Texas Bix Bender (1944–2023)

I enjoyed the book very much. It is a handbook on how to be a successful sidekick. Although based on traditional cowboy sidekicks such as the immortal Gabby Hays, it also covers famous, infamous and unknown sidekicks in history, both real and imaginary, in movies, TV, literature and science. There are many interesting quotes in here, such as "A sidekick is seldom distinguished, but never indistinguishable." The whole book is about being second banana to a hero, how to become one, how to live as a sidekick, and how to be different from the hero's posse, since the members of the posse actually do some work.

Many sidekicks are recognized in this book, from Sam Gamgee of the Hobbit, Fred and Ethel of the Lucille Ball Show, Chewbacca from Star Wars, and even Ron Weasley, the rubber faced sidekick of Harry Potter. The authors also explore their "Seven Habits of Successful Sidekicks" and the "Sidekick Bill of Rights". Also, the authors touch upon the sad fate of heroes who don't have sidekicks, and the harm caused by this. He mentions that Elvis had no sidekick, and suffered therefrom. There is an empty grave next to the performer at Graceland that is the "Tomb of the Sidekick Who Never Was."
Altogether, a fun book to read. Just for pleasure.… (meer)