You Are a Miserable Excuse for a Hero!

by Bob Powers

Why Do All the Nice Girls End Up Getting Kidnapped and Held for Ransom? In this book, YOU, the reader, are a thirtysomething part-time actor/full-time waiter suddenly caught up in a kidnapping. Julia, the girl you went out with last night, has been TAKEN HOSTAGE. What will you do? Will you go to the police and ask for help? Will you burst into the hideout, killing everyone in sight, then tell Julia that she shouldn't misinterpret this as some sort...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312377347
• ISBN13: 9780312377342
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 229 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Bob Powers does it again

As a fan of Mr. Pawers' previous book, "Happy Cruelty Day," I came into this book with high expectations. Well, not only did "Hero" meet my expectations, it infinitely exceeded them. I can only hope that this isn't the only book in this series.

A Great Idea Made Better By Hysterical Writing

Bob Powers proves his skills of observation and imagination are totally unlimited with this choose your own adventure book for adults. The possible outcomes are as diverse as they are hilarious. It's a great read and would make the perfect gift for anyone you know who is nearing or in their 30s, and still trying to figure things out.

Whatever you choose, you're gonna laugh

This is a really funny book from Bob Powers, who's one of my favorite writers. Dark, hilarious, and inventive all around.

More Powers Gold!!!

Great book. Very original and funny. Bob Powers unleashes his beautifully twisted arsenal of ideas in a Choose-Your-Own Adventure for adults. I love this guy's stand-up, sketch comedy and books. He's a hilarious, genuine artist - one of NY's authentic voices who seems to never lack the kind of deliciously dark concepts that you wish didn't crack you up so hard.

Ridiculously Perfect, and Perfectly Ridiculous

Bob Powers has written a hilarious and very adult version of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure type of book, skewering everything from dotcom mania to a Landmark Forum-type "personal development workshop." The latter advertises that "There is a GEYSER OF PERSONAL POTENTIAL waiting to burst out of you. Find out how to COAT THE WORLD with AN EXPLOSION OF YOU." As you try to figure out the best way for your hero, or, perhaps, anti-hero, to save his girlfriend (or, you know, not), who is being held by kidnappers for $50,000, Powers you to a sex club, an abortionist, 9/11 and beyond. He somehow manages to cram in all kinds of current events with a general sense of generational angst and relationship drama, all while you flip around madly trying to find the best ending. Except all the endings here are kindof messed up, and all the funnier for it. I read all the time on the subway, and only rarely do I miss my stop because I'm so engrossed in a book. That happened with this one, so be forewarned.