You know when there’s something in life you’ve always at least partially wanted to do, but due to circumstances or laziness or paralyzing fear of failure, you just don’t? It’s nice when someone else does it instead and it turns out to be a bust. Saves you the upset. Instead you sit and listen to your excuses and neuroses ring of sweet validation. The only possible downfall (seriously, otherwise this is a really good way to live life and I highly recommend it) is that you probably don’t get to write a hilarious book about your misadventures.

Rock On: An Office Power Ballad documents Dan Kennedy’s abrupt and anxious time as a mid-level marketing exec at Atlantic Records. Through a fluke freelance copywriting gig at the label he found himself employed full-time for about 18 months, starting in 2002. Remember that terrible women’s razor campaign that featured the even worse Jewel song of the same name? Well, you can thank Dan for that gem. But don’t hate him. He hates himself for it more than you or I possibly could.

Really, you can’t hate the guy. Not even for the Jewel commercial. Kennedy just loves music. So when he finds himself at the tail end of Atlantic Records’ run before it gets swallowed by Time Warner, compromising himself to stay golden in a gross corporation, realizing how little the music business actually has to do with music (note: it is heavy on the business), you can’t hate him. You’d be the same slightly delusional, idealistic fan who just wanted to discover new bands and ride their burgeoning credibility. You’d go to the same Iggy Pop show and make all the same vows Dan made to himself when he felt so ashamed for not ever kicking near as much ass as Iggy Pop did/does. Instead, you buy alligator skin picture frames and you abide by the unspoken code of silence when riding elevators with supposedly intimidating superiors, then, THEN, you get blonde highlights. Just to fit in! Just like any other employee in any other corporate office. Well, maybe not the highlights. You’re on your own there, Dan. Highlights? Yeesh.

Rock On: An Office Power Ballad is a simple, hilarious book and it is even full of typos so it’s a challenge for the big kids! Yeah. I called out the typos. Dear Algonquin Books, need a proofreader? Who’s the big risk taker now!

Has anyone bought the movie rights to this yet? Someone should probably get on that. It will be like The Devil Wears Prada meets Love Monkey, but with less Meryl Streep, maybe less lame, and more Jason Priestley. No Jason Priestly? Fine. Who wants to be in my movie?(Algonquin Books)