Guam – Guam Community College announces that Monday, January 21st, will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of Reilly Ridgell’s textbook, Pacific Nations and Territories, The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.
Ridgell, then an assistant professor and now Dean of Trades and Professional Services at GCC, wrote the book in 1983 to fill a void in teaching materials about Pacific Islands. GCC funded publication of the first edition in paperback. Since then, the book has been continuously in print, with the second, third, and fourth editions having been published in hardback by Bess Press of Hawaii. A fifth edition is in the planning stages. The book is in use on Guam, in Hawaii, and on many other Pacific islands.
“The success of this book has fulfilled and exceeded my expectations,” Ridgell said. “To be 30 years from its initial release and still be a viable, useful tool for Pacific educators is very gratifying. Many people helped me with this project but I need to particularly give kudos to Dr. John Salas, Provost of GCC in 1983, and the GCC Board of Trustees. Without them the book never would have been published.”
The book and its derivatives, which include activity books, teacher answer keys, and an elementary level version called Pacific Neighbors, have sold thousands of copies since it first went on sale in the GCC cafeteria (now the Multipurpose Auditorium) back in 1983. Nearly 40,000 copies of Pacific Nations and Territories have been sold thus far, and Pacific Neighbors has sold nearly 24,000 copies.
PACIFIC NATIONS AND TERRITORIES
First Edition Guam Community College 1983 4,516 copies sold
Second Edition Bess Press 1988 13,604 copies sold
Third Edition Bess Press 1995 14,743 copies sold
Fourth Edition Bess Press 2006 6,550 copies sold
Total 39,413 copies sold (1,313.76 per year)
PACIFIC NEIGHBORS
First Edition Bess Press 1996 14,513 copies sold
Second Edition Bess Press 2006 9,067 copies sold
Total 23,580 copies sold (1,387 per year)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2013 10:00 A.M.
GCC marks 30th anniversary of Pacific textbook
Guam Community College announces that Monday, January 21st, will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of Reilly Ridgell’s textbook, Pacific Nations and Territories, The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia. Ridgell, then an assistant professor and now Dean of Trades and Professional Services at GCC, wrote the book in 1983 to fill a void in teaching materials about Pacific Islands. GCC funded publication of the first edition in paperback. Since then, the book has been continuously in print, with the second, third, and fourth editions having been published in hardback by Bess Press of Hawaii. A fifth edition is in the planning stages. The book is in use on Guam, in Hawaii, and on many other Pacific islands.
“The success of this book has fulfilled and exceeded my expectations,” Ridgell said. “To be 30 years from its initial release and still be a viable, useful tool for Pacific educators is very gratifying. Many people helped me with this project but I need to particularly give kudos to Dr. John Salas, Provost of GCC in 1983, and the GCC Board of Trustees. Without them the book never would have been published.”
The book and its derivatives, which include activity books, teacher answer keys, and an elementary level version called Pacific Neighbors, have sold thousands of copies since it first went on sale in the GCC cafeteria (now the Multipurpose Auditorium) back in 1983. Nearly 40,000 copies of Pacific Nations and Territories have been sold thus far, and Pacific Neighbors has sold nearly 24,000 copies.
PACIFIC NATIONS AND TERRITORIES
First Edition Guam Community College 1983 4,516 copies sold
Second Edition Bess Press 1988 13,604 copies sold
Third Edition Bess Press 1995 14,743 copies sold
Fourth Edition Bess Press 2006 6,550 copies sold
Total 39,413 copies sold (1,313.76 per year)
PACIFIC NEIGHBORS
First Edition Bess Press 1996 14,513 copies sold
Second Edition Bess Press 2006 9,067 copies sold
Total 23,580 copies sold (1,387 per year)
