I think you're missing the point. The idea isn't to have to maintain someone elses rubbish code. The idea is that reading good code makes you a better coder. W

I think you're missing the point. The idea isn't to have to maintain someone elses rubbish code. The idea is that reading good code makes you a better coder. Which it certainly does. Having said that, bad code can sometimes teach you lessons in how not to do things. Good authors probably read other books as well.