Top 5 Sources for Free Psychology Textbooks
Get information on where you can find free online psychology textbooks and get answers to frequently asked questions you may have about using these free resources.
If you're a college student, you probably know that textbook prices have become extremely high in recent years. With so many other college expenses, you may be wondering if there's a way to bypass paying for textbooks.
If so, keep reading! In this article, we'll talk about where you can find free college psychology textbooks available online. We'll also answer frequently asked questions about free textbooks online.
Top 5 Sources for Free Online Psychology Textbooks
Getting your psychology textbooks online can help you save money on your education. Let's take a look at the top five places online where you can find free psychology textbooks.
1. Open Textbook Library
The Open Textbooks Library is available through the University of Minnesota. As the name suggests, it is a free library of online, open-source textbooks.
Open-source means that the textbooks can be read, downloaded, and used as well as modified and adapted. This means publishers and instructors can edit and update the books from time to time.
Some of the many psychology textbooks in the Open Textbook Library include:
- Introduction to Psychology (University of Minnesota)
- Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition (Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
- Educational Psychology - Second Edition (University of Manitoba)
- Psychology as a Biological Science (Noba)
- General Psychology for Honors Students (University of Missouri - St. Louis)
2. OpenStax
OpenStax is an online library of educational materials, including textbooks from elementary grades through college levels. It is managed by Rice University.
OpenStax offers one free online psychology textbook for college students titled Psychology 2e. A Polish edition of the book, titled Psychologia, is also available.
The textbook can either be downloaded as a PDF or viewed online. Students also have the option to purchase a print copy of the textbook at a price much lower than average for college textbooks.
3. LibreTexts
LibreTexts was founded by Professor Delmar Larsen of the University of California-Davis. It is one of the largest online sources of free open-access textbooks, with books from over 150 courses from various colleges.
Psychology textbooks are subdivided into specialized areas of psychology. Some of the specializations include:
- Introductory Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Psychological Disorders
Each section contains between two and six textbooks, which can be read for free online. LibreTexts also contains a 'Campus Bookshelves' section, where course materials from specific colleges and universities can be found.
4. Noba
Noba is an online educational program specifically for psychology professors and students. A wide array of online textbooks and other resources are available.
Students can access these resources by setting up an account with the website. Instructors can modify these textbooks to fit their needs and also have the option to write their textbooks through the site.
Noba has over 100 modules covering the diverse field of psychology from every angle. It is a world-class resource created by psychology professors and used by colleges throughout the U.S. and beyond.
5. Hostos Community College Library
Hostos Community College is located in the Bronx and is a part of the City University of New York system. This school offers an online library with free textbooks across 26 subjects.
Five free psychology textbooks are available through the Hostos Community College Library, as follows:
- Psychology 101 - Introduction to Psychology
- Psychology 110 - Lifespan Development
- Psychology 142 - Abnormal Psychology
- Psychology 180 - Psychology of Aging
- Psychology 180 Summer - Psychology of Aging
Each of these textbooks can be downloaded as a PDF and used in conjunction with the associated courses offered through Hostos Community College.
FAQs About Free Online Psychology Textbooks
Still have questions regarding free online psychology textbooks? We're here to provide answers. Keep reading as we discuss some commonly asked questions regarding free online psychology textbooks.
Are There Free Online Psychology Textbooks?
Yes, there are a variety of online resources that offer free psychology textbooks. These are generally available to view or download, and some can be modified for personal or professional use.
Where Can I Find Free Online Psychology Textbooks?
We covered the top five online resources for free psychology textbooks in the first section of this article. All of these resources contain at least one textbook, and most contain many more.
You can find other sources for free online psychology textbooks by performing an internet search. You can also check with your academic adviser, who may be able to provide you with additional resources.
How Do I Use Free Online Psychology Textbooks?
You can use free online psychology textbooks in conjunction with your college psychology courses provided they are the same materials used in the course or are approved by your instructor.
You can also download free online psychology textbooks for personal use, to increase your knowledge or explore a subject you're interested in.
Find Psychology Textbooks for Free Online
If you're looking for free online psychology textbooks, check out the resources discussed in this article to find out which ones offer the specific textbooks you need.