Hot take: old textbooks are way better than modern ones for learning basics

I grabbed a 1972 electronics textbook from a library sale for 50 cents. Thought it would be outdated junk. But man, the way they explained circuits was so much clearer. No flashy graphics, just straight talk and simple diagrams. I spent 3 hours reading about transistors and actually got it for the first time. My $200 modern textbook just jumps into complex stuff without the foundation. Now I only hunt for pre-1980s technical books. Anyone else find older educational books actually teach better?

2 comments

2 Comments

stella27918d ago

Oh yeah totally. I actually ditched modern textbooks entirely for math and physics. Found a 1965 calculus book at a thrift store and it walks through derivatives step by step instead of assuming you already know everything. My rule now is anything published before 1985 is usually gold. You can often find them for a DOLLAR or two at library sales and Goodwill. Just check the publishing date on the inside cover before you buy.

wade43818d ago

Used to think old textbooks were just outdated and useless. My high school teacher drilled into us that newer is always better for science and math. Then I picked up a 1972 physics book from a garage sale for like fifty cents. It explained electricity in a way that finally made sense to me, something about how they actually took time to build up from the basics instead of jumping straight into formulas. Completely changed my mind on that whole "newer is better" thing. Now I hunt for those old books everywhere I go.