Why Flat World Knowledge joined the rebellion.

Flat World Knowledge is the largest publisher of free and open college textbooks for students worldwide. Committed to making higher education more affordable and accessible, we provide students with free online access to complete, peer-reviewed textbooks, with options to purchase affordable print and digital formats, including softcover books for under $40, e-books and PDF versions for under $25, and audio books and interactive study aids. Our open license and online editing platform enable professors to modify the content and create the “perfect book” for their course. To date, more than 1,600 professors at over 900 colleges in 44 countries have used Flat World open textbooks since we launched in 2009. Backed by top venture capital firms, Flat World Knowledge was named one of the information industry’s "30 to Watch" in 2011 by Outsell, Inc. along with Apple, Facebook, Google, and others.

We’d like to clear the air up front. Before it’s even polluted.

Many of the groups supporting the rebellion (like Student PIRGS) are non-profit organizations. Flat World Knowledge on the other hand is a for-profit startup. Yes, Flat World Knowledge benefits as a company if hundreds of thousands of students join the Rebellion and make their opinions known about the crazy-high price of textbooks. Yes, students organizing and being heard on this issue is a part of our overall marketing strategy to get free and affordable textbooks adopted by every professor. Yes, Flat World Knowledge wins if the Textbook Rebellion (www.textbookrebellion.org) works.

And guess what? So does every student in the country seeking lower-priced textbooks. So does every parent who helps pay for those books. So does every professor looking to help save money on textbooks while improving the quality of instruction. So does the Student PIRGs that work every day to make higher education affordable. Our point? People and organizations acting in their own self-interests, but working collectively where those self-interests align, can be a powerful force for change. And that’s not a bad thing! So long as everyone is straight up about who they are, and what they get from it.

Why Do We Pay for and Support the TextBook Rebellion?

Because, as mentioned earlier, it’s in our self-interest to do so. The more professors around the country become aware of the problem and seek a solution, the more they’ll find Flat World Knowledge (and other non-profits and for-profits who are stepping in and providing solutions). And we have the means to do so. So we are doing so. That said, this is NOT our movement. We’re just a part of it. While we are providing seed funding and resources to get things rolling, it is our sincere hope that individual students and organized groups of students take the ship over and drive it over time, and that the Rebellions becomes all of ours, to all of our benefit. And as that happens, we’ll fade more and more to the background. That would be nice. And right.