Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography By Neil Patrick Harris
Reviewed by: Melissa Friedlund, Reference Assistant
Genre: Autobiography
Suggested Age: Adults
What is the book about? Ostensibly, this is an autobiography of the TV and stage actor Neil Patrick Harris. However, there is a quirky twist. This book is set up like a Choose Your Own Adventure where the story is told using 2nd person point of view (you are Neil Patrick Harris) and the reader can make life choices which can lead to either a happy, fulfilled life, end in an account of “your” untimely death, or somewhere in between. Choose wisely!
My Review: I listened to the e-audiobook version of this book, but it is also available in print and in CD book form. The audiobook is read by the author and would not be as entertaining if it had been read by someone else. Due to the limitations of listening instead of turning pages, the life choices were most often “wait for it” or “keep listening.” Because the print book would have the different story fragments arranged throughout various sections of the book, listening to the audiobook was kind of like reading a Choose Your Own Adventure story from cover to cover…not usually the best idea. However, the main autobiographical sections were generally close to chronological order or at least mentioned a calendar year, so the reader can mentally place the story within the timeline. In between autobiographical anecdotes are silly side stories that are either obviously fiction or at least highly dubious. I liked how there seemed to be nuggets of truth in a fictional portion and I sometimes wondered if there weren’t elements of imagination in the autobiographical accounts, too. I did not think this was a bad thing. On the contrary, it kept me guessing…literally. It’s full of very personal details delivered in a humorous and self-deprecating manner. Despite the fact that Neil Patrick Harris has written a few children’s books, this one is definitely for adults.
Three Words That Describe This Book: Sardonic, Scandalous, Poignant
Give This a Try if You Like…Choose Your Own Adventure books, How I Met Your Mother TV series, anything starring Neil Patrick Harris
Rating: 5/5
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
