There is a "Right" and a "Wrong" thing to do.
Authors of "OUR" books put in countless hours to give "US" the history of "OUR" chips.
They deserve to make a profit on "THEIR" work.

"I can't afford to spend the $ for the book," is not an excuse to copy, copywritten work.
"I can't afford to spend the $ for the book," is an excuse to save a few bucks.

IMO:
If you can not afford to buy the book, you are in the wrong hobby.
Maybe you should not have a hobby.

Putting spending limits on a hobby is fine. Using your spending limit as an excuse is not OK.