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Bob Wilber
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How Far?: A Tale of Determination, DNA, and Drama Kindle Edition

by Bob Wilber (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
Bob Wilber wrapped up his lengthy professional sports and marketing career in 2016, and immediately wrote and published his autobiography "Bats, Balls, & Burnouts" to great acclaim. For "How Far?" he stretched his writing muscles into an entirely new genre. "How Far?" is historical fiction, and the story surrounds two disparate characters. Wilber wrote "How Far?" as those two characters, in their distinct voices. One is a gifted baseball player from Southern California and the son of artist hippies. The other an undersized hockey player from Roseau, Minnesota, a hotbed of high school hockey in a state where hockey is king. Roseau is a small community just south of the Canadian border and has produced numerous NHL and international hockey stars.

Both characters progress through the challenges they face. Each come from vastly different upbringings. Both reach levels of greatness. And, thanks to one spontaneous moment, they met, became friends, and achieved their individual paths to the pinnacle of their sports. It is an unlikely story, but a very possible one brought to life by Bob Wilber's technique and attention to detail.

There is drama, heartbreak, elation, and more. Life lessons learned. Moments of brilliant brightness as well as the darkness of personal lows. There are also deep dives into the world of amateur and professional sports, down to the tiniest important details. It is a tale of life, told through the lens of elite athletes playing different games while they impact each other's lives.
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  1. Print length
    960 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    January 30, 2022
  4. File size
    1.3 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09RLBTRM2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Outskirts Press, Inc. (January 30, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 30, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 960 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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Bob Wilber

Bob Wilber

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Bob Wilber grew up aspiring to follow in his father’s baseball footsteps, and while he was able to secure a full college scholarship and later spend parts of six years in professional ball, as a player, coach, and scout, his mother’s writing, communications, and public relations skills were what eventually defined his career. After a successful and adventurous sports-marketing trek through the sports-apparel business, agency work, and professional indoor soccer, he saw his first drag race as he closed in on his 40th birthday. Little did he know that he’d go on to spend 20 consecutive years as a team manager and PR representative for Del Worsham and then Tim Wilkerson, two of the most popular Funny Car drivers on the NHRA tour. At the conclusion of the 2015 season, Bob ended his drag racing run in order to take on the lifelong dream of writing his autobiography, "Bats, Balls, & Burnouts."

In 2019 Wilber took on the challenge of his second book, and branched out into an entirely new and more challenging genre. His historical fiction novel "How Far?" is written in the voices of two fictional characters; a baseball player from Southern California and a hockey player from Roseau, Minnesota. The two relate their tales and how their lives intersected in the first person, as if they had written the book themselves. With historical fiction in mind, Wilber melded the two fictional characters into real situations, places, and people. "How Far" was published in 2022, by Outskirts Press.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a wonderful read with a captivating story. The characters are vividly lifelike, and customers praise the author's work, with one noting the impressive attention to detail.

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6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a wonderful read, with one mentioning that it kept them hooked.

"...A wonderful read first page to last. Highly recommended" Read more

"I greatly enjoyed this book. Despite being a work of fiction I found myself thinking that this was truly the memoirs of two athletes...." Read more

"...A wonderful read that I would recommend to anyone, any gender, any age." Read more

"...The blog was refreshing and resulted in me (and many others) continuing to follow his move to another funny car team and then his writing of his..." Read more

6 customers mention "Story quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's story captivating, with one customer particularly appreciating the detailed portrayal of the athletes' lives.

"...The story is captivating and the character development is great. A wonderful read first page to last. Highly recommended" Read more

"I greatly enjoyed this book. Despite being a work of fiction I found myself thinking that this was truly the memoirs of two athletes...." Read more

"...Loved the details of their lives and what made them who they are. I now want to go visit Roseau Minnesota!..." Read more

"...A truly human novel that touches on something that must be familiar to anyone living in America for the last sixty years...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers praise the vividly lifelike characters in the book.

"...The story is captivating and the character development is great. A wonderful read first page to last. Highly recommended" Read more

"...This book kept me hooked and I was sad when it ended. The characters are sports figures but that is just the background of their story, it's not a..." Read more

"...These guys become very real and every bit as likeable as Bob himself." Read more

"...Historical fiction - fictional characters inserted into real events...." Read more

4 customers mention "Author quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's work, with one noting their impressive attention to detail.

"Another great piece of wordsmithiing by truly a man of many talents. The story is captivating and the character development is great...." Read more

"...I felt that the author did an amazing job of taking us through the ups and downs, triumphs and injuries that are a part of sports...." Read more

"...I think that is the mark of an extremely talented author. The book itself is wonderful...." Read more

"...The author's attention to detail is most impressive...." Read more

Gripping characters and story
5 out of 5 stars
Gripping characters and story
As the story unfolded, I fell in love with these characters and found myself cheering for one, in particular. Loved the details of their lives and what made them who they are. I now want to go visit Roseau Minnesota! The plot twist broke my heart and the question of redemption left me thinking of how my own life is to intertwined with friends and family, and all the things you never see coming in life. This book kept me hooked and I was sad when it ended. The characters are sports figures but that is just the background of their story, it's not a sports book. A wonderful read that I would recommend to anyone, any gender, any age.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kelly Kaufman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant character description and story
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Another great piece of wordsmithiing by truly a man of many talents. The story is captivating and the character development is great. A wonderful read first page to last. Highly recommended
    One person found this helpful
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  • Daniel Barnett
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful read.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I greatly enjoyed this book. Despite being a work of fiction I found myself thinking that this was truly the memoirs of two athletes. It was interesting learning of their respective childhoods and seeing what led them into the sports they chose, hockey and baseball. I especially liked the way that they alternated chapters telling their side of the story during the same chronological periods. I felt that the author did an amazing job of taking us through the ups and downs, triumphs and injuries that are a part of sports. I feel I got a real sense of what it takes to make it into the Big Leagues of baseball and hockey and what happens when the game is over. You don't even need to be a sports fan to enjoy this book. It will capture your attention and lead you through.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Avid reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping characters and story
    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    As the story unfolded, I fell in love with these characters and found myself cheering for one, in particular. Loved the details of their lives and what made them who they are. I now want to go visit Roseau Minnesota! The plot twist broke my heart and the question of redemption left me thinking of how my own life is to intertwined with friends and family, and all the things you never see coming in life. This book kept me hooked and I was sad when it ended. The characters are sports figures but that is just the background of their story, it's not a sports book. A wonderful read that I would recommend to anyone, any gender, any age.
    Customer image
    Avid reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Gripping characters and story

    Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2022
    As the story unfolded, I fell in love with these characters and found myself cheering for one, in particular. Loved the details of their lives and what made them who they are. I now want to go visit Roseau Minnesota! The plot twist broke my heart and the question of redemption left me thinking of how my own life is to intertwined with friends and family, and all the things you never see coming in life. This book kept me hooked and I was sad when it ended. The characters are sports figures but that is just the background of their story, it's not a sports book. A wonderful read that I would recommend to anyone, any gender, any age.
    Images in this review
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  • Chris Gartland
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    As I finished this book I wrote to Bob: you have a keen eye for our generation. But it was more than just that. He has touched on an incredibly wide range of experiences we all see and feel even if we are not professional athletes. I personally got into the old WCHA references and the ”Dudes” I hung with though we played different sports. A truly human novel that touches on something that must be familiar to anyone living in America for the last sixty years. These guys become very real and every bit as likeable as Bob himself.
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  • Jay Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I have been reading the author’s work for many years.

    Being an avid fan of NHRA drag racing I first discovered Bob through his online BLOG as the PR representative for a funny car team. The blog was refreshing and resulted in me (and many others) continuing to follow his move to another funny car team and then his writing of his first book.

    The remarkable thing I discovered while reading How Far was that it only took a few chapters for me to forget that I was reading the words of a writer that I really enjoy and admire. Very quickly I was reading the words and hearing the voices of the two main characters. I could soon distinguish each one simply by their virtual tone and cadence as I read. I think that is the mark of an extremely talented author.

    The book itself is wonderful. Like many I found myself believing these fictional characters were actually historical figures. As I read about the actual historical figures and real world places and events I easily placed these characters there in my mind. The way the characters “spoke” of these events just made them seem so real and so honest.

    The way the book is delivered with alternating chapters in each character’s voice was a pleasant way to take it all in. Many times I would read from Brooks’ point of view and then anticipate the next chapter to see what “Eric’s take on the event” might be. Again I feel that is a real sign of the author’s talent in telling the story.

    Really just a very, very enjoyable read. I seem to be limited in my reading time these days and I found myself looking forward to the time I could grab How Far and read a few chapters. Definitely the highlight at the end of many long days.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Damnyankee
    5.0 out of 5 stars fictional characters made real
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed Bob's first book because I knew a little about him and I love biographies. This was a whole different deal for him and the reader. Historical fiction - fictional characters inserted into real events. I knew they weren't real but by the end of the book I was ready to google their stats - which I wouldn't find of course but they sure felt real after a few chapters. The chapters alternate between the two characters, each telling the story in their own voices. A nice touch was having their 'signatures' under each chapter heading. Very different people with different but parallel lives. In similar worlds . I really enjoyed this book. Stayed up way too late more than once because I didn't want to put it down.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sue Madden
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved reading this book!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The characters were so vividly lifelike, you couldn’t help believing in them and becoming fans. Very enjoyable read, even for someone who doesn’t follow either baseball or hockey, but cares about people.
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  • Dr. C. Richele O’Connor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Book About Two Athletes' Journeys
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This book shows how being a famous athlete is not a bed of roses. The author's attention to detail is most impressive. As someone who shared this experience with the author, I am amazed at how well he is able to capture the pain, the emotions, and the angst of this tenuous journey. Even if you don't like baseball or hockey, you will still enjoy this story. Even though I'm a former baseball player, I appreciated the world of the hockey player more than I thought I would. Bob is truly a gifted writer!
    2 people found this helpful
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