Rating: 
Summary: Rather Disappointing
Review: I had hoped for more from this book. This is what I found: incoherent politics, sometimes amusing anecdotes about growing up in a dumpster-diving family, & a dearth of practical information. Much of it is written as if it were intended to convince people who are dubious about dumpster diving that it is not as seedy or foul as it's thought to be. I think it misses its mark here, since it's likely that anyone who might consider reading this book is already more open-minded in this regard.
But not to be entirely critical, there is some merit to the book. There *is* practical advice here. Some of the philosophizing catches fire. Many of the anecdotes are rewarding, both as useful examples for your own diving & in their own right as well. But having said this, even the positive aspects are limited. For example, a lot of the practical advice is quite basic, things that a reasonably competent person could be expected to figure out on his or her own.
The good stuff could have been extracted & put into a fifteen page pamphlet & been well worth two or three dollars. As it is, it's not worth the money or the time it takes to ferret it out of all the dross, unless you have more than enough of both to spare.
Rating: 
Summary: I've done it myself!
Review: I have been diving for about 16 years and I love to do it! I found John's book at Tower Records in Fresno, CA about six years ago. It was perfect! Most of what John said in his book I was already doing. The best excuse I have used is "I'm looking for boxes, I'm moving." And to keep a box or two in your car just to make it look good. I have gone as far as getting gate codes to gated communities. Working as a pizza delivery man helps. With this book and my own experience I have made an easy money and I have had so much fun doing it too. Pick up a book today and I promise you will be amazed!
Rating:
Summary: "a dangerous piece of writing"
Review: It couldn't be more true, what Hoffman states,
that "peoples head would explode" if they knew a nice looking
middle class guy like himself (or me) did to salvage some
of the mountains of energy thrown out every day.
Go John, go, America needs to wake up to the fact that
we are the "Saudi Arabia of waste". If, as is often said
in America that the world should live as we do, but there wouldn't be any world left, only heaps of trash for alien
anthropoligists to ponder upon.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Information and Funny to Boot!
Review: John Hoffman's book is not only a thorough "How-To" book on dumpster diving, but it is also chock full of side-splitting stories of his "adventures" while dumpster diving. I would highly recommend this book to anyone pursuing a simpler life, freedom from debt, or those just looking for an interesting (free) hobby. Some of the topics covered in John's book include, proper attire for dumpster diving, proper dumpster diving equipment, useful diving techniques, and where to locate the best most loot filled dumpsters in your town. After reading this book I promptly went out "dumpster diving" to test the validity of John Hoffman's assertions. I returned with "loot" that included a metal 5-shelf unit in perfect condition along with a few other odds and ends. Thanks for a great book John!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Information and Funny to Boot!
Review: John Hoffman's book is not only a thorough "How-To" book on dumpster diving, but it is also chock full of side-splitting stories of his "adventures" while dumpster diving. I would highly recommend this book to anyone pursuing a simpler life, freedom from debt, or those just looking for an interesting (free) hobby. Some of the topics covered in John's book include, proper attire for dumpster diving, proper dumpster diving equipment, useful diving techniques, and where to locate the best most loot filled dumpsters in your town. After reading this book I promptly went out "dumpster diving" to test the validity of John Hoffman's assertions. I returned with "loot" that included a metal 5-shelf unit in perfect condition along with a few other odds and ends. Thanks for a great book John!
Rating:
Summary: This book changed my life!
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: make real money from other people's trash
Review: 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.
Looking through other people's trash is how I got started on Ebay and amazon, because perfectly good NEW and USED books were being pitched out, and what I didn't keep for my own personal library, went on the sales list. What I liked most about it, was I found extremely rare and out-of-print technical books that will never come back around again, self-published history summaries, family history items, and one-of-a-kind keepsakes and antiques.
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! Why waste a prime opportunity, even if it does mean getting grimy? 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...
Rating:
Summary: make real money from other people's trash
Review: 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.
Looking through other people's trash is how I got started on Ebay and amazon, because perfectly good NEW and USED books were being pitched out, and what I didn't keep for my own personal library, went on the sales list. What I liked most about it, was I found extremely rare and out-of-print technical books that will never come back around again, self-published history summaries, family history items, and one-of-a-kind keepsakes and antiques.
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! Why waste a prime opportunity, even if it does mean getting grimy? 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...
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating look at how to profit by others waste & laziness
Review: This book tells the story of how the author John Hoffman was raised in near poverty and how his parents provided for their children in part by raiding trash dumpsters in a nearby town. To this day (1993) Hoffman professes to still live by those principals of salvaging food, clothing and all sorts of other items carelessly thrown away by other people.
I think he's got a lot of hot air in what he says but so much of it rings so true that you know he's got to be right. I particularly like the tips given for conducting a search of a dumpster, how to lean in, how to watch for sharp objects, so many other things. This book really will teach you something, buy it even if you never plan to dumpster dive.
Rating:
Summary: Thar's gold in them dar dumpsters!
Review: Why oh why did I wait so long to buy this book? When I think of all the great finds I have made in dumpsters, it brings tears to my eyes. Why do people throw away such perfectly good stuff? Everything from books to food to computers! Believe it or not, the computer I am typing this review on came from a dumpster! If you are like me, you are in college and must sqeeze every last cent out of your paycheck, this book is a god-send. And remember, there is wealth to be had in this world, you just have to know where to look....Start with the dumpters!
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