where to buy books?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by John Spies, Sep 24, 2002.

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  1. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    I am looking for Harper Collins EZ-101 Psychology, Outline for Abnormal Psych, outline for Ethics. These are books suggested by Lawrie Miller. Would it be OK to just get the Princeton Review GRE psych book? Would it cover everything?
    Can't find these anywhere including Amazon. Any ideas?
     
  2. DaveHayden

    DaveHayden New Member

    The local community college bookstore carries them here in Portland. I've also found many of the Barron's books at the local library. I've even been able to check out regular textbooks for standard college classes and avoid buying the required text. Good luck.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 24, 2002
  3. John Bear

    John Bear Senior Member

    The book service that I suggest in Bears' Guide ( page 357; they've been in there 4 or 5 years now, and I haven't had a complaint) specializes in books for the distance learner: Specialty Books of Athens, Ohio, www.specialty-books.com, (800) 466-1365.

    Usual disclaimer: I have no involvement with them, no commissions, etc.
     
  4. telefax

    telefax Member

    books

    Try half.com or mbsdirect.net
     
  5. Orson

    Orson New Member

    I second that!

    Yeah. half.com--rock bottom prices, $2.49 shipping, plus you're helping out our fellow students.

    --Orson
    PS Sometimes amazon.com's used books are even cheaper--but not usually. And sometimes finding books on barnes and noble (bn.com) is easier, and they often have table of contens on the web page--very useful in evaluating a books suitability.
     
  6. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    I had no problem finding EZ-101 Psychology on amazon.com (1)

    Note that the publisher detailed in the BA in 4 Weeks degree manual for this work is Barron's (2)

    Abnormal Psychology, no difficulty finding it on Barnes & Noble website (3) or amazon.com (4) - - Only two copies left before reoreder at amazon.com

    The recommended Ethics book may be out of print, amazon.com lists used inventory of this work (5) .


    Worth reiterating that, in general, suggested texts can be replaced with any other generic general survey work in the relevant discipline (6) . From BA in 4 Weeks:-

    . . . Remember, I used these books because I already had them to hand, or because they were cheap. I do consider them equal to the task, however.

    As time passes some of this material will go out of print but I will leave the listing in place to offer some indication of what is required and what will suffice. Where possible, I will reference substitute works. The important thing to remember is that in most cases any generic survey work of the discipline will do
    . . .

    Lawrie Miller
    BA in 4 Weeks
    http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks

    .
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 25, 2002
  7. Jim Crouch

    Jim Crouch New Member

    Allbookstores.com is a great site for finding used and new books of all sorts. They gather info from various bookstores and give you several options. Some of the books my son has gotten for the local JC courses, he sold there on the bulletin board for more than we got it for through this site. The one caveat, make sure you know the ISBN (which I usually get from Amazon.com) so that you are sure you are getting the edition that you need.
     
  8. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Thanks for the help. One question again, and this is for Lawrie Miller, would it be OK to just get the GRE book? Will this cover the psych exams outlined in BS in 4 weeks? Also, ( I guess I have two questions!) would it be better, easier, cheaper, etc. to just take the GRE exam instead of the psych exams in the outline?
    thanks, John
    BTW, thanks Lawrie, Hille and everyone on this board, I have already completed 27 credits through testing with minimal study using the college board book. I never would have taken the tests before reading BA in 4 weeks or this board. Thanks again!!
     
  9. Tom Head

    Tom Head New Member

    I generally use BookFinder, which has virtually everything.


    Cheers,
     
  10. telfax

    telfax New Member

    I despair!

    If you can't even find the books (or ones you personally find useful) that are recommended (and oftern set text are not that hot!) give up! Go look round book stores and find books that mean somening to you on the topics you're interested - even if they are not 'recommended texts'! Use what is required of you to read with things/books that make sense to you- be you! Don't waste time around here looking for....whatever! I really do despair with some of these postings!

    'telfax'
     
  11. Lawrie Miller

    Lawrie Miller New Member

    Quick answer, yes, but you may want to augment that excellent primer with some reading in-depth, if and as required. It all depends on your current level of competence in the subject.

    Could you use this book as the exclusive tool in new learning? Yup, you could. Depends on the quality of current understanding (good foundation), and your native wit

    Additional useful texts are detailed in BA in 4 Weeks . . . for ECE Abnormal Psych, there is the HarperCollins "Abnormal Psychology" book. The Barron's "Psych 101" notes I found useful as a quick ready reference text at all stages (as indeed is the Princeton GRE Psych book, of course).

    Also liked reading the REA Problem Solvers series book, "Psychology". This contains lots of questions and very detailed answers. Note that this book is NOT the REA GRE Psych book. I bought that but found it of limited value.

    Barron's "GRE Psychology", I bought at the same time as the Princeton offering, and for the same purpose - to use as a concise reference targeted at the GRE subject exam in Psychology. The book is certainly complete, but anything but concise in comparison to the Princeton effort. Additionally, while the 35 or so questions in the Princeton Review guide where on the money in terms of difficulty and relevance relative to the actual GRE subject exam, those in the Barron's publication were not.

    Finally, the Web is an excellent resource. I found many interesting links and one or two comprehensive HTML mediated Q&A sessions set up, as I recall, by a professor for his students, and, I guess, anyone else who wanted to use it. These Q&A sessions were broken down by area and closely mirrored the ECE Psych exam titles. Try also the APA web site.



    Quick answer, wouldn't be easier (assuming you're shooting for a pass above the 80th percentile in the GRE) but it would certainly be a lot cheaper.

    The advantage of the CLEP and ECE Psych exams is that you get to demonstrate competency in the discipline in stages. You also may be awarded a letter grade for your efforts, depending upon college. The advantage of the GRE is low cost and that it is all over in short order - wham bam thank you Ma'am.

    The GRE Psych requires sustained effort and concentration over the whole 170 minutes of the exam and a clear grasp of ALL of the subject matter*. It's like downing a 10-course meal in under three hours. In comparison, the one course, 3-credit hour CLEP and ECE Psych exams are a leisurely graze on cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Tea, anyone?





    *Assuming you require the full 30 credits and a pass above the 80th percentile. For COSC students the passing score is 40th percentile, and attaining that mark would likely be conditional on staying awake.


    Lawrie Miller, who has tested in all ECE, CLEP, and GRE Psych exams available
    BA in 4 Weeks
    http://geocities.com/ba_in_4_weeks

    .
     
  12. John Spies

    John Spies Member

    Telfax, please don't despair, I am merely deferring to others with more experience in this endeavor. I have a family and a very demanding job, so I would prefer to save time and money by getting advice from people who have "been there" rather than trial and error. I believe that is one of the purposes of this board. Lawrie, thanks again for your help. I have used your outline so far with great success (over 20 credits last week with little wasted time) and I am now confident that I can finish this in spite of family and work obligations. Your efforts and that of others (the helpful ones) should be commended.
    regards, John Spies, CCM
     
  13. Orson

    Orson New Member

    Thanks for the backgrounder, John.

    Along with Telfax, I, too, wondered along his express lines. But given your situation combined with the opportunity you're asserting...? (And, yes, this board is for you.) GO fo it!

    --Orson
     

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