The Importance of Textbooks

By Charles Corbin

Any of us who have served in academia, especially those who are at research intensive universities, are aware of the many anti-text arguments. Numerous hours are spent in tenure, promotion, and salary (merit raise) meetings debating what “counts” as scholarship and what doesn’t. Often textbooks are discounted. In a journal article published in Kinesiology Review in 2022, The Importance of Textbooks in Kinesiology, my coauthors, Hyeonho Yu, Diane L. Gill, and I, offer a historical perspective on the role of textbooks in physical education and kinesiology. The historical perspective provides a base for the discussion of topics related to the value of textbooks in our field and more broadly in all fields.

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Archstone Law a 2025 TAA Conference Bronze Sponsor

A big thank you to Archstone Law Group PC for sponsoring the 2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring at the Bronze level.

Brenda Ulrich, also TAA’s Board Secretary, is a partner at Archstone, and is an intellectual property attorney who focuses on publishing, higher education, copyright and trademark law. Brenda represents authors negotiating and interpreting publishing agreements, agency agreements, and joint author agreements. She also advises colleges and universities on the development and implementation of intellectual property policies, navigating copyright questions related to teaching and scholarship, as well as managing and defending college and university trademark portfolios.

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Get Funded: Apply for a TAA Publication or Contract Review Grant

TAA offers two forms of grants to assist U.S. authors with some of the expenses related to publishing their academic works and textbooks: Publication Grants and Textbook or Academic Contract Review Grants.

Members in their first year can apply for grants of up to $500, and members in their second year or later of membership can apply for grants of up to $1,000. Members are eligible for one award every two years. Publication Grants provide reimbursement for eligible expenses directly related to bringing an academic book, textbook, or journal article to publication.

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