Textbook Equity

Below is an actual review of a college-level open accounting textbook available on a well known publisher’s website. The book is available to read for free online, printable by chapter, pdf download, or order a printed copy. The reviewer is a seasoned community college instructor, holding an MBA and a CPA.

Evaluation Criteria

Clarity and comprehensibility 3.7
Accuracy 4.6
Readability 2.7
Consistency 3.8
Appropriateness 3.0
Interface 4.3
Content usefulness 3.2
Modularity 3.8
Content errors 4.8
Reading level 3.7
Cultural relevance 4.0
Overall Average 3.8/5.0
Rank of this book compared to similar accounting books reviewed: #2 of 4.

1. Do you recommend this book?
Yes

2. For what level, e.g. remedial, community college year 1, community college year 1, trade school, other?
Community College Year 2 – 1st year college students would have a hard time.

3. For what college majors?
Accounting

4. For what purpose: required primary textbook, recommended supplementary textbook, required prior to admission to a class, supplementary reference, other?
Required primary textbook.

5. Comments on the overall positive attributes. Include comments on table of comments, preface, foreword, appendices, index, and glossary.
The book is written in a questions and answer format. This is a different approach to the typical accounting textbook. The index is concise and helpful in finding topics. The exercises and problems are appropriate for the material and match in terminology and scope. The video’s are a great introduction to the topics and end of the chapter video’s wrap up the chapter nicely. The book can be customized to fit your needs. The font on screen is adjustable, easy to read, and easy to navigate. Move the advanced topics to appendix / back of the chapter. Having them integrated makes it hard to remove them. The earlier chapters are a better fit and could be used for a first accounting course.

6. Suggestions for improvements
Move the advanced topics to the appendix or back of the chapter. Having them integrated makes it hard to remove them.

7. Users should be aware of these characteristics
The book is written in a questions and answer format. The earlier chapters are a better fit and could be used for first Accounting Course. The students can print on a per chapter basis at a very lose cost.