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