Open and navigate the Pearson eTextbook

Updated 13 Dec 2022

Open your Pearson eTextbook (formerly known as eText) to navigate, search, or listen to your textbook or to study with your eTextbook in a browser. See also the Pearson+ app for eTextbooks to work on your tablet or phone.

If you encounter any issues opening the eText, contact Pearson Support.

  1. With your course open in a browser, select Pearson eText (or Pearson eText) from the course menu.

    If you don’t see this option, an eTextbook may not be enabled for your course.

  2. Select Open my eTextbook or a similar option on the page that opens.

    The eTextbook opens in its own browser tab or window.

What’s Pearson+?
Pearson+ provides access to eTextbooks associated with your course, eTextbooks available by monthly subscription, and study tools called Channels. It may also provide you with some exclusive offers. See also Pearson+ app.

  1. Go to Pearson+.

  2. Sign in with the same Pearson account you use for your course.

  3. Select the eTextbook for your course.

    If you don’t see the book in your Library —
    Search for the book's title, author, or ISBN in Search your library.

To return to Pearson+ from your eTextbook, select Home from the sidebar menu.

When you first sign in, the eTextbook opens to its table of contents. When you return later, the eTextbook opens to your last page view.

When you first sign in, the eTextbook opens with its sidebar menu on the left.

Select this control To do this in your eTextbook
Home

Go to Pearson+
Open the eTextbooks for courses in your account. You can also purchase access to other eTextbooks for a low monthly subscription.

The Pearson+ site also provides exam prep (Channels videos and practice problems), language learning, and offers for students.

Table of contents Open the Table of Contents
Community posts Shows Community Posts made by users of the eTextbook. Posts can be book-specific discussions, queries, or other.
Navigation Navigate your eText quickly using a slider
Search Search the eText
Audiobook Open the Audiobook, when one is available
Notebook Open the Notebook to review, add, filter, or export notes
Study Study - Practice with flashcard activities. May also provide videos and questions/problems (Channels).
Display settings Adjust eTextbook Display settings, like to hide/show highlights
Hide Menu Options Hide the sidebar menu options below Home.
Expand Menu Options
Expand the sidebar menu options below Home.

(In the Pearson+ app this option is Expand Menu Options.)

 

Select Navigation from the sidebar menu then move the slider to a different book location.

  • Go to a chapter, section, bookmark, or page —
    Move the slider, stopping at a labeled chapter/section or page that you want. For bookmarks, select a point on the bar to go to that bookmark.

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  • Return to last opened content —
    After you move to another location on the bar, select Last read next to the location label to return to the former location.

  • Open the Table of Contents —
    Select Table of contents from the sidebar menu.

  • Show subsections — Select Expand in the Contents.

  • Go to a chapter, section, or subsection —
    Select a chapter, section, or subsection name in the Contents. You can also drill down to named pages, such as About the Author.

  • Show bookmarks or recent pages —
    Select Bookmarks or Recent, for up to three recently visited pages in the current session.

If you've recently added any bookmarks or visited pages in your eTextbook, you can quickly return to these from the Table of Contents.

  1. Select Table of contents from the sidebar menu.
  2. Choose Bookmarks or Recent.

    • Bookmarks — Appear in chapter order. You can also remove all bookmarks from here.

    • Recent — Shows up to three recent places you visited in the current session.

  3. Select an entry name to return to that location.
    (Don't choose Remove bookmark from the Bookmarks list. This removes a bookmark when working with your eTextbook in a browser.)

Access to all bookmarks —
Select Navigation from the sidebar menu, hover along the bar, then select the point for a bookmark label.

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  • Go to a previous or next page —
    Select the previous or next arrows on a book page. If the previous and next buttons are for chapter subsections, you may need to scroll to see the next or previous page number in the margin.

    ""

    You can also select Navigation from the eText sidebar menu, then use the slider.

  • Go to a specific print book page

    Use a method below to go to a particular page in your eTextbook. Method availability can vary by eTextbook type.

    • Enter a different page number at the bottom of the page.
      (For unnumbered book pages, the eTextbook may open to the closest numbered page.)

    • Select Navigation from the sidebar menu, then move the slider to visit a particular page.

    • Select Search from the sidebar menu, enter "page x" (such as page 113), then select the number.

From a book content page, select a resource link to open or play it from your current context. The resource can be a figure/table, audio/video, glossary term, or other.

When an eTextbook is available in your course, your access to it lasts through the end of the course.

The eTextbook is screen reader accessible, although some content may be inaccessible. In addition to accessibility tools you may use on your laptop, like a screen magnifier, your eTextbook may provide the following.

  • Audiobook —
    Select Audiobook from the sidebar menu to open the playlist for your audiobook. The audiobook is available for most eTextbooks, although not for PDF eTextbooks.

  • eTextbook display settings —
    Select Display settings from the sidebar menu to change eTextbook display settings, like whether to hide/show highlights or to change the color mode to light, sepia, or dark.

  • Accessibility info from Pearson —
    From most eTextbook content pages, select Account settings (top right) then select Accessibility.

The Pearson+ app is for tablets and smartphones. When you first select a book in the app, it’s automatically downloaded to your device so you can work with the eTextbook even if you’re offline.

If you report an issue with your eTextbook, you may be asked what kind of eTextbook you have.

  1. Select Account settings (your initials) in the top right.

  2. Select Title info.
    “Integrated SMS eText” appears followed by the type, whether Bronte ePub, CITE, PXE, or PDF (from newest to oldest).

    Of these types, Bronte ePub may provide the greatest number of eTextbook features and PDF the least. PDF eTextbook pages match the print textbook pages exactly.

Audiobook, search, posts, and display settings

Listen to the audiobook, search, add posts about content, and adjust your personal eText display settings when working with your eTextbook in a browser.

Most eTextbooks provide an audiobook, except for PDF eTextbooks. The Pearson+ app lets you listen to the audiobook when you've got internet access.

  1. Go to the book page or section where you want to begin listening, then select Audiobook from the sidebar menu. (If you don't see this option, an audiobook is not available for your eTextbook.)

    You may also be able to select "" Start audio here from the menu that appears when you click on content from a book page.

  2. Select Play Audio to start the audio and Pause Audio to pause it. You can also stop the audio from Audio playing for the active playlist section.

    • Go back or skip ahead —
      Drag the slider in the timeline. To move in 10-second steps, select Back 10 seconds or Skip 10 seconds.

      Audiobook controls

    • Adjust the audio speed —
      When available, select Audiobook settings then choose + or – next to Speed. The speed range is from 0.5x to 3x.

    • Read along as you listen  —
      When you play the audiobook, the matching content is automatically spotlighted so you can follow along. To turn this feature off/on, select Audiobook settings then Read along.

      " "

    • Pause audio at the end of each page —
      Select Audiobook settings then Pause at the end of page. For example, you might want a break to add a note, post, or flashcard. This setting is off unless you turn it on.

  1. Select Search content from the sidebar menu.
  2. Enter your search term or phrase.

    • Search applies to book content, your own notes, and more —
      Search includes results for page content, figures, videos, interactives, and key terms, as well as any notes or flashcards you may have added. In some eTextbooks, you can also search for “page x”.

    • Narrow your results by content type —
      Select a filter to refine your search results by content type. Filters are available for notes and highlights, flashcards (for flashcards you create), videos, images, key terms, or book content.

  3. Select a search result to jump to that content in the eTextbook.

Search for other instances of a word or phrase —
From a book page, drag to select the word(s) you want to search for. Then select "" Search selection from the menu that opens. Select a search result to jump to that content in the eTextbook.

Menu includes Highlight, New note, Post a question, New flashcard, Copy, Search selection, and Customize menu

Use  Community Posts to start a discussion, ask a question, or share a tip about eTextbook content. Any user of the same eTextbook can view, add, or reply to comments, not just participants in a course. Save posts for later reference, like students may do for review.

The posting feature is available for an eTextbook when Community Posts appears in its sidebar menu.

Show all posts or show posts by chapter —
Select Community Posts from the sidebar menu to show all posts. To show posts by chapter, select All Posts then choose a chapter or other section.

Show post replies (in the comments thread) —
To see post replies, select Show comments thread next to the number below the post.

If there are many comments, sort by Old to new, New to old, or Most popular.

Open a post from its eTextbook page marker —
Select Open posts next to the highlighted content associated with the post.

Saving some posts can help students review or study. You can also sort and filter posts.

Save a post —
Select More for the post then   Save. A  marker appears next to More for each saved post.

Unsave a post —
Either select  for the post, or select More then  Unsave.

Sort posts —
Select Community Posts from the sidebar menu, then Sort posts and choose from Book order, Most recent, or Most popular.

Filter posts —
Select Community Posts from the sidebar menu, then Filter posts and choose from All posts, My posts, or Saved posts.

Any post you add is anonymous. Posts show an identifier for you, but not your name.

Add a post from a book page —

  1. Select some content from a book page then choose  Post a question.

    Menu includes Highlight, New note, Post a question, New flashcard, Copy, Search selection, and Customize menu

  2. Add an optional title, enter your post, then select Post.

    • Select a toolbar option to add formatted text (bold, italic, or underline); an emoji, a GIF (animated or still image), image, or video; an attachment, or to enter a formula.

    • To let you know that your post has been approved, you receive an email with a link to the post. Check your post later for any replies to it.

Add a post from Community Posts —
Select Community Posts  from the sidebar menu, then select Create new post and enter your post.

Add a post from the Pearson+ site —

  1. Select Home to open the Pearson+ site.

  2. Point to an eTextbook in the Library then select Start a discussion.
    Your eTextbook opens with all of its community posts.

Edit your own post —
Select Community Posts from the sidebar menu to open the posts. Sort or filter as needed. Select More  then  Edit.

You cannot edit posts made by others.

Delete your own post —
Select Community Posts  from the sidebar menu to open the posts. Sort or filter as needed. Select More  then  Delete.

You cannot delete posts made by others.

  1. Select Community Posts from the sidebar menu to view the posts for your eTextbook.

  2. To show support for a post, select Vote up. If you don’t support it, select Vote down.

  3. To reply to the post, select Reply, enter your comment, then select Reply to save it.

See post replies —
Select Show comments thread next to Reply.

See our posting Community Guidelines and Acceptable Use Policy.

  1. Select More for the post you want to report.

  2. Select  Report and enter your concerns.

Select Display settings from the eTextbook sidebar menu.

Most eTexts —
Control color mode (light, sepia, or dark), text size, font, character case, line spacing, and show/hide highlights. If you hide highlights in the book, any note markers (Open note or Instructor note) remain in the margin.

PDF eTextbooks —
Control zoom, single- or double-page view, and show/hide hotspots or highlights.

Student offers, access renewal, loose-leaf purchase, contact Support

From your eTextbook, select Open offers to choose from available offers.

You can see the same offers from the Pearson+ site by selecting Home from your open eTextbook. For example, offers might include links to Headspace study meditation, Gopuff delivery, Contiki: Social Travel, or other student services.

When an eTextbook is available in your course, your access to it lasts through the end of the course. You may be able to extend your access to the eTextbook associated with a MyLab or Mastering course before or after the course ends.

  • Any highlights and notes you may have added appear in the renewed eTextbook. Instructor notes are not included.

  • The renewed access is to the eTextbook only, not the course. This renewal feature is not available from an LMS course, such as Canvas or Blackboard.

  • If you add the same eText to your Pearson+ monthly subscription, it will not include your highlights and notes from the eText associated with your course. To keep these, follow the process below.

  1. Sign in to https://mlm.pearson.com to open the My Courses page.
  2. Select Renew your Pearson eText access from the course tile. If the course has ended, select Inactive to view past courses.

  3. Complete the transaction.

You may be able to purchase a loose-leaf version of your textbook.

  • Select Pearson eTextbook (or Pearson eText) from the course menu, then Buy the printed textbook.

  • In PDF eTextbooks, select More... (top right) then Get loose leaf.
    (The pages in PDF eTextbooks match the printed textbook exactly.)

Most eTextbooks —
Select Account settings (top right), Help & support, then Contact Support. You may also be able to select Quick walkthrough from the "Help & support" menu.

PDF eTextbooks —
Select More... then Contact Support.
(The pages in PDF eTextbooks match the printed textbook exactly.)