I’ve just been reading a bit of Concepts, Techniques and Models of Computer Programming by Van Roy and Haridi (aka CTM). As I often do, I’ve used the receipt as a book mark (primarily because the bookshop staff put the receipt in the book when I ask them not to put my purchases in a bag).
CTM cost me, after the Co-op members discount, $97. Haskell 98 Language and Libraries: the Revised Report cost me $108. I’m sure there is some obtuse economic explanation involving economies of scale and the like, but it seems fairly counter intuitive that a book that is over 900 pages long is cheaper than one with less than 300.
The cost of books in general, and academic texts in particular, is (in my opinion) revolting.