It's been 10 years since the publication of John Hoffman's cult classic of urban scavenging, The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving. Now the Garbage Guru is back with an advanced course in the unconventional economics of exploring the trash for fun and profit. Just some of the lessons you will learn include: the key secret to dealing with locked dumpsters; how to dive for information and use it to humiliate corporations, politicians and other evil-doers; the unusual profitability of diving for movie and celebrity castoffs; the BIG-bucks potential of industrial diving, including the top 10 most lucrative places to do it; how to sell your dumpster-dived wares through the flea market of the 21st century - eBay; how to parlay dumpster diving consciousness into finding cheap property, supporting radical causes, even landing political office; and much more!
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About the Author
John Hoffman's career as a bona fide fringe writer began with the publication of his cult classic, The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving. 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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought Hoffman's "Art and Science of Dumpster Diving" years ago and really liked it (as much as you can like a book about profiting from others waste and laziness)so I decided to get this book when it came out. Both books are semi- autobiographical, telling about how Hoffman was raised doing this subject, but this new book goes a lot more into the political and other commentary stuff. I found that you could almost ignore the first six chapters (out of only nine) of the book and still get most of what there is to learn in the book.
If you want this book as a companion to the first (the readers testimonials here will either fascinate or sicken you depending on your point of view) buy it, but if you really want to learn how people dumpster dive get the first book.
If you want this book as a companion to the first (the readers testimonials here will either fascinate or sicken you depending on your point of view) buy it, but if you really want to learn how people dumpster dive get the first book.
26 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have to agree with the other reviewer who said that this sequel is not as good as the original. While "The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving" was a great how-to book, "The Advanced Course" is more of a long rant about dumpster diving.
I found that only two of the chapters contained any real information, while the rest of the book only contained interesting stories. One of the biggest differences from this book and the first one is the change in the attitude of the author, John Hoffman. In his first book, Hoffman came off as a far right wing, gun welding, isolationist. While is this new book he has become a left wing, peace loving, hippie. If this is a good or bad thing depends on your point of view. Needless to say this book is a complete 360 turn from its predecessor. I must confess that I was disappointed in this book.
I found that only two of the chapters contained any real information, while the rest of the book only contained interesting stories. One of the biggest differences from this book and the first one is the change in the attitude of the author, John Hoffman. In his first book, Hoffman came off as a far right wing, gun welding, isolationist. While is this new book he has become a left wing, peace loving, hippie. If this is a good or bad thing depends on your point of view. Needless to say this book is a complete 360 turn from its predecessor. I must confess that I was disappointed in this book.
I expected to find alot more useful information, but often the book falls short. Such as in the chapter on finding keys to locked dumpsters. Hoffman simply recommends asking for the key from a person who works for the business that the dumpster is used by. I have to believe that getting the key is not that simple as just asking for it. The rest of the Key chapter is filled with a long story about how useful the key that Hoffman once found (by accident) was in his dumpster diving. The author offers no "plan B" in case the dumpster's owners don't feel like handing over the key to a total stranger.
Also, there is a chapter that is called "The really really weird chapter." This chapter title could not be more fitting. I could not make heads or tails of this acid trip of a book chapter, I ended up skipping it entirely after just a few paragraphs.
I really wanted to love this book. But sadly it left me feeling diappointed. None of the original DIY feeling of the first book is to be found in its sequel. Instead, Hoffman seems to be more focused on telling us about how his first book made him a "cult hero" and all the fame and fortune it brought him. Time after time Hoffman continues to brag about how he is "street wise" and "famous" and "stands still while going down on a dumpster so the reporters can get a good picture." Blah!
If Hoffman's first book left you hungry for more useful tips on scoring great dumpster goodies, I suggest you speak to other divers in your area for the real straight dope. No information will be found here that is of use to the experienced diver.
Read Hoffman's first book, and forget the sequel.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Rambling and has very little useful information to warrant the title. The layout of the information is terrible and makes tummy hurt. The section on industrial diving, however, is decent. One can find much better information on the Net.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
John Hoffman loses his family, his sanity, and the point
Having enjoyed his first book, "The Art And Science Of Dumpster Diving", I really looked forward to this second book when I ordered it from Paladin Press. Read more
Published on August 5, 2008 by Curmudgeon
The Dumpster is where this book belongs!
This book is pure garbage. It is no more than the asinine ramblings of a deranged mind trying to further capitalize on past success.
Don't waste your money!
Don't waste your money!
Published on November 14, 2004 by D. Wills
Not as good as the first.
This book was not as well-written or as useful as the first. I consider it to have been a waste of money because there was little in the way of practical advice. Read more
Published on August 7, 2003 by Nathan D Larson
Essays on Seattles "Ultimate Grunge" scene.
Don't be read this "Advanced Course" and think that you're going to learn anything technical. This book is creative non-fiction, a hint at a broader field of inquiry... a ... Read more
Published on March 25, 2003 by bicycle bill
It motivates you
Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course takes trash picking to a level far beyond the occasional find on the side of the road. Read more
Published on March 19, 2003 by Zanne Marie Gray
Profoundly funny and subversive
It would be hard to top Hoffman's *magnum dumpus,* The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving, but this book does it. Read more
Published on November 29, 2002 by james hanson
Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
When you're having a great night of dumpster diving...when luck turns your way and the reeking decay of the cold, hard universe yields delightful diamonds amid the common and all-too-expected turds, YOU DON'T STOP! Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
locked dumpsters, industrial diving, internal affairs documents, dumpster diver, dumpster diving, subversive impact, unconnected things, mass consciousness, secret oath Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
North Dakota, Officer Book, Los Angeles, Thomas Pynchon, Salvation Army, Star Trek, Bicycle Bill, Sylvia Bell, Alexander James, Dumpster Goddess, Grandpa Willard, John Hoffman, Officer Burnt, Whatcom Creek, Morris Bellow, World Trade Organization, Caisson Hill, Dumpster Willard, Grand Forks, John Shamanski, Seattle Times, United States, Dick Sousa, Miss Strauss, Blue Moon New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
When you're having a great night of dumpster diving...when luck turns your way and the reeking decay of the cold, hard universe yields delightful diamonds amid the common and all-too-expected turds, YOU DON'T STOP! Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
locked dumpsters, industrial diving, internal affairs documents, dumpster diver, dumpster diving, subversive impact, unconnected things, mass consciousness, secret oath Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
North Dakota, Officer Book, Los Angeles, Thomas Pynchon, Salvation Army, Star Trek, Bicycle Bill, Sylvia Bell, Alexander James, Dumpster Goddess, Grandpa Willard, John Hoffman, Officer Burnt, Whatcom Creek, Morris Bellow, World Trade Organization, Caisson Hill, Dumpster Willard, Grand Forks, John Shamanski, Seattle Times, United States, Dick Sousa, Miss Strauss, Blue Moon New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
- The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving by John Hoffman on page 21, and page 23
- Fat Cat (Catch the Reading Bug) by Stephen Mooser on page 76
- Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon on page 43
- Circle of Life by Tim Rice in Back Matter
- Backstreet Boys by Carlton Books on page 61
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