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Self Help  By  cover art

Self Help

By: Ben H. Winters
Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Ron Perlman
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Publisher's summary

A darkly comedic thriller by the New York Times best-selling author of Underground Airlines, The Last Policeman, and the Audible Originals Q&A and Inside Jobs.

Jack Diller is just one more struggling actor on the road to nowhere. He’s got an agent who barely remembers his name, his ex-girlfriend has hooked up with a Silicon Valley dude, and the milk in his fridge is so far past its sell-by date it’s historic. The only way Jack can scrape together a bare existence is by delivering food to exactly the types of successful people he wishes he could be.

Then, one day, a very strange audiobook shows up on his phone. The Killer Instinct seems to be your basic self-help guide, narrated by a washed-up action star named Hector Bruno, and brimming with cheesy advice for how to get your life together.

With so little to lose, Jack starts listening...and listening some more. He starts talking to Hector like he’s his best friend.

And then...Hector starts talking back.

©2022 Ben H. Winters (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC.

Publisher's summary

A darkly comedic thriller by the New York Times best-selling author of Underground Airlines, The Last Policeman, and the Audible Originals Q&A and Inside Jobs.

Jack Diller is just one more struggling actor on the road to nowhere. He’s got an agent who barely remembers his name, his ex-girlfriend has hooked up with a Silicon Valley dude, and the milk in his fridge is so far past its sell-by date it’s historic. The only way Jack can scrape together a bare existence is by delivering food to exactly the types of successful people he wishes he could be.

Then, one day, a very strange audiobook shows up on his phone. The Killer Instinct seems to be your basic self-help guide, narrated by a washed-up action star named Hector Bruno, and brimming with cheesy advice for how to get your life together.

With so little to lose, Jack starts listening...and listening some more. He starts talking to Hector like he’s his best friend.

And then...Hector starts talking back.

©2022 Ben H. Winters (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC.

What listeners say about Self Help

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Entertaining and slightly thought provoking, overall humorous

I really wasn’t sure where this book was going for the first half hour or so. There’s quite a bit of silliness and it skips a bit, but overall it turned into a very good listen. The ending is worth it and I’d recommend others give it a shot if they’re looking for something that’s lighthearted with a little darkness and death mixed in. Thanks

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10 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Dean Koontz style

Good story with a great narrator!
Nice build up and delivery.
The style reminded me of late night staying awake in middle school, not able to put down Dean Koontz.

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7 people found this helpful

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Entertaining!

I'm addicted to Audible books and podcasts. This one was funny, a little weird, and just fantastic. Will Weaton is a great narrator. He wasn't just reading the lines like some do. He was emotive and impactful. Ron Perlman has such a distinct voice, and it fit the character perfectly.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this story

Short and snappy. Well written and paced really well. Loved the twist at the end.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

What a romp

Funny, inventive, great performances. Worth the listen! Thought it got cringy near the end but it redeemed itself smartly

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So much fun

Loved this book. Dark comedy is my favorite genre. Narrator was perfect. Love to read another by this author

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I smiled through the whole thing

This audiobook is sick. I enjoyed every minute of it. Performances by the actors were excellent and complementary. It could have been an episode of the Twilight Zone.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

incredible story....and the BEST narrators ever

sofa king weird and cool. I laughed and I was struck with awe. I wish there were more crazy stories like this

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loove both narrators...

loove both narrators...I will look for more with works narrated by either both of them or singular.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great

Story: (No spoilers!) Ben H. Winters is a darned good writer. I've enjoyed many of his novels. This story requires just a bit more "suspension of disbelief" than usual, but it's worth it. A very modern Faustian fantasy, with a Twilight Zone-ish ending.

Performance: Will Wheaton and Ron Perelman are perfectly cast.

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1 person found this helpful