Evolutionary biologist Michael Eisen tries to solve the mystery of the $23,698,655.93 book about flies:
A few weeks ago a postdoc in my lab logged on to Amazon to buy the lab an extra copy of Peter Lawrence’s The Making of a Fly – a classic work in developmental biology that we – and most other Drosophila developmental biologists – consult regularly. The book, published in 1992, is out of print. But Amazon listed 17 copies for sale: 15 used from $35.54, and 2 new from $1,730,045.91 (+$3.99 shipping). I sent a screen capture to the author – who was appropriate amused and intrigued. But I doubt even he would argue the book is worth THAT much.
At first I thought it was a joke…
(HT Rick McCourt, Earle Spamer, and @BobOHara)
NOTE: The price fluctuates. At the moment these words are being written, Amazon.com lists the price as $196.93, and Amazon.co.uk prices the book at £29.99.