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Rating: 
Summary: Ace is a great American
Review: Ace Backwards is a great writer, very funny and in his own way, a very brave, honest, patriotic American. I came across his Zine Twisted Image and corresponded with him in the early 1990s. He wrote about controversial issues like Holocaust Revisionism, the LA race riots after Rodney King, the first Gulf War against Iraq and Ace was very honest about writing who was behind that one leading up to this next one.
Does anyone know if Ace Backwards is alive? Well?
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Summary: You will want to pass this book along to your friends.
Review: Even if you've never been homeless, and have little chance of ever becoming homeless, you will still enjoy this book. Beyond it's "how-to guide" format, it's a great read on so many levels. First, it will make you think about your modern American existence in a whole new way. Secondly, it will give you an interesting counterpoint to whatever your current view is of the "homeless situation." Plus, Ace knows how to tell a story. Many of his anecdotes will have you laughing out loud...especially if you've ever spent any time in Berkeley. His likable personality shines through in his writing style, which is intelligent, sardonic, somewhat bitter, and witty.
Those who are using this review space to trash homeless people have obviously not read this book. Ace Backwords does not promote "free-loading," "trashing public property," or "scamming people." He writes about using your wits to survive, in an interesting and intelligent way.
Even if you don't agree with everything he has to say, you will still enjoy the book and want to talk about it with your friends. Read it, pass it on, and have an interesting conversation.
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Summary: Easily One of the Best Books I've Ever Read
Review: For sure, this is a solid reference manual. I'm positive Ace's advice would be invaluable to anyone who decided to flip off the family, the creditors and the landlord and take it to the streets. It's also a speldid memoir and rant, written with uncommon discernment, self-awareness and empathy. Amid his practical instructions, Ace introduces us to assorted denizens of the street scene, states his fearless opinions on some of the recurring practical and sociopolitical snafus that dog the homeless, and tells more hard-boiled down-and-out anecdotes than the entire Tom Waits back catalogue, all in the most likeable style I've read this year. Dave Eggers isn't fit to squeegee Ace Backwords' windshield.
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Summary: Sha-na-na...Get a F*cking Job
Review: Goddmmit, I'm SO tired of freeloaders living off of the system! Why don't you scumbags get off your rears and get a job? Start contributing to society instead of trying to figure out how to scam everyone. Why is it fair for you to get a free ride while the rest of us do all the work? Too bad cancer isn't more selective.
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Summary: what an ass... part two
Review: I couldn't help noticing that the author raises the book rate everytime he decides to respond to a review. C'mon, man, you must be old enough to accept criticism. You have more entries than all your critics together. How about some reality check?
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Summary: The Goal Is Survival
Review: I have nothing but praise and admiration for Mr. Backwards' courage in writing this book. While many of us are working in mundane jobs trying to pay the Mastercard bill Mr. Backwards shows us a world where the main focus of the day is Survival.For people on the streets this is a 24 hour a day full time occupation. Mr. Backwards' book deals with vital concerns such as finding a safe place to sleep and where to find something decent to eat.He also warns of the dangers of life on the streets and how life can sadly seem like a fast disjointed movie where various characters come and go all in the space of a few hours.I truly hope that Mr. Backwards has found a haven with four walls which he can finally call Home.
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Summary: A Master Iconoclast
Review: I salute this book because it is excellent on multiple levels. First of all, it is brilliantly written. Ace's style is straight forward with no BS. Nonetheless, this magnificent work is far from a mere "how-to" guide. It tears apart the images of homelessness forced on the public by the politically correct media and self-righteous "advocates." Very few persons would have the brass to present the homeless lifestyle in all its raw ugliness like Ace does. He plainly describes the reverse racism and other aspects of the lifestyle that most writers would gloss over.I am delighted that previous "liberal" reviewers are upset with the book. I have long known that leftists live in a fantasy world of their own creation, where only caucasians are racists, all poor people are noble victims of economic injustice, and there is a big government solution to every problem. Ace attacks these idiot notions head on. In addition, he does say some things I disagree with, esp. in regards to the cause of AIDS. However, unlike brittle past reviewers, I will not lower my rating of the book because it says a few things I think are incorrect. On the contrary, I commend the author for challenging commonly held notions, forcing the reader to think. This and other books from Loompanics Unlimited (www.loompanics.com) are highly recommended, esp. a pair of wonderful volumes they sell: "Build A Catapult In Your Backyard" and "Cover Your Tracks Without Changing Your Identity."
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Summary: What an idiot.......
Review: I'm Ace's editor. I'd like you to know that his manuscript arrived typed on the blank sides of obviously scavenged paper, one chapter at a time, with months sometimes going by without any additional chapters or even any word from Ace. I would send letters trying to coax him back to writing, but he nearly chucked the whole project more than once. Eventually, another chapter would arrive. We knew we had an extraordinary book on our hands and did whatever we could to support him, but our offices are located two states away and short of going to Berkeley and combing the streets, there wasn't much we could do, nor would there have been much point. It was after all, a book about street life, complete with new wounds and old scars. The book is everything we were looking for and more. "For those of us who will never live on the streets, this book gives a brutally honest peek into an alien world from the eyes of a native. Fascinating!"
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Summary: Another drug-addled "progressive" rant about scummy people
Review: Let's face it -- 10% of the homeless deserve our sympathy and help. HOWEVER, most homeless are scummy, lazy, drug-addicted pieces of zhit who ruin life for the rest of us. We have a covenant in the country -- we all need to work hard at our jobs, pay our taxes and try to do the right thing. Hassling people for money, trashing public property, stealing and shooting junk in your arms is NOT adhering to that covenant. We should pass some laws in this country to eliminate all you scumbag freeloaders.
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Summary: Sha-na-na...Get a F*cking Job
Review: Truly inspiring account of life on the streets. Ace tells it like it us and doesn't sugarcoat or fabricate details to get better ratings. Although I have a permanent place to call home, I found his book very informational and helpful to all walks of life. A "dumpster diver" myself, I can't get enough of diving stories! People should be ashamed of themselves for all the waste they create! I take that back, bless the wasteful, selfish people of the world for giving my life a purpose! To all those found at the bottom of a can, I commend you for doing what you do! Keep up the good work Ace! You are my new hero! :)
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