 2005" (tenspeed.com). $30. Reminder: as discussed elsewhere here last month, there is no more apostrophe in the title. John Bear Author or co-author, editions 1-15. Uninvolved with edition 16.
Re: Hello, I would have no idea on the answer to that question. I am not connected to the writer of the guide, nor the publisher. - Shawn
Bear's Guide to Earning Degrees by Distance Learning has been the Bible of DL programs ever since its inception in 1974.
The first copy I came across was, iirc, in the late 80's. Couldn't put it down. Bought most every edition after that.
In some ways it's better, by virtue of being interactive. BTW, I keep a copy of the 14th edition (in my opinion the best edition) next to my laptop.
I started by picking up Bear's Guide 9th edition (1985) from the discard pile of the City University Library. I've owned all subsequent editions up to and including the 16th edition and have gone back and picked up some (but not all) of the earlier editions.
Here's the situation. Ten Speed Press was bought by Random House a couple of years ago (reportedly for $30 million!). Random House told us that they would eventually get around to deciding which Ten Speed books they would keep, which they would want updated, and which they would abandon. So far, we've only heard about two, both cookbooks. One they wanted revised, and one they cut loose. Not a word about the Bears Guides, however. Daughter Mariah and I are thinking of making a pitch to Random House this fall, suggesting that we combine Bears Guide with the once popular "Finding Money for College" book, perhaps to be called "Finding and Funding Your Online Degree." Their choices are (1) Say yes, (2) Say no, but hang onto the rights, or (3) Say no, and return the rights to us, and then we could go elsewhere or do self-publishing. I agree with Kizmet; the 14th is my favorite. --John Bear
