Choose Your Own Apocalypse With Kim Jong-un & Friends

by Rob Sears

There are many ways civilisation could end, even with wise, benevolent leaders like Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin watching over us. Now, in this fun interactive story of global doom, YOU decide how humanity perishes.

Will we be turned to grey goo by Elon Musk's nanobots?
Driven collectively insane by Russia's most potent memes?
Or smashed to atoms by someone sitting on the wrong button in North Korea?

In this book, YOU will meet the leaders with the future of civilisation in their hands. And YOUR wits and judgement will decide how we all inevitably die. Or then again, maybe, just maybe, with a little positive thinking, YOU will find a way to keep us all safe long enough to expire of old age and global warming instead. Just don't get too hopeful. On every page of Choose Your Own Apocalypse with Kim Jong-un & Friends, the end of your choice is most definitely nigh.

Genres: Fiction, Gamebooks, Choose Your Own Adventure, Humor, Politics

160 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2019

About the author

Rob lives and works in Finsbury Park in London with his cat, dog and wife. His books tend to take an irreverent and fun approach to things that we usually talk about with our Serious Voices, such as monstrous world leaders and the environmental omnicrisis we're living through.

His latest work is The Biggest Footprint, an illustrated book that tells the story of humanity's impact on nature through the character of the mega human, a 3km-tall blue giant made out of every human on earth. It's his first book for kids and adults, and aims to give readers a new perspective on the big data about our species.

Previously Rob wrote a series of hit humour books about world leaders, including The Beautiful Poetry of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin Life Coach. His political writing has appeared in McSweeney's, The New Statesman, the Guardian and Index on Censorship magazine, and he is the co-creator of Working for the Big Man, a sitcom for Audible starring Kevin Eldon, Felicity Montagu and Mitch Benn.

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This provided plenty of chuckles over breakfast, me reading out loud and my daughter choosing. We played it a couple of times and died in both 😔

[Louise Thompson]

I can’t believe this is the first book I read in 2020.

I died like five times. This is like Bandersnatch all over again.

[Mintti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kim-Jong Un ja kaverit, oli suomeksi tämä kirja.
Tässä pääset itse vaikuttamaan siihen miten maailma loppuu, kaatuuko se virukseen joka tappaa kaikki, vai mehiläisten katoamiseen maapallolta vai johonkin muuhun. Tätä kirjaa ei voi lukea kannesta kanteen, vaan jokaisen tapahtuman jälkeen sun pitää itse valita mitä teet ja mihin se johtaa. Oli hyvin mielenkiintoista käydä eri skenaarioita läpi, mä olin onnekas, kaksi kertaa maailma loppui yllättäen mutta kolmas kerta toden sanoi ja sainkin elää vanhaksi. Kaikki polut ei sitten kuitenkaan johtaneet jokaiseen skenaarioon, joten kun halusin käydä kaikki mahdollisuudet läpi niin siinä olikin selailemista. Ihan viihdyttävää poliittista hömppää.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don’t expect quality literature here, only good fun! “Choose Your Own Adventures” and I go way back to the late 70s when this concept first came out. They make great “Read Alouds” with primary students and I have many a great memory of engrossed students negotiating the smartest or funniest choices to complete the adventure. This one in particular pokes fun at our most outrageous current crop of world tin pot dictators.

[Mag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livre dont vous êtes le héros, un poil particulier avec des hommes politiques actuels. Les missions et les personnages sont drôles.
Ce livre se joue par choix et non par lancer de dés, ce qui n'empêche pas de mourir lorsqu'on doit choisir entre la peste et le choléra

[Risanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a nice and quick read, consisting of funny references that the greater public is able to understand.
However, the book rushes through certain problems and scenes which I believe deserve more attention. This could have resulted in a greater depth of the book, could add another layer and may also contribute to the book its relevance as a satirical work.

The idea for sure is fun, but with a bit more attention, the work could have been of greater quality. It may cause it to loose the great audience it now appeals to, however considering the scenes it could have tackled and events it could have referred to, it would have been a better read for those that are engaged in today’s global political issues.

[Anthony Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intermittently funny and a clever idea. Don't expect it to last you more than an hour though

[Laura Maia Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought this second hand in London last summer and read it at the beach, which was such a weird experience but i’m proud to own it

[Viivi · Rating 3 out of 5]

:D hauska

[Steph_d · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well it was definitely fun and I finally got to win yaya! Only took me bloody 67 tries to get it right haha but I was fun

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

[Nostalgiaplatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avete presente i librigame di qualche tempo fa? Quelli in cui ti trovavi a fare scelte per cui l'avventura prendeva strade diverse? I miei preferiti erano quelli della serie "Alla corte di re Artù", meravigliosamente ironici, ma ho giocato anche con quelli di Lupo Solitario, Oberon, Sherlock Holmes, quelli della serie Horror Classic, che poi erano dello stesso autore di quelli di Re Artù, quindi divertentissimi.
In questo libro il concetto è lo stesso, anche se qui non ci sono combattimenti, punti di vita e dadi da lanciare; però a seconda delle tue scelte il mondo può salvarsi, oppure fare una fine barbina.
Sei l'impiegato di un oscuro dipartimento dell'ONU che ha lo scopo di prevenire apocalissi varie, e visto che sei l'ultimo arrivato, ti hanno spedito a fermare una crisi in Corea del Nord mentre i tuoi colleghi si godono le vacanze di Natale... ma la Corea del Nord è solo l'inizio!
Divertente, ironico e intelligente; se avete nostalgia dei librogame (ma anche delle storie a bivi con Paperino), non fatevelo scappare: ci sono persino gli adesivi con cui personalizzare la copertina creando il proprio dittatore preferito!
E qui c'è anche l'unico difetto del libro: sarebbero stati meglio degli adesivi attacca e stacca, così da potersi sbizzarrire più volte; invece quelli che ci sono rischiano di rompersi, se si prova a toglierli o spostarli. Così il mio Putin dovrà tenersi la sua fronte sproporzionata.

[Aranzazu Elbauldeloscolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

El mundo está amenazado por un ataque que podría acabar con el mundo y solo tú eres el responsable de que no se produzca.⁣
⁣
Tendrás que lidiar con políticos de la talla de Kim Jong-un , Putin o nuestro queridísimo Donald Trump😀⁣
⁣
Un libro interactivo donde tú irás eligiendo tu camino. Me ha parecido muy entretenido, la primera vez morí a los 3 minutos jajajaja está claro que no estoy hecha para ser política🤣🤣⁣
⁣
Después lo he vuelto ha intentar, y he sido un poco más malvada, egoista y he liderado pensando en el bien común y me han matado más tarde. Lo divertido ha sido jugar varias veces e ir viendo que ocurría. La verdad es que me ha parecido un libro genial para pasar el rato

[Aaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

goodbye dennis rodman

[Sam Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny! Not a difficult read, but that wasn’t its purpose. I enjoyed the different narratives I went down, finding out that I died or it ended short.

I liked that if you died, It would recommend a place to go back to choose differently and continue on to the next apocalypse in order to finish (further on).

[Eileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this a fairly thorough preview because my local library in Spain had it and my 9yos wanted to read it. The novelty of a choose-your-own tickled them and although it wasn't for me there wasn't anything especially objectionable in the paths I read with regard to graphic sex or violence. I suppose it's ironic that I think they can handle the worst case scenarios if it just means turning back to a different page. That said, it's more of a bummer rather than being particularly funny. I don't think I'll ever be able to laugh about it after how many people died because of anti-vax sentiment in the US. I get that the author is 'punching up' when he takes a swing at the egotism and instability of dictators, but reminders of our vulnerablility to nuclear annihilation at their whims would have landed better as jokes in the 1990s, when I wasn't living in Europe with a Russian dictator being appeased in his invasion of the Ukraine. Likewise, the less I hear about Elon Musk's wealth and ego, the better. I didn't miss the point, the message isn't subtle, I'm just not a little boy who still thinks war and politics are a joke.

[Andy Horton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last of my Christmas presents 2019 to be eaten, worn, played with or read. A snarky, flippant narrative voice as you are placed in a choose-your-won-adventure scenario as a put-upon UN Functionary in over their head desperately trying to save the world from disasters such as rogue giant robots, nuclear launches, and the world's dankest meme. I had been geared up to make a snarky comment abiout how they couldn;t predict the apocalypse we have - but the last one you may face is a virulent disease exacerbated by President Trump's leadership and used by him to profiteer from selling PPE, and I thought to myself; "they really do think of everything".
In its caricature of international figures, its cynicism shot through with veins of hope, its treatment of environmental catastrophe, this is actually a better book than I'd expected. Thanks to my nephew who gave it me.

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a throwback to the “pick-a-path” / “choose your own adventure” books I read in my tweens, this was a blast. Great cover, and concept, and how horrific that what could be mocked and laughed at in 2019 is now sadly feeling like the weirdest version of non-fiction ever. Is there even a category of “fan non-fiction”? And if so, how perfect that it be created as a “choose your own” styled book. Look out for “choose your own information” books, coming soon. Printouts of Reddit and 4Chan and Facebook groups, basically.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each Christmas I try to buy my Mum a novelty book. This was the 2020 purchase, and it's strength is that the scenarios within are so over the top ridiculous that you can't help but laugh. Then you realise just how plausible done of them are and it makes you reflect on the past 18 or so months....if only we could turn back a few pages and change the course of action! A bit of campy fun.

[The Books Blender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recensione completa -> https://thebooksblender.altervista.or...

[Emilie Maes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un livre dont on est le héros !

Tour à tour en discussion avec Kim Jong-Un ou Trump…
C’est parfois drôle, plusieurs fins sont possibles mais attention à l’apocalypse.

Livre détente à ne pas prendre au sérieux.

[Snejana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty entertaining and funny! Good idea as well!

[Giulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi sono divertita un sacco. Trame non memorabili, ma é un ottimo esperimento. Saggiatore sempre una garanzia.

[Pascale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book to read in 2020. Pandemic included! Lol

[Valeria Magoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divertente, si legge in un attimo

[Te Riu Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha! Fun read, pretty light hearted.

[Russ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull, tiring and unfunny.

[Anamomentsmetro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro con un toque de humor, en el cual no sabes si el camino a elegir te llevará a la muerte o viviras

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea.

A little too absurd to humor me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Mari]

I died on the second page ^.^