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| Art & Science of Dumpster Diving | 
 enlarge | Author: John Hoffman
Publisher: Paladin Press
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy New: $8.82
You Save: $6.13 (41%)
New (16) Used (5) from $8.82
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 177645
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 152
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 1581605501
EAN: 9781581605501
ASIN: 1581605501
Publication Date: January 1993
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: GREAT BUY!Brand New From US Distributor! WE ARE A 5 STAR SELLER with OVER 3,500,000 BOOKS SOLD!!! OVER ~ 600,000 FEEDBACKS ~ POSTED!!!
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Product Description
In step-by-step, illustrated detail, John Hoffman shows you how to use dumpster diving for food, clothing, appliances, furniture, books and other treasures. Discover how to dress for dumpster diving success, work your neighborhood dumpsters, dive a restaurant, use a "bag blade" and "dive stick", handle run-ins with the authorities, convert your trash to cash, and much more! While you are learning all these professional secrets, you will be entertained by outrageous anecdotes from a life-long master diver.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Not as easy as the author claims, but still great fun August 5, 2008
In 1993, John Hoffman wrote a hilarious and entertaining, but still thoughtful, book about scavenging. One man's trash truly can be another man's treasure, and in my life I have found many useful items that someone else was throwing out. Such items included books, furniture (slightly damaged but still usable), games, magazines, hand tools, radios, and toys. To say nothing of boxes (always handy when moving stuff) and items that can be used for construction or tinkering (cinder blocks, plywood, 2x4 wood, sheet metal, and the like)
I have even found food (although you have to be careful with this one). Lots of supermarkets or grocery stores throw out produce that is not cosmetic or is slightly wilted but still quite edible and nutritious, although increasingly "gleaner" charities are coming by first to take those items to help the homeless or others. Ditto for canned goods that just don't move quickly enough.
I give John Hoffman's book four stars rather than five because:
1. The author makes it seem easier than it really is. More often than not, you find nothing of value when you search. (Note: the author does admit that in California and the Southwest USA, illegal aliens and even poor legal immigrants often get to the dumpsters first, and that may explain my meager pickings).
2. The author makes it seem less messy than it really is. Although there is more relatively clean packaging in dumpsters than actual filthy trash, you do risk getting your hands or clothes a little dirty.
3. This strategy doesn't really work for those of us holding down jobs. If you every find yourself unemployed or underemployed by all means go for it, but if you have a steady job, you are better off just working overtime and being more thrifty in terms of rewards. Amy Dacyzyn's "Tightwad Gazette" advice makes more sense for those of us living in that world.
4. It makes more sense for most of us to spend our free time learning about money. Think Robert Kyosaki's "Rich Dad Poor Dad" here. Why not learn to have your hard earned money work for you so you can have more free time, and when you have it, not spend it digging through the trash to "live" well? (Again, if you are unemployed or underemployed, you can disregard this).
All that said, whenever I am out and about running errands or shopping, I always take a peek at the dumpsters behind the store or the mall. You never know what you might find that is useful....
 Grating and irritating, not funny at all April 23, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I grabbed it from the library because the title just screamed out for it. It sounded like an interesting and fun read. It was not.
It read rather like a manifesto, taking caustic swipes at the materialism pervasive in society today (which is admittedly a wee bit on the extreme side). Or, rather, when the book was written. The author took swipes at corporations, picky consumers, and police without wit or talent, so it came across as snarky (in a nasty way) and boring. There was absolutely nothing fun or humorous about this book at all.
The author goes as far as to encourage dumpster diving for food to the extent of ignoring things like those pesky recalls due to food poisoning! The author thinks these are overblown and not at all dangerous, and that's just not smart at all.
Bottom line, a frightening book in a lot of respects. I think it would be an interesting study for, say, a social psychology class, but other than that I'd avoid it. Unless you really enjoy deconstructing authors, their motivations, etc. In which case, have at it.
(Also, in a lot of cities dumpster diving has been outlawed due to concerns over identity theft. Whether or not this is a good law is not an argument for here, but people should be aware of it and check their local statutes before setting off.)
 Hilarious! Insightful! Overall Entertaining! April 14, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
FUN! RESOURCEFULNESS! CHAOS! EDUCATION! This one has it all! If you are looking for a down-to-earth story for giggles, or you're entertaining thoughts of what might be hiding out in those dumpsters for average joes and janes like many of us, or you (like me) are a salty, seasoned veteran of the dumpster diving scene, YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!
Written in an inviting comic-like style with bold openness and humor that keeps you engaged, this text is hard to put down! Follow "Slash" and friends through adventures in dumpster diving trials and treasures as they share time-honored secrets of the trade, and tickle your funnybone while doing it. A TRUE AND COMPLETE GUIDE for ALL DIVERS (and those who want to laugh, too! :) DO YOURSELF A FAVOR and BUY IT NOW!!!
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