I have, on two occasions, actually tossed a book in the trash rather than have someone else stumble upon it. Arguably worse than physical mutilation and I consider myself a book lover.
And, for several others, I have physically cut out and disposed of offending chapters or introductions using the same physical technique as the article suggests. Deeply emotionally satisfying, and not an option available for DRM e-books, as far as I know. And again, a book lover.
I too have come across few things in my life that were so useless/junk as to wipe from the face of the earth. Few though.
> not an option available for DRM e-books
One such instance for me was a computer game. I uninstalled it and ensured the offending files were securely written over. Such things were possible with spinning rust storage.
Nowadays with solid state drives I don't know how to target my vindication to that degree.
For a big book, cutting it up might be desired. Even though book lovers everywhere decry such a move, it's their book.
Obviously there is zero resale value for the book, but I have never sold a book I owned so that wouldn't bother me.