When you need an AutoCAD text for a software design course, the first question is scope. Are you teaching a focused unit that only needs a single volume, or do you want a comprehensive reference that follows the software release cycle? The four used books here are all listed in very good condition, but their prices and target coverage differ significantly.
Quick Take
The 2019 edition from the AutoCAD and Its Applications series has a strong balance of price and coverage. The 2018 edition offers the full student text at the highest listed price. The AutoCAD 2021 Instructor gives you a teaching-oriented, lower-cost option for the 2021 release, and the separately titled B volume is the least expensive entry point.
Listed Prices at a Glance
| Product | Listed Price | Price Bar |
|---|---|---|
| Autocad and Its Applications B - VERY GOOD | $19.98 | |
| AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2018 | $99.95 | |
| AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2019 | $52.95 | |
| AutoCAD 2021 Instructor - Paperback, by Lockhart Shawna; Leach James - Very Good | $23.85 |
Decision Matrix
| Book | Pick it for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Autocad and Its Applications B | A lower-cost, focused introductory module | CDs or access codes may not be included |
| AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2018 | A full reference in a single student edition | Highest listed price and an older title than the 2019 version |
| AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2019 | Newer full-scope coverage at a moderate price | If your class centers on AutoCAD 2021, this title points to the 2019 release |
| AutoCAD 2021 Instructor | A teaching-oriented walkthrough tied to AutoCAD 2021 | It is not labeled Comprehensive, so it may not be a full reference |
Product Notes
Autocad and Its Applications B - VERY GOOD
The B volume is the entry-priced book here at $19.98. It comes from the same family as the Madsen AutoCAD series, but the title is not marked Comprehensive. That makes it a sensible pick for a specific module rather than a yearlong software design course. The book's description says supplemental items like CDs or access codes may not be included. If your syllabus already has handouts, videos, or other materials and you only need a printed text for the B part of the curriculum, the $19.98 price is the most accessible in this group. If you need full-scope coverage, you will likely outgrow this volume quickly.
AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2018
The 2018 Comprehensive is the complete student edition in this lineup, written by David P. Madsen, David A. Madsen, Jeffrey A. Laurich, J. C. Malitzke, and Terence M. Shumaker. It is a revised trade paperback and is listed in very good condition. Its strength is depth: this is the book to choose when the course demands a single comprehensive companion. The limitation is the listed price of $99.95, the highest of the four. If the 2018 software version is exactly what your course uses, the price may be justified. If you are flexible about the release year, the 2019 Comprehensive costs less while offering similar scope.
AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2019
At $52.95, the 2019 Comprehensive is the practical middle child. It has the same author team as the 2018 edition and carries the Comprehensive label, so it is designed to be a full reference. The newer release year is a plus for courses that track the software's annual updates. The trade-off is that it is still a 2019 title, not a 2021 title, so a class built around AutoCAD 2021 may find the sequence of features slightly out of step. If your course is more about transferable drafting concepts than the exact 2021 interface, this gives you full-scope coverage without the top price.
AutoCAD 2021 Instructor - Paperback, by Lockhart Shawna; Leach James - Very Good
The AutoCAD 2021 Instructor is the only title here that explicitly matches the 2021 release, and it is listed at $23.85. The author team includes Shawna Lockhart and James Leach, and the word Instructor in the title points to a teaching-oriented presentation. That makes it appealing for a software design course that wants step-by-step guidance. The limitation is that it is not labeled Comprehensive, so it may not give you the depth of the Madsen reference volumes. For a course that needs an affordable walkthrough tied to AutoCAD 2021, this is a strong fit.
Final Recommendation by Use Case
- Most balanced coverage for a general software design course: Choose the AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2019. It gives you the full-scope approach of the Madsen series at a middle price.
- Tight budget or focused module: Choose the Autocad and Its Applications B volume. It is the least expensive option, but keep your syllabus matched to the scope of that single volume.
- Course built around AutoCAD 2021: Choose the AutoCAD 2021 Instructor. It is a low-cost, teaching-oriented companion, though it is not a comprehensive reference.
- Maximum reference depth when cost matters less: Choose the AutoCAD and Its Applications Comprehensive 2018. It has the highest listed price, but it offers a complete student edition.
