Sleazy or performing something illegal?

No, after the fact, Amazon was granted permission to reproduce the book in Kindle format. They offer the "Look Inside" online with McGraw-Hill's consent.

Google books have no right whatsoever to scan and offer a good third of the book to browse online.

</irritation>

It's too close to Christmas to get upset over something authors have almost no control over, other than putting a Holiday Feast on a contract lawyer's table.

-g-