Best Websites To Find Free College Textbooks In 2021
Javiera Vega
Study Consultant at Gradehacker
When you register and start new classes or semesters, its a fact that you will get a long list of required textbooks youll need to get through your courses. Thats why free college textbooks can sound like a dream come true when you dont want to spend $300 on a book that you will end up using just for a few chapters if any at all.
Free textbooks in PDF or any other formats are now easily found due to students looking for alternatives where they dont go broke and still get a good grade. Whether you need medical, business, psychology, or literature focused books, it is possible to find everything with just some internet magic.
As the National Center for Education Statistics mentions, 85% of people attending college receive some type of financial aid to help with the mounting costs of college. The problem is that most of the time, tuition does not cover specifically the expenses of the materials needed for classes.
We have a Youtube Channel, so you can see this and other articles turn into a video!
Imagine how tragic it would be if you failed a class just for not being able to afford a book! If you cannot access the class material, you wont know what the professor is even speaking about. There is even a chance of failing something you wouldve passed if you had the right resources.
Here you can find the 6 Best Websites to Find Free College Textbooks.
Remember Details From Past Conversations
Friends need small indicators to know that you truly care about them. This includes showing how you have been paying attention to what they say, how they behave, their likes/dislikes, their wants/needs, and so on.
Furthermore, you can recall details from past conversations. For instance, if your friend is asking for your opinion on what color of shirt they should wear, you could respond with How about ___? Thats your favorite color, right? Or, perhaps on your friends birthday, you could wish them well.
They will appreciate that you are thinking about them!
Other Notable Websites To Download Pdf Books
#11) PDFBooksWorld
Best for books with separate editions optimized according to devices of different screen sizes. PDFBooks World is an online library of free textbooks online. It aims to bring legendary authors of the past that existed in the pre-digitization period to the modern reading room.
It, however, requires a membership registration to download free PDF books.
Features: Free content of PDF Textbooks, Prior registration required to download free textbooks online.
Website: PDFBooks World
#12) Saylor.org
Best for open online courses to those who want to learn digitally. Saylor.org is an online platform that provides certificate courses free of cost.
Features: Certificate courses free of cost, casual learning, flexible course deadlines
#13) Open Culture
Best for cultural and educational media content.
Open Culture is considerably one of the best and biggest online platforms for e-learning. The website was founded in 2006 and has information and resources covering every possible knowledge base.
Features: Free textbooks online, Free courses with certificates of completion, language learning sources, audiobooks.
#14) ScholarWorks
Best for range of search methods to find free college textbooks easily.
ScholarWorks has a collection of works by Grand Valley State University scholars and is maintained by GVSU itself. Users can search college textbooks PDFs across title, author, citation, keywords, etc.
All PDF textbooks are only for college students.
#15) PDF Search Engine
Read Also: Reviews On Ashworth College
You Dont Always Have To Pay For Your College Textbooks Here Are Some Great Ways To Find Free College Books Online
Why pay full price for textbooks when you can find them online for free or really cheap?
One of the not-so-fun things about college is the cost of the textbooks. Its like one of those hidden fees that you only notice after you already made the purchase. Tuition is already a big cost, and then you find out how much each textbook costs! Its not a pleasant surprise. We understand that its a bummer. But dont worry!
These days, there are tons of resources online and almost all books can be found in electronic form. From PDFs and e-books, to renting or borrowing, and utilizing your colleges library, there are many ways to access college material for free . And this way youll have the extra cash to order that late night pizza or drink all those coffees on the way to class.
So if youre wondering what to do, look no further we did the homework for you! Here are ways to find free college textbooks.
Get Free College Textbooks On Reddit
Reddit is such a great source for finding free stuff, including free textbooks that I had to put it in its own category.
By the way, if youre looking for more free stuff, check out our Reddit freebies post for a list of best subreddit for finding free stuff.
Now, although Reddit is one of the top 10 most visited sites in the world, most people have no idea it existed and if they do, they have a hard time getting how it works.
What makes Reddit one of the best places to find free stuff is its subreddits. A subreddit is basically a forum within the main forum . Each subreddit is dedicated to a single topic. Meaning every thread and comment posted on that subreddit is highly related to the topic of the subreddit.
And that means you get highly targeted and relevant comments from all kinds of users.
Of course, there are also subreddits dedicated to free and/or cheap textbooks. On some subreddits, you can post a request for a book that you want and if anyone knows a source to get it for free or cheap, theyll post a comment. Other subreddits, users share free book sources as they find them. It really is a goldmine for getting cheap and free textbooks from places that otherwise you might have never know about.
Some of the best subreddits for finding totally free textbooks include:
Read Also: Grammarly Plus
This Post Is All About Making Friends In College
Making friends in college can have a significant impact on how your educational years will be. We rely on our friends to share fun experiences with us, to have our backs, to support us when we are at our lowest, and to help us to achieve the best version of ourselves.
The solidarity created between two friends is a bond that cannot be reciprocated. For example, it can be helpful to have a friend with you in a particularly difficult class, so you two can face the challenges of each tough lesson together.
Sometimes, making friends in college can be very easy. Two adults can bond over a variety of common interests after sharing a common environment like a part-time job or an extracurricular activity.
On the other hand, if you have an introverted personality like me, making friends can be a bit more difficult than you think. It takes a significant amount of practice or trial and error to sharpen up your conversational skills.
Making the first move by speaking to strangers can be very scary, but the possible result of a true friendship can be exceptionally rewarding.
It can also be incredibly helpful to make friends if you are an inept listener just let the extroverts do all the talking and focus on improving your listening skills.
If this person truly wants to be your friend, they will want to know more about you and ask questions about your life. This contributes to a healthy friendship dynamic that will stand the test of time.
Tips To Download Free Pdf Textbooks
With the right steps in mind, downloading a free PDF book or locating the perfect website for your requirement becomes a piece of cake.
#1) PDF Reader
The PDF reader must possess a set of features that will enhance the reading experience, especially for PDF books, because they are heavy-texted documents. PDF is a more suitable option than other formats. Some must have features are editing, navigation, annotation, adding bookmarks, setting reading mode and easy sharing.
Keeping this in mind, one should go for PDF viewers like Adobe Acrobat Reader, WPS Office, Google PDF Viewer, Foxit MobilePDF or Moon+Reader for android devices.
For iOS devices, Google Playbooks, PDF Max, etc. work best. And for Windows, Adobe Reader, Nitro Reader, etc. are good choices.
#2) Requirement
It is important to keep ones requirement for free PDF books in mind while searching for them.
Some websites have such an enormous mass of content accumulated that typing the right set of words saves time. For others, there are different kinds of books available catering to interested readers.
For example, Open Textbook Library primarily offers free textbooks only for college students while, Free Kids Books has a collection of e-books for kids only. Similarly, Project Gutenberg has made available older literary works for which U.S. copyright has expired.
#4) Interface
We should keep this in mind while searching for an e-book or browsing through websites.
Don’t Miss: Is Strayer University A Diploma Mill
Mobilism: An Entire Textbook Library In A Tiny Forum
Mobilism is a forum where users can share the media they already own to others. There are many categories, but the ebook section is where this website really shines. You can find novels, academic textbooks, comics you name it. Also, there is the option of you requesting a title if it is not already available.
+ Best Websites To Download Free Pdf Textbooks
Explore the list of top Websites to Download Free PDF Textbooks. Compare their features for selecting the best PDF college textbooks downloader websites:
The ongoing global pandemic has made us realize how helplessly dependent we are on technology for all our needs. As nation after nation announced countrywide lockdowns due to a surge in the Covid-19 cases, people were forced to turn to technology for all their needs.
From grocery shopping to jobs to the continuation of studies, it all happened through a digital screen in front of us. There certainly are drawbacks to such extreme dependency on technology, but there is no reason we cannot make the best of what is offered to us.
Online learning was the most affected and hence emerged a variety of e-learning sources to the rescue. The best part about online learning resources is that they provide open access to any and everyone.
What You Will Learn:
Also Check: How To Sell College Books
Do Not Forget To Keep In Touch
If you dont talk to or see your friend, your friendship will eventually fade away, and you will become strangers once again. This can happen after college graduation, where friends go their separate ways to pursue different walks of life.
To keep your friendship strong, try to send your friend a text every once and a while to show them that you are still thinking about them.
You can also attempt to make plans to meet up, no matter how far in the future it may be, to keep them as constants of your life.
Use The Internet To Your Advantage
Social media has made a significant impact on keeping friendships because you are given constant reminders of what is going on in their lives.
You can use these tools as an opportunity to keep in touch with these friends and show them that you are thinking of them by commenting on their posts.
Additionally, you can also use social media to make friends in college.
Though I have never had online friends myself, I have heard stories of people making online friendships and then becoming so close with their long-distance friends that they meet in real life.
You May Like: What Is The Easiest University To Get Into
Vkcom: College Textbooks Meet Social Media For Everyone
VK.com is a Russian social media platform similar to Facebook. However, there is something definitely different about it. While Facebook focuses on social interaction, VK has a vast community of people sharing different media types. Ebooks are one of VK users main attractions, so make an account and start joining different book clubs. We especially recommend the Free Medical Books page and the Magazine and E-Books community.
How To Find Older Version Of Textbooks
This seems to be a common issue for a lot of students. When textbooks are updated, it seems like the older versions just disappear. But sometimes, for whatever reason, you may need the older version.
The good news is that there are ways to find them. An done of the best pl aces to start your search is, yes, on Reddit, specifically this thread. Its basically a directory of resources for finding new and older versions of college books.
What makes it great is that while a user took his time to do this for free, other users keep adding to the list in the comment section. So make sure to read the comments.
Don’t Miss: Ashworth College Review
Here Are Some Ways To Get College Textbooks For Free
Things werent always this way: The price of college textbooks has risen more than 1,000% since the 1970s. One survey indicates that as many as 65% of college students are choosing not to pay for course books, potentially impacting their grades.
Before you spend any money on college or high school textbooks, you may want to see if you can find them for sale online. Textbook Nova is a site that locates textbooks strictly on Amazon. All you have to do is enter the title, keyword, author or ISBN.
Lets start with the only thing better than cheap: Free. There are several resources you should know about that offer free college textbooks. Here are some of them.
Do Not Be Afraid To Initiate A Conversation
For those looking to make new friends, it may be a little daunting to go up to strangers or acquaintances and start a conversation.
However, if you are hoping to make friends in college, sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands.
It does not take much to start a conversation. Begin with small talk such as How are you? or What are you doing later? This can open up a longer conversation. These small risks can pay off in a major way.
You May Like: Average College Dorm Size
If Things Dont Work Out Thats Okay
Every once in a while, you may find someone that you have a lot in common with, but you just dont have the chemistry or the time to make things work.
This situation is more common than you would think, and it is perfectly okay to let friendships fade.
For example, I have met friends in college who have stayed with me through all three years, and I have met friends that have only lasted a semester, and we stopped talking once our class was over. It is absolutely normal for friendships to pass: do not be discouraged if this happens.
Appreciate The Little Moments
It is hard to stay in touch with friends in college because once you graduate, life can become so hectic, and oftentimes, schedules do not match up.
Sometimes the only time you can see a friend is nine in the morning on a Sunday for two hours because that is the only chance you have to spend time with them for the next few weeks.
Take this small amount of time and cherish it. Every little moment spent together makes a big difference in keeping the friendship alive.
Recommended Reading: Is Ashworth College Regionally Accredited
Explore New Things Together
What keeps a friendship fresh and exciting is having new experiences with one another.
For example, you both could go to a pottery class or try hang gliding. Perhaps you could bake a new pie together.
When you explore new things with your friends, you are preventing the friendship from becoming too mundane or predictable.
Be Understanding Of Their Flaws
Friends arent perfect. They can be impulsive, stubborn, flakey, easily irritated, and so on. That does not make them bad people it just means they have flaws like you and me. For example, I have a very indecisive friend.
It can be frustrating making plans with them because they have difficulty making decisions. What you have to do is adapt to best suit their most frustrating quality.
When I am meeting with my indecisive friend, I take charge so that they dont have to make any tough decisions, and this works out for both of us.
Read Also: York College Dorms
Free Textbooks Math Science And More
While you’re in school, you will go through a number of textbooks and the cost can add up pretty quickly. Luckily, there are websites that offer free textbooks for high school and college students.
Here is a list of 460 free textbooks, arranged by topic. Once you find a topic that interests you, click that link and it will jump you down to a list of related textbooks.
Free College Textbooks: A Few Things To Consider
College students like you, no matter the age, will always try to spend their money efficiently. Here at Gradehacker, we have previously discussed other tips to improve your finances. Still, textbooks are often overlooked as an aspect of college costs. Before spending one more dollar on them, remember this:
- Textbooks are necessary for completing your coursework. That is a fact. However, you can look for alternatives to spend little to no money on them by joining online sharing communities or archives.
- Genesis Library is a powerful ebook catalog. They work like a college library in a way, but you dont need to have an institutional email to do so.
- Websites like Gutenberg Project, Bookboon, and VK communities are perfect to look for specialized books on humanities, engineering, or medical topics.
- Archive.org and Mobilism grow thanks to the cooperation between students who want to share their textbooks that will be useful for you. You can also post what you have to give back to the community.
Hopefully, you are able now to find new ways to access your reading for free without needing to break the bank. Search, download, and when you can, share so others can also have a hand when they are in your same position. When you need to write about what you have read, you can find help to make your writing process easier through our learning resources related to APA and MLA formatting, and much more.
Javiera Vega
Here’s Some Free Valuable Secrets To Make Your College Journey Easier
Don’t Miss: Ashworth College Fafsa