The Art & Science Of Dumpster Diving [Paperback]

John Hoffman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Dumpster diving" is an unfortunate term for a noble pursuit: reclaiming and reusing perfectly good things that are being thrown away by wasteful or lazy people. It is also a political act highly frowned upon in materialistic societies because it removes one from obligate consumerism. And John Hoffman has written the ultimate guide for perfecting the art. A college graduate with a good job, Hoffman doesn't have to Dumpster dive: he loves to, and lives better--and more freely--because of it. In nations like America, there is an incredible amount of great stuff--often in great shape--thrown out every day. And Hoffman tells you how to claim it as your own.

At this point, I have a confession to make: I am a sometime Dumpster diver myself. Almost all of the furniture in our house has been found abandoned on the streets in our upper-middle-class neighborhood or nearby college campuses: sofas, tables, bookcases, lamps... you name it--even some of our several household computers! Personally, I wouldn't do some of what Hoffman advocates (such as diving for food), but as in the tradition of all Loompanics Press books, this is a no-holds-barred, tell-all book that assumes its readers can make decisions appropriate to their own lives. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

John Hoffman is a bona fide fringe writer and his previous employment is equally checkered - he has worked as a psychiatric counselor, printer's assistant, security guard, pizza cook, soldier, activist, newspaper reporter, hotel clerk, apartment manager and city councilman. He is now studying for a law degree.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581605501
• ISBN-13: 978-1581605501
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #884,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book changed my life!, April 29, 2002

By 

Philip B. Yochim (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving (Paperback)

There is only a small list of books that has influenced or changed my life, books like the Bible, Dune, and the Boy Scout Hand Book. But this quirky little tome on scavenging would not be on most people's list.

But it's on mine!

This is a hilarious and informative "how-to" guide of suburban survival. The book instructs how to look through a dumpster, what to look for, where to find it, and what you can do with what you find.

The book is also filled with great ancedotes and Ace Backwards comic strips. The stories of the author's psycho brother "Slash" are worth half the cost of the book.

But more than the entertainment value is the information. And once you develop your "diver's eye," you will be surprised just how much stuff we Americans pitch wastefully every day, and that's when you come in. Take it!

I've found some great things in the trash, and this book can show you just what you're missing!

Git divin'! Thar's gold in them thar dumpsters!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars make real money from other people's trash, November 12, 2003

By 

DRYWASHER-BILL (LAS VEGAS, NEVADA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art and Science of Dumpster Diving (Paperback)

This book is all about looking through others people's garbage cans, and finding something useful, valuable, or sellable. A LOT of good tips, especially the part about dealing with good-for-nothing rent a cops or other nosy jokers looking to make you feel guilty about being gainfully employed in salvage. Includes tips on how to minimize such confrontations and shakedowns.
The author of this book emphasizes that most people, rather than finding a way to recycle, just put their burdens in the Garbage can; perfectly good and useable stuff: jewelry, watches, money, coin collections, antique toys, reloading supplies, firearms, even brand new goods still in the original box- UNOPENED!
Carry some soap and water and clean up after a dumpster episode. not hard, maybe potentially lucrative to look. Just watch out for body parts...(some people never find them; I seem to find lots).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better Living Through Dumpster Diving, January 19, 1999

By 

Mary E. Wisner (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art and Science of Dumpster Diving (Paperback)

Although I was diving before finding John's book, he opened up a whole new world of diving for me. Thanks to John, I'm now saving hundreds of dollars a month in food costs. Money that can be put to better use. John, if you read this, thank you! Email me! I'd love to hear from you. You changed my life.