The rising cost of textbooks has led to the increase in popularity of international editions, which are usually a lower cost option than their U.S. counterparts. International editions are published and distributed outside the U.S. and typically have the same content (or very nearly so) but are produced more cheaply and sold at a lower price.
Buying international editions can be a great way to save money, but it’s important to understand the differences between them and the U.S. versions. International editions are often printed on lower-quality paper and usually have a soft cover that may vary from the U.S. edition. It may also be marked as an international edition or a low-cost edition.
The content is usually the same, but photographs and illustrations are often printed in black and white rather than color. International editions sometimes exclude supplemental materials like workbooks and CDs, but these can often be purchased separately, if needed.
The ISBN for an international edition is always different than the ISBN of corresponding editions of the same book. Always carefully read the seller’s description and compare it to the title and author of the textbook you are seeking.
You can find international editions on HPB.com, as long as the publisher or author doesn't prohibit their sale in the U.S., Canada or Australia.
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