Are You Paying More for Dangerous Instructions in Your Book?

[BobG]

Two books, same title, same subject, same author.

Two radically different prices:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0764574086/?tag=pfamazon01-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0764554964/?tag=pfamazon01-20

The new edition is 16 pages shorter. What are the odds of a book being shortened by exactly 16 pages? But what a savings! Those extra 16 pages cost $4.30 each?

Well, actually, there is a slightly more significant difference in the content than just missing 16 pages. The instructions for making lye in one of the books were faulty and a person following the instructions could be burned.

Any guesses which version contains the faulty instructions?

 

[G037H3]

First edition, most likely...

 

[Jimmy Snyder]

I had a Gutenberg bible but I tossed it out when I got a paperback that had fewer typos in it.

 

[G037H3]

I had a Gutenberg bible but I tossed it out when I got a paperback that had fewer typos in it.

lol.

 

[BobG]

I guess the economics is a strange quirk of collecting. Flawed stamps are more valuable than the properly printed stamps. Flawed light bulbs (twisted filaments, etc) are worth more than properly manufactured light bulbs.

Why don't people collect sensible things, such as slide rules. Flawed slide rules are worth less than a slide rule in near perfect condition, complete with near perfect case and instructions.

Or pens. You don't see pen collectors salivating over flawed pens.

 

[G037H3]

perceived or real rarity due to flaws>nondescript functional object

people aren't utilitarian

 

[BobG]

perceived or real rarity due to flaws>nondescript functional object

people aren't utilitarian

In this case, the book has a special rarity. It was recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

It's hard for the government to recall a book because of First Amendment concerns. The few books that have been recalled are books on home repair that give faulty instructions on how to rewire your home.

 

[turbo]

The 16-page change is a function of binding. Print the pages in folios, fold, bind and trim.

 

[FrancisZ]

At last, I finally have an excuse to collide two worlds. Bob I have to hook you up with somebody really cool on Hubpages that I know: Dolores Monet...

http://hubpages.com/profile/Dolores+Monet


She knows how to make soap...

http://hubpages.com/hub/HomemadeSoap-How-oMakeSoapatHome