A sensual experience: You get to have real books. Smell them, feel them, touch them sensually, touch them platonically, they’re yours! Cherish the possession. Cherish the knowledge.
Making back the $$$: Since you can sell used textbooks online, to bookstores like Book Culture, or to the Columbia Barnes and Noble at the end of the semester, you actually end up saving about as much money as someone who bought used or rented. Even if you’ve written in or highlighted your books, you can still get some money back.

Academics

The Textbook-Off: 3 editors, 3 ways to get books