If you're taking a survey art history course at college or university, you'll probably be required to buy a massive art history textbook from the school bookstore. Depending on how enthusiastic you are about spending money and reading about art, you may have mixed feelings about this purchase.

But art history textbooks are one of the better textbook purchases. Yes, they're expensive. But they go a long way and cover hundreds of years. And science textbooks are expensive too, and sometimes you'll need to be three or four of those for a course. 

And art history textbooks are an investment. You'll use it again, even it's to settle arguments like "Who Painted The Scream" or remind yourself about who the famous Renaissance artists were. (Hint: think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).