Loading textbooks onto iPod Touch

I want to move the text books from my Macbook to my new iPod 8GB (I have the publisher-supplied cds). Can I do this by syncing iTunes on my iPod to those files on the laptop?

Would this, in essence, be like downloading the books to the iPod? These are not eBooks, but medical textbooks (some with video-supplied content).

Any input or sites that discuss this in depth would be appreciated.