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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12743 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 5:17 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Glenn wrote: |
67rustavenger wrote: |
Now, what pages were the blotter stuffed between? |
It was the pages.
oprn wrote: |
For you John Muir haters... when is your book coming out? |
1964
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I had no idea this book existed! Sweet!
I will say though that the cover does not grab you quite like John's does. Technical manuals usually don't but technical isn't sexy... and John was selling books, not just information...
Have you done any upgrades to it since '67? My newest air cooled VW is a '68. I would definitely buy one that covers the newer ones as well. _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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Q-Dog Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 8700 Location: Sunset, Louisiana
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 8:41 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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EverettB wrote: |
Q-Dog wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
Q-Dog wrote: |
If you are broken down in the middle of nowhere with no phone or internet and limited tools, the idiot book would be the right book to have. |
Is hilarious that a you tube generation of hacks to keep your. Wheels rolling disdains the printed version of the same. |
My problem with Utube. So much of it is someone taking 25 minutes to show a 2 minute procedure. No organization of thoughts, no production value, bad camera work, worse editing and horrible sound. And that's on the better videos. 99% of it is garbage.
I'd rather watch grass grow or paint dry ... or read a manual written by an engineer. |
Part of the problem is that if you have ads, it has to be over a certain length to shows ads / get paid.
So... the 10 minute introduction and lots of dumb filler content was born out of "necessity" in a lot of cases |
I don't really care why they do it. It is still garbage. _________________ Brian
'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle |
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Bulli Klinik Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2005 Posts: 2079 Location: Bulli Klinik, Colorado Springs
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 8:51 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Abscate wrote: |
Q-Dog wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
Q-Dog wrote: |
If you are broken down in the middle of nowhere with no phone or internet and limited tools, the idiot book would be the right book to have. |
Is hilarious that a you tube generation of hacks to keep your. Wheels rolling disdains the printed version of the same. |
My problem with Utube. So much of it is someone taking 25 minutes to show a 2 minute procedure. No organization of thoughts, no production value, bad camera work, worse editing and horrible sound. And that's on the better videos. 99% of it is garbage.
I'd rather watch grass grow or paint dry ... or read a manual written by an engineer. |
+1000
Absolutely false. It’s 99.9% garbage.
If you can find someone to cullg it for you , the 0.1% is great. I still haven’t found a good YouTube to clean snow off my 1971 Bus, though
My fourth wife came with an Idiot Manual; well used. |
Marriage: A step by step guide for the complete idiot... That would be a winner. _________________ I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs |
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Bulli Klinik Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2005 Posts: 2079 Location: Bulli Klinik, Colorado Springs
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I can say that as a 17 year old with a 66 Camper back in '87, the Muir book not only saved my ass, it empowered a young, clueless enthusiast to own VW's to this day. My mechanical experience up to that point was keeping my BMX tuned. _________________ I've never met a Bus I didn't like.
Mike K
Bulli Klinik
Colorado Springs |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22670 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 12:50 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Quote: |
My fourth wife came with an Idiot Manual; well used. |
We just call him Manny _________________ .ssS! |
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21520 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Abscate wrote: |
Q-Dog wrote: |
If you are broken down in the middle of nowhere with no phone or internet and limited tools, the idiot book would be the right book to have. |
Is hilarious that a you tube generation of hacks to keep your. Wheels rolling disdains the printed version of the same. |
This is actually dead on!
A modern correlation......the overall industry I work within ...the big bucket name for it....could be considered "screen and digital printing".
The primary end I work in is Industrial printing (appliances, industrial machines and controls), and printed electronics (aerospace, automotive, transportation, consumer and medical).
But the other end of the industry...the one the average person is familiar with...I used to spend a lot of time in years ago....and that would be T-shirt, apparel and textile printing.
Many of those guys...are just like you noted. They will blow off all written, previous/past expert knowledge that could set them straight in a day...decades of information.....in favor of on-line forums of group/consensus opinion....because it confirms what is in their head....and because of that they toil forever in the equivalent of printing junkyards...producing mediocre work.
There are the functional equivalents in the T-shirt printing industry....to John Muirs idiot book.....but most will not read it because its not on-line and instantly reviewed by people they have never met ....but whose opinions they trust...because they like their avatar!
Ray |
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janerick3 Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006 Posts: 1879 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 4:20 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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I just picked up a shopworn, 8th printing (1972) from one of our local libraries' used bookstores for $3, so they can still be had for next to nothing. I have a copy of almost every other air-cooled VW repair manual written in English, but never the Idiot's Guide. I have run across a few waterlogged copies of this book in junkyards over the years, but none in any condition worth taking.
As has been mentioned previously, the target audience for this publication is the first half of the baby boomer generation (the ones familiar with the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers). The Idiot's Guide contains lots of tricks and tips for those willing (or forced) to do their own maintenance and could be read from cover-to-cover within a week. _________________ Thanks,
Jan K. |
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67rustavenger Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 9772 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 4:35 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Let's look at another factoid regarding the "Idiot's book."
It is the first guide for the complete idiot that came to market.
Before all the other "Idiot" guides that are published today! _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12468
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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This book while written in a style different from Muir attempts to get information to the consumers in a friendly manner.
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FarmerBill Samba Member
Joined: July 25, 2017 Posts: 767 Location: New England
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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janerick3 wrote: |
As has been mentioned previously, the target audience for this publication is the first half of the baby boomer generation (the ones familiar with the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers). |
You just know the Freak Bros. had a copy of the Idiot book. |
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Chickensoup Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2018 Posts: 5368 Location: Good Hope, GA
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Posted: Sun May 02, 2021 7:39 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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per the OP's original question, IMO no its not. not in todays day and age.
its a fun book, but not really that useful nor very accurate in some regards. _________________ -'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" |
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2type2 Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2002 Posts: 978 Location: SW Colorado
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 3:44 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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IMO the idiot's guide is more valuable than just trashy advice as some argue. My point is, although some procedures or recommended approaches are indeed questionable , the fact remains that an individual who has neither experience nor mechanical aptitude CAN fix their own car in most cases just by being the idiot that follows the steps. My memory is shot, so I will often read a few paragraphs while tinkering to keep me on track.
I feel that if I could motivate her to do so ,even my wife could successfully wrench on my VW .........and that's saying alot! _________________ "A life of peace and happiness depends on your own gratefulness" |
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Igpoe Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2019 Posts: 853 Location: South Boston, VA
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 4:27 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Bulli Klinik wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
Q-Dog wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
Q-Dog wrote: |
If you are broken down in the middle of nowhere with no phone or internet and limited tools, the idiot book would be the right book to have. |
Is hilarious that a you tube generation of hacks to keep your. Wheels rolling disdains the printed version of the same. |
My problem with Utube. So much of it is someone taking 25 minutes to show a 2 minute procedure. No organization of thoughts, no production value, bad camera work, worse editing and horrible sound. And that's on the better videos. 99% of it is garbage.
I'd rather watch grass grow or paint dry ... or read a manual written by an engineer. |
A man that tells you he understands women is a complete idiot
+1000
Absolutely false. It’s 99.9% garbage.
If you can find someone to cullg it for you , the 0.1% is great. I still haven’t found a good YouTube to clean snow off my 1971 Bus, though
My fourth wife came with an Idiot Manual; well used. |
Marriage: A step by step guide for the complete idiot... That would be a winner. |
_________________ '73 super. |
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Igpoe Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2019 Posts: 853 Location: South Boston, VA
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 4:31 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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If a man tells you he understands women he's got it figured that the person he's talking to is a complete idiot _________________ '73 super. |
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oprn Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2016 Posts: 12743 Location: Western Canada
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 5:19 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Abscate wrote: |
My fourth wife came with an Idiot Manual; well used. |
It was the manual that was well used... I hope...
And by the way, where can I buy an "Idiot Manual" for wives? My wife is convince that I am a complete idiot, so I could use some help! _________________ We had the stone age, the bronze age, the industrial age and now we are in the age of mass deception and mind control for corporate profit. (The mass media age) |
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iowegian Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 9829 Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 5:26 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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coad wrote: |
The best thing about Muir is that you can quickly read through the procedure and get a feel for how difficult/dirty/nasty the job is likely to be. Most manuals are so dry that an oil change reads the same as a transmission rebuild, but if Muir tells you to tuck your hair into your stocking cap and get ready for a fight, that's good to know. |
If Icy/Gary was here he'd be pissed hearing you say that. |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12468
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 6:41 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Chickensoup wrote: |
per the OP's original question, IMO no its not. not in todays day and age.
its a fun book, but not really that useful nor very accurate in some regards. |
It’s lost on you. Go back to watching YouTube. |
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calvinater Samba Member
Joined: September 06, 2014 Posts: 3333 Location: 802 The Pointless Forrest
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 6:50 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Keep it near the reading throne. _________________ "Albatross"! |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 34021 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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Abscate wrote: |
My fourth wife came with an Idiot Manual; well used. |
Was it a manual of step by step procedures for YOU, or for HER?
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Typ3nut Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2002 Posts: 1192 Location: MI, MotorCity ManCave
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2021 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Is the Idiot's book really that valuable? |
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My take on this Topic is that there is many things people collect and finding a 1st Edition John Muir Idiot Book in very good condition will complete a collection, they are hard to find, I sold one a couple years ago for $50 bucks at a Swap Meet but try to get that kind of money for a 2nd Edition or later, you just have to find the right person. |
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