Sadly - because I just need someone to blame - I can't blame this on the professor. The list of required books was made available online 2 weeks before classes. The thing is, the university book center will not include the information about which edition of the book nor will they publish the ISBN so you can just order online immediately. So I am left with a faceless entity to hate; and if you know anything about me, you know I like to be specific in my hatred.
And, to her credit, my instructor is making copies for me of this week's reading so I can at least be prepared for that while I wait for my new book to arrive.
*sigh*