Do yourself a favor and buy a book stand for these massive textbooks we've got these days. Amazon has a bunch of choices under $30. Mine is plexiglas with adjustable angles and flexible arms for holding different sizes of books. Lets you turn the loose pages or not. Really makes a big difference for the next time you've got a long study session, especially if you're outlining or doing something besides just reading the text.
Here's one to consider.