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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as his first book but a worthy addition,
By
This review is from: Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course: How to Turn Other People's Trash into Money, Publicity, and Power (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.
24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A disappointment,
By News Nut (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course: How to Turn Other People's Trash into Money, Publicity, and Power (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 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.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as the first.,
By Nathan D Larson (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course: How to Turn Other People's Trash into Money, Publicity, and Power (Paperback)
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.Compared to the original, with its no-nonsense prose, clearly-organized chapters, sprinkled with philosophy, this book was a rambling diatribe that went nowhere. It did have some good tips for the EXPERIENCED diver who wants to make money faster by diving behind electronics stores, etc. but if you are not sure whether diving is your cup of tea, I would buy the first book and try those tips first.
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