Everyone recalls the textbooks they utilized in school or university. For me, Lubert Stryer’s *Biochemistry* was my steadfast companion, a weighty volume to carry around. They occupy a unique place in our hearts whether we engaged with them thoroughly or merely referenced them for assistance with challenging concepts. But are these large, cumbersome textbooks still suitable in our predominantly digital era?
We spoke to three prominent authors of chemistry textbooks – all of whom have been penning them for many years – and they shared their perspectives on how the market has evolved, why new editions continue to be released, and how they have modified their writing as the student demographic has changed and expanded.
Catherine Housecroft, author of *Inorganic Chemistry*, now in its fifth edition, explains how students are less inclined to transport heavy textbooks and increasingly prefer digital versions, a format that offers benefits over paper but also has some disadvantages. Peter Atkins, author of *Physical Chemistry*, now in its 12th edition, observes that publishers are shifting away from physical copies of textbooks, yet he maintains that paper possesses a distinct teaching power – somehow, the recollection of seeing something on a page remains with you more effectively than on a screen. Meanwhile, Jonathan Clayden, author of *Organic Chemistry*, currently in its second edition, points out that there have always been predictions about the ‘imminent demise’ of the textbook, yet they continue to persist and evolve to meet students’ requirements.
Each of the three authors has their particular method to ‘revising the textbooks’ and the aspects they prefer to emphasize. However, what they all have in common, and what is evident, is the pleasure they derive from aiding the next generation in learning chemistry.