Neil Patrick Harris's 'Choose Your Own Autobiography': What are critics saying?
Neil Patrick Harris鈥檚 new autobiography gives you options.
Titled 鈥淣eil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography,鈥� the memoir by Harris is modeled after 鈥淐hoose Your Own Adventure鈥�-style books. Do you want to try out for the TV show 鈥淒oogie Howser, M.D.鈥� (on which Harris starred), or would you rather pass? Do you feel like having some caviar with Elton John, or are you not a fan of the fishy delicacy?
Harris鈥檚 book was released on Oct. 14 and has been selling steadily 鈥� it currently occupies the number 9 spot on the IndieBound hardcover nonfiction list for the week of Oct. 30 and the number 10 spot on the print and e-book nonfiction list for the week of Nov. 2. It鈥檚 achieving this sales performance on lists that are currently occupied by many other celebrity memoirs. 鈥�Parks and Recreation鈥� actress Amy Poehler, Cary Elwes of 鈥淭he Princess Bride,鈥� and 鈥淕irls鈥� creator and star Lena Dunham all also have bestselling memoirs that were released within the last several weeks.聽
The memoir has received mostly positive reviews, though some critics said the format of the book is distracting. wrote that Harris鈥檚 鈥渦niqueness shines brightly in this fetching, sometimes far-fetched autobiography, which puts you in his shoes and challenges you to walk through his spontaneous, unconventional, and unpredictable life. Definitely worthy of the highest of fives,鈥� referring to Harris鈥檚 character on 鈥淗ow I Met Your Mother鈥� who enjoys giving high-fives. writer Jim Higgins wrote that the book has 鈥渇requent, brilliant wit鈥� Harris and [co-writer David] Javerbaum keep pulling out one trick after another,鈥� and writer Jenny Henkelman called the book 鈥渆ntertaining,鈥� though she wrote that the choices-based story mode 鈥渋s probably less fun to the average reader than it is to NPH himself. The gimmick doesn't elevate the book, but it doesn't sink it, either.鈥澛�
And writer David Wiegand called the book's use of "you" "precious," though he noted that the book is 鈥渇ar more readable than most hoary exemplars of [showbiz memoirs].鈥澛�
