Check out the video to find out what I learnt about the publisher Elsevier.
Most student midwives spend some time choosing between Mayes and Myles Midwifery; these are our two beloved seminal textbooks. It's a hard choice, they're both excellent!
Paige, a student midwife starting this year, has asked me to this video comparison. Paige, I had a look at the books, reviews, and content in detail.... and what I found out sent me plunging down the rabbit hole!
Every midwife needs a good textbook.....
I will go into detail about Mayes and Myles later on in this post. But there's something even more important I talk about in the video. Both books are published by Elsevier.
And there is a boycott of the publisher Elsevier in progress.
14,000+ academics are taking a stand against them, as they are being criticised for charging high prices to Unis and other more questionable practices. The Lancet claims they have been involved in the international arms trade, with countries with poor human rights records.
As midwives, and student midwives, we are in a really hard position. We need access to this information and knowledge.
I suggest buying second hand copies to avoid funding Elsevier.
About the books:
Both Mayes and Myles are excellent resources, written by various midwifery experts. They flow well, and you can learn easily from them.
Myles (16th edition) at the time of filming (Sept 2014) has been recently updated, and covers in a contemporary way topics like obesity and female gential mutilation. Because it's up to date, it's a bit more expensive than Mayes.
Both books also offer online supportive learning environments - Mayes offers 'Pageburst' and Myles 'Elsevier Evolve'. It's really confusing and there are loads of different options to get onto these Elsevier sites ('Kno' and 'Vital Source' platforms anyone?!) . Some of the services look good as they include quizzes, games, and free access to your textbook in e-book form, even if you buy a paper copy.
But unless your whole class has signed up for these options, I'd say you were safe to skip using them.
You can preview the books to see if you get on with the formatting and so on here: Mayes and Myles.
Prices:
Myles | Mayes | |
Edition | 16th edition, 2014 | 14th edition, 2011 |
Amazon price paperback | £41.39 | £39.59 |
Amazon price e-book | £38.10 | £16.99 |
I found no cheaper prices online (though have a look around, things might change).
It’s best to get an up to date text book, but you could argue that all books are to some extent out of date, so don’t worry too much. Just quote from other sources in essays - see the link here to my other video which covers source material.
I'm not tearing any one person from Elsevier down, I bet there are some wonderful people working there.
But I am publicly stating I won't be buying from or working with Elsevier until they clean up their act.
I really hope you found this information as interesting as I did, please consider sharing this post with another midwife or midwifery student!
Much love, I hope all is going well for all of you xxx
Hi! Thanks for the comparison. Do you know if there is any difference between the standard Myles Textbook for Midwives and the International version? It seems the International version is much cheaper x
Hi Sarah, as far as I know it’s the same – I can’t recommend it though as I don’t think it’s legal for me to do so (the price reflects the countries it’s aimed at). Hope that helps.
Ellie,
I am a junior doctor who happened to come across your site as I was looking to keep a midwifery textbook on my shelf (to remind myself about ‘normal’ labour!). However, I became side-tracked by your link to the Elsevier boycott.
Thank you for bringing this issue to the attention of your readers. I read the Guardian article you linked to and consider the exorbitant prices the journals are charging libraries appalling. I cannot see why these journals continue to exist in a digital age; typefacing, layouts and adaptation for the internet could surely be performed by small, cheaper publishers — and physical printing may not even be required. Furthermore, the real value in published journals – peer review – can surely be performed outside of the traditional monopoly of Big Publishing.
I am not sure why market forces have failed to bring prices down; presumably because libraries tend not to subscribe to just one publisher, but to all of them for complete coverage. Therefore there is no competition between publishers.
Hopefully, open-access publishing will one day reduce our reliance upon subscription-based journals, but until then, individuals and institutions will continue to pay excessive prices leaving less money to be spent on actual education.
Hi Minesh,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I agree. Though I think things are changing, the pace of change always seems slower the older the institutions involved. I also suspect researchers like to publish with the big names such as Elsevier because it lends credibility and validation to their work. Then, with exclusive access to that research Elsevier can charge what they like.
Hi Ellie,
I’m currently completing an access to midwifery course, I have Mayes and also signed up for the British journal of midwifery. Do you have any other suggestions of books that will help or be needed?
Thanks
Hi Tracy, that sounds like an excellent start.
I don’t know if you need any other books as you can find a lot of things free online – this post might help give you some ideas: https://midwifediaries.com/favourite-academic-resources/
But I absolutely do have some book recommendations for you, that you may find helpful and enjoy:
Anything by Michel Odent is a really good bet. I always liked the Labour and Birth Handbook, and Soo Downe’s Normal Childbirth: Evidence and Debate is worth your time too.
Virginia Howes’ book on being an Independent Midwife, a lighter read but still very useful info: http://www.amazon.com/The-Babys-Coming-Dedication-Independent/dp/1472211731
Sheena Bryom’s book on challenges in modern NHS midwifery care: http://www.pinterandmartin.com/the-roar-behind-the-silence.html
Michel Odent’s new book ‘Do We Need Midwives?’ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Need-Midwives-Michel-Odent-ebook/dp/B00Y5OSWWA/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434209823&sr=1-2&keywords=michel+odent
Hope this helps!
Hi Eliie,
That’s absolutely brilliant, thank you so much, will have a look at these 🙂
I’m absolutely loving the course at the moment.
Thanks again 🙂
Tracy
Awesome to hear Tracy, do let me know how you get on!