Axel Boldt wrote:
I seem to be the only one around here with a visceral hatred for ISBN numbers, so I suggest the following experiment:
You are not unique, I have a personal library that exceeds 10,000 items, and I can proudly say that ISBN (or ISSN) numbers were never a factor in any acquisition.
The first search gave you a single book, and in three years it won't give you anything, because that book will be out of print. The second search gave you 44 different editions, from different publishers, ranging from leather bound to softcover and even an audio edition.
I've sometimes wondered about the purposes of the ISBN links in articles, especially when they appear without the author or title of the publication being mentioned. For me links to books are more in the nature of bibliography. Wikipedia is not in the business of book promotion, and even less in the business of promoting these books as produced by specific publishers. Your experience with the Goldsmith book is highly illustrative.
Eclecticology