The Action Heroine's Handbook

by Jennifer Worick, Joe Borgenicht

Get Some Action!
 
For every woman who wants to be as tough as Lara Croft, as nimble as the Bionic Woman, and as babe-a-licious as Charlie’s Angels, The Action Heroine’s Handbook shows you the essential skills you’ll need to conquer the bad guys and save the day without breaking a sweat.
 
Find out how the real action heroines do it, directly from a host of experts, including stuntwomen, jujitsu instructors, helicopter pilots, detectives, forensic psychologists, survivalists, primatologists, and many others.
 
Learn
 
     •  Profile a serial killer
     •  Outwit a band of home intruders
     •  Navigate white water rapids
     •  Go undercover as a beauty queen
     •  Outrun a fireball
 
And dozens of other Tough Chick Skills, Beauty Skills, Brain Skills, Brawn Skills, and Escape Skills. Special sections and appendices feature the top action heroine hairdos, handbag essentials, and the best footwear for every action situation. With step-by-step instructions and easy-to-follow illustrations, The Action Heroine’s Handbook will prepare you to save the world, one baddie at a time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Reference, Womens, How To, Feminism, Adventure

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2003

About the author

I write. That’s rather obvious. Mostly I write about things that blow my skirt up. Humor is a big—huge—part of everything I do. But then there’s that soft, squishy sentimental part of me that can’t help but rear its heartfelt head. And since I like to tell people what to do every chance I get, I write a lot of how-to books, blogs, and articles.

Humorous. Heartfelt. How-to. Three great tastes that taste great together, at least in my cereal bowl.

So let’s get down to it. I know you don’t have all day to ogle my bio, as much as a girl can dream. Here’s what you should know off the bat: I’m the New York Times best-selling author of more than 25 books and, per Reader’s Digest, one of the four funniest bloggers in the US. Pretty cool, eh?

I’ve written on everything under the sun for national magazines and websites like The Huffington Post, Allure, and Salon, and I currently write a books column for today.com. In addition to bookshelves, newsstands, and your favorite websites, you can also find me online at Things I Want to Punch in the Face.

Along with fellow author and publishing pro Kerry Colburn, I deliver publishing talks, workshops, and webinars to help burgeoning authors get published through The Business of Books. You can also catch me in university auditoriums, where I offer up side-splitting but informative slide-show presentations based on my popular books.

Originally from Southwestern Michigan, I currently live in Seattle, where I eschew fleece while eating more fish and chips than is good for me.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of this book is what you want it to be--a stuntwoman's guide to riding the front wheel of a motorcycle, a sensei's tips on disarming an opponent armed with a knife, a private investigator's stakeout tips--but some of it is ridiculous. An action heroine doesn't need tips on How To Marry A Millionaire, that protagonist would be a comedienne. Still, I did find a lot of the individual movie references funny, like what to do if you encounter an actual gorilla in the mist. Some of the makeup tips--like how to get Wonder Woman's hair--are also funny, light, and well played. Some of them involve using bronzer on cleavage and veer into fashion magazine territory. Not much action or fun to be found there.

Also, the book advises you to agree to a polygraph and tell the truth. Like an action heroine never has anything to hide from the police. This reviewer recommends exercising your fifth amendment rights and not saying anything until your lawyer shows up because we live in the real world and the authorities aren't always the angels.

Additionally, in the "How To Go Undercover As A Man", the author recommends bustier women use Ace bandages to bind their breasts. Stop perpetuating the myth. Ace bandages lead to broken ribs, breathing difficulties, and awful, uncomfortable bruises. Fitted binders are available and can be purchased discretely on the internet.

But the advice on not eating sushi before trying to drink someone under the table is legit. For real. Just don't drink much at all if all you've had to eat is sushi. Life Lesson.

All told, this book is a somewhat amusing thing to leaf through. I definitely don't recommend taking the advice seriously, but it is pretty funny in places.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this is classified as "humour" in most bookstores and libraries, there is nothing funny about this book. A misleading that led to a disappointing read.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, cute, but shallow- not a book so much as a coffee table pictorial reference. Given medium, think that it should have aimed for more guffaws. Fell a little flat.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious book! Real experts give advice on how to take down bad guys while looking great. Action Heroine's can do it all!

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't decide if it was trying to be funny or serious.

[elstaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounds up to 4 stars for me. I really enjoyed the assortment of information that seemed to be drawn from actual experts, but was kind of bored by the heteronormativity whenever it showed up. Still, a fun and sometimes surprisingly informative read!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, fun and some practical advice as well

[PurplyCookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although seemingly far-fetched, the how-tos are actually backed up with legitimate advice from a host of professionals, from a stuntwoman explains how to win a catfight, jujitsu intructors, helicopter pilots, forensic psychologists to suvivalists.

This is a book for all you ladies out there who secretly want to be the next Lara Croft or Trinity; it gives you such tips as how to drink a man under the table, identify the essentials you'll be needing in your handbag, how to get your hair like your favourite heroine, escape on horseback, and how to survive in the wilderness with nothing more than matches, a bit of string and a paperclip.

It's is divided into the following entries with which every action heroine should be equipped with: Touch Chick Skills (How to Win a High-Speed Chase in High Heels and a Bustier), Beauty Skills (How To Turn a Man into a Sex Pawn), Brain Skills (How to Investigate your Spouse/Lover, How to Survive as a Mob Wife, How to go Undercover, How to Maintain a Secret Identity), Brawn Skills (How to Win a Catfight, How to Knock Out a Man with a Running Wall Kick) and Escape Skills (How to Fake Your Own Death, How to Escape When Kidnapped).

There are some memorable lessons in here, all accompanied by terrific illustrations. Don't expect this book to change your life, but it will give you a few laughs and perhaps some tips on getting out of sticky situations.


Book Details:

Title The Action Heroine's Handbook
Author Jennifer Worick and Joe Borgenicht
Reviewed By Purplycookie

[Tammy]

Not quite sure why this was put in the humor section at the library, except that maybe there just wasn't any other category where it would fit. I was disappointed to find that this wasn't humor -- it's an actual instruction book, complete with pictures. It would be extremely useful if you're planning to make stuntwork a career or to have an alter-ego superhero; otherwise, don't waste your time.

[Maan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #19 for 2013: Saw this in the bargain bins of Fullybooked. It's a fun and light read (because I secretly want to be an action heroine haha). Loved the "How to Surf a Barreling Wave", "How to Recognize the Undead", and "How to Dance like a Maniac" portions. Now excuse me while I outrun a fireball.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious light reading. Andrea bought it for me because "it had the word 'heroine' in the title," and I guess I was in the middle of my non-stop thesis babble. But this is a very funny book. And now I know how to rescue people from burning buildings and stuff. ;)

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love the idea of it and there were some pretty funny "instructions" but darn it, not really applicable to my life after all. To read an excerpt in a waiting room or off of someone's coffee table would be kind of cool, but more than that just isn't worth the time.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realized I bought this book 10years ago because I thought it was a funny conversational piece for my library. However now that I have read it there's really no reason to keep it around. Although the movie quotes take me back.

[Charlie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty mediocre

Truly, don't try this at home. If your references are Charlie's Angels, Thelma and Louise, and Bond girls, you might be a little dated. Not practical enough to be useful, not witty enough to be funny, and not sharp enough to be interesting parody

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of the worst case scenario guides, but with action heroines and their various heroic activities as examples. Woo!

[Rhea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is good for a laugh, but unfortunately did not immediately transform me into a big-breasted, spandex-clad, ass-kicking chick. Well, maybe with some practice the advice would be usable.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY FUNNY BOOK!

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was amusing

[Caitlin]

The action heroine's handbook : how to win a catfight, drink someone under the table, choke a man with your bare thighs, and dozens of other TV and movie skills by Jennifer Worick (2003)

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting information that I;d love to try out.

[Vikki Karan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as a gift and wasn't the biggest fan. I love it in concept but the topic is much more suited for a more visual means like YouTube.

[Heather Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! Cute and tongue-in-cheek, but also quite interesting. Hoping I remember how to fight in handcuffs and dance a tango!

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, short book to be picked up and read periodically when I had a few minutes. I enjoyed the movie references most and seeing how they were referenced in the instructions given.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I keep this on my desk at work for quick and easy reference. It is awesome!

[Danielle Head · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Fun Fun