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Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Humor (2014)You've already made a great choice by picking up the audio edition of NEIL PATRICK HARRIS'S CHOOSE YOUR OWN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. This hilarious book has been adapted especially for the audiobook edition so you'll hear all of the same fun and humor from the printed version but you don't have to make any decisions or jump around—just kick back, relax and listen. Plus, it features exclusive bonus audio of young Neil delivering an adorable speech! That's audio you won't hear in any version of this book other than the audiobook!
7 pages, Audiobook
First published October 14, 2014
844 people are currently reading
44514 people want to read
About the author
Neil Patrick Harris
62 books1,260 followersNeil Patrick Harris is an American actor, producer, director, magician, comedian and singer. He is best known for playing Barney Stinson in the television comedy series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014), for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards. As a child star he played the title character in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993). He is also known for his role as the title character in Joss Whedon's musical Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008) and a fictional version of himself in the Harold & Kumar film series (2004–2011). He has also appeared in the films Starship Troopers (1997), Beastly (2011), The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013) and Gone Girl (2014). Harris was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2010, and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September 2011. He has also hosted the Tony Awards on Broadway in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, for which he won several special class Emmy Awards. He also hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009 and 2013, and will host the 87th Academy Awards in 2015. In 2014, he starred as the title role of Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway, for which he won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,053 reviews
November 9, 2014
I expected this book to be witty. I expected it to be clever and fun. And it was. It was all of those things in spades.
But I didn't expect it to be sweet and sad and honest and touching. I mean, it's framed as a choose-your-own-adventure. You don't expect those to be heartfelt, emotional stories....
Perhaps I should start by saying that I came to know Neil Patrick Harris in a different way than people. Most of you probably know him from his two big TV shows: Doogie Howser or How I Met Your Mother.
Not so with me. I was aware of those shows, even watched them. But I came to appreciate Harris by watching Undercover Brother. Later, my admiration grew when I saw him play a deranged version of himself in Harold and Kumar. And last I came to love him through Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
Oddly enough, it was the last of these that shot my respect for his craft as an actor through the roof. (And, to tangent briefly, still makes me think he would do a great job of playing Bast, should my books ever make it to the screen.)
I mention this to let you know that I came at this book as a fan, but not as your typical sort of fan.
So. The book. Simply said, I loved it. As I mentioned above, it was everything I expected and more. It was funny enough to make my laugh out loud more than once. And sweet enough to make me cry on an airplane twice.
Specific things I enjoyed:
I liked that he spoke frankly about how he came to grips with the fact that he was gay, as well as the conflict of coming out publicly. It was extraordinary insightful.
There are little pieces of the book written by various celebrities Harris has interacted with over the years, Penn Jillette, Sarah Silverman, etc etc. These were lovely, quirky additions to the book.
What's more, the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure aspect worked remarkably well. At first I thought it was just a gimmick, but I quickly learned this is a great format for an Autobiography, as it gave me the chance to skip to the parts of the book I was most interested in. Then, later on, I went back and read it again.
Simply said, it was a great book. It's the only autobiography I'd be tempted to read again in the future. And it's only one I've ever considered buying multiple copies of as a Christmas gifts.
Lastly, speaking as a writer, it was irritatingly well written. It just doesn't doesn't seem fair that Harris should be able to sing, dance, act, AND write this well.
But I didn't expect it to be sweet and sad and honest and touching. I mean, it's framed as a choose-your-own-adventure. You don't expect those to be heartfelt, emotional stories....
Perhaps I should start by saying that I came to know Neil Patrick Harris in a different way than people. Most of you probably know him from his two big TV shows: Doogie Howser or How I Met Your Mother.
Not so with me. I was aware of those shows, even watched them. But I came to appreciate Harris by watching Undercover Brother. Later, my admiration grew when I saw him play a deranged version of himself in Harold and Kumar. And last I came to love him through Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
Oddly enough, it was the last of these that shot my respect for his craft as an actor through the roof. (And, to tangent briefly, still makes me think he would do a great job of playing Bast, should my books ever make it to the screen.)
I mention this to let you know that I came at this book as a fan, but not as your typical sort of fan.
So. The book. Simply said, I loved it. As I mentioned above, it was everything I expected and more. It was funny enough to make my laugh out loud more than once. And sweet enough to make me cry on an airplane twice.
Specific things I enjoyed:
I liked that he spoke frankly about how he came to grips with the fact that he was gay, as well as the conflict of coming out publicly. It was extraordinary insightful.
There are little pieces of the book written by various celebrities Harris has interacted with over the years, Penn Jillette, Sarah Silverman, etc etc. These were lovely, quirky additions to the book.
What's more, the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure aspect worked remarkably well. At first I thought it was just a gimmick, but I quickly learned this is a great format for an Autobiography, as it gave me the chance to skip to the parts of the book I was most interested in. Then, later on, I went back and read it again.
Simply said, it was a great book. It's the only autobiography I'd be tempted to read again in the future. And it's only one I've ever considered buying multiple copies of as a Christmas gifts.
Lastly, speaking as a writer, it was irritatingly well written. It just doesn't doesn't seem fair that Harris should be able to sing, dance, act, AND write this well.
January 30, 2026
Ahh...Quaint childhood, a few lucky breaks and then success, success, success.
The classic celebrity memoir...or is it?
What if memoirs didn't have to be all filmographies, name-dropping and dry parental issues?
"You come in weighing a very average, very sexy seven pounds, seven ounces. As it happens, that is also the exact weight of an Emmy Award. Coincidence? Yes … but true fact? No."
What if...you could pick out what happens yourself?
Well...that sounds like a rather good idea after all...
Overall - this was an incredibly fun memoir.
"So pluck up your courage and take that risk! Add another story to the book of your life. Even if it doesn’t go the way you planned or wanted, you’ll still learn from it. Adventure."
I knew of NPH from his HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother) days and absolutely loved his over-the-top character...but I was always curious where the acting stopped and where he began.
This memoir has that covered! I learned so much about his life and various adventures - some real, some imagined.
I listened to the audiobook version, so I didn't truly have a choose-your-own-adventure vibe from it but I still had fun.
There were a few twists and turns (dead-ends!) sprinkled in that made it all the more enjoyable.
All in all, I was so happy to spend my time listening to this book!
"But magic is like pizza: even when it's bad, it's pretty good."
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
November 4, 2014
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
How can I describe my feelings about my experience with Choose Your Own Autobiography???? Well, this pretty much sums it up:
Buckle up friends ‘cause this might be a long one . . . Where do I even begin???? I guess I should take my inspiration from NPH and sit down at the computer in order to journal my feelings:
Let me start by saying you kind of have to be a NPH Fangirl to really appreciate this book. Although funny, Neil’s story focuses more on the actual story of his life rather than the hardiest of har-har anecdotal moments. Luckily for me I am a superfan and spent the better part of the summer attempting to score a free copy of Choose Your Own Autobiography. Guess what??? Persistence (and the fact that I confessed I was willing to do anything for a freebie) paid off and I was totally able to “get inside” NPH, if you will . . .
And what did I learn that I didn’t know before? A lot. Neil Patrick Harris is so open about . . . well, everything. Not only does he tell you about his entire career from his start as Doogie Howser, M.D. . . .
FYI - I totally wanted to bang Doogie when I was a kid and received massive amounts of flack for it. I obviously knew what he was going to grow into
(Mommy likey!!!!)
to box office failure (but massive success in the pop culture arena) . . .
to massive success on the big screen . . .
to the weirdest little blog with the biggest following in the history of ever . . .
to a return to network television in one of the most wildly popular shows (with a completely less-than-stellar ending) . . .
to triumph and a Tony about one angry little inch . . .
Neil Patrick Harris has done it (and talks about it) all. Including dishing on all of the D-listers of Hollywood who have shown themselves to be d-bags (Doherty, Screech, Anne Heche, Kelsey Grammar, Scott Caan (Who???? Wait, am I the only person in the world who didn’t know not only this guy’s name but that he’s James Caan’s son???? I’ll just crawl back under my rock now).
Not only does NPH discuss his professional life, but he talks about everything else as well. He’s awesomely self-deprecating (especially when it comes to describing matters of the “heart,” if you will). From his sexuality to family to drug usage (easy there, killer, he was never a Lindsay Blowhan - he merely dabbled), he talks about every aspect of his life. He even throws in some card tricks and a couple of food and cocktail recipes for good measure. He SERIOUSLY covers his life story – I mean all the way up to the Heineken commercials which only began airing a few months ago. And he speaks of his parents, his partner David, and his children with such complete adoration that it almost made rain fall out of my face.
So, how did my adventure end? Wellllllll . . . after I found myself in a twisted plotline involving murder and decapitation of hitchhikers I figured I better start over and read the book from the beginning so that’s just what I did. Cover to cover. And now???
Neil Patrick Harris’ story was LEGEN
DARY!!!!
ARC provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review
How can I describe my feelings about my experience with Choose Your Own Autobiography???? Well, this pretty much sums it up:
Buckle up friends ‘cause this might be a long one . . . Where do I even begin???? I guess I should take my inspiration from NPH and sit down at the computer in order to journal my feelings:
Let me start by saying you kind of have to be a NPH Fangirl to really appreciate this book. Although funny, Neil’s story focuses more on the actual story of his life rather than the hardiest of har-har anecdotal moments. Luckily for me I am a superfan and spent the better part of the summer attempting to score a free copy of Choose Your Own Autobiography. Guess what??? Persistence (and the fact that I confessed I was willing to do anything for a freebie) paid off and I was totally able to “get inside” NPH, if you will . . .
And what did I learn that I didn’t know before? A lot. Neil Patrick Harris is so open about . . . well, everything. Not only does he tell you about his entire career from his start as Doogie Howser, M.D. . . .
FYI - I totally wanted to bang Doogie when I was a kid and received massive amounts of flack for it. I obviously knew what he was going to grow into
(Mommy likey!!!!)
to box office failure (but massive success in the pop culture arena) . . .
to massive success on the big screen . . .
to the weirdest little blog with the biggest following in the history of ever . . .
to a return to network television in one of the most wildly popular shows (with a completely less-than-stellar ending) . . .
to triumph and a Tony about one angry little inch . . .
Neil Patrick Harris has done it (and talks about it) all. Including dishing on all of the D-listers of Hollywood who have shown themselves to be d-bags (Doherty, Screech, Anne Heche, Kelsey Grammar, Scott Caan (Who???? Wait, am I the only person in the world who didn’t know not only this guy’s name but that he’s James Caan’s son???? I’ll just crawl back under my rock now).
Not only does NPH discuss his professional life, but he talks about everything else as well. He’s awesomely self-deprecating (especially when it comes to describing matters of the “heart,” if you will). From his sexuality to family to drug usage (easy there, killer, he was never a Lindsay Blowhan - he merely dabbled), he talks about every aspect of his life. He even throws in some card tricks and a couple of food and cocktail recipes for good measure. He SERIOUSLY covers his life story – I mean all the way up to the Heineken commercials which only began airing a few months ago. And he speaks of his parents, his partner David, and his children with such complete adoration that it almost made rain fall out of my face.
So, how did my adventure end? Wellllllll . . . after I found myself in a twisted plotline involving murder and decapitation of hitchhikers I figured I better start over and read the book from the beginning so that’s just what I did. Cover to cover. And now???
Neil Patrick Harris’ story was LEGEN
DARY!!!!
ARC provided by Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review
February 25, 2020
HILARIOUS AND YET VERY REAL
✨ Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019✨
✨✨A "choose-your-own-adventure" book✨✨
What can I say about this book? Maybe I should give the word to one of the author's close friends, Mr. Barney Stinson:
👍 THE THINGS I LIKED 👍
Personality: Usually autobiography are weirdly devoid of personality, in my opinion at least. They are this weird politically correct things, that almost dehumanise their subjects. The truly refreshing thing about this autobiography was how clearly NPH's personality shone through. Honestly, it almost felt like it smacked me in the face. And I loved it.
Fun: Again, not a word I would usually associate with autobiographies. But this was so humorous and innovative in the writing and the telling that I could not help but to fall in love with it.
Barney: As, arguably, NPH's most famous role, Barney Stinson of course makes and appearance or two throughout the book. Being a big HIMYM-fan, that was greatly appreciated!
Honesty: Even thought the tone of this book was largely comedic, it was also very honest and candid. I really felt like I got to peek behind the curtains into the inner sanctum of NPH.
Follow me for more book goodness: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
✨ Popsugar Reading Challenge 2019✨
✨✨A "choose-your-own-adventure" book✨✨
What can I say about this book? Maybe I should give the word to one of the author's close friends, Mr. Barney Stinson:
👍 THE THINGS I LIKED 👍
Personality: Usually autobiography are weirdly devoid of personality, in my opinion at least. They are this weird politically correct things, that almost dehumanise their subjects. The truly refreshing thing about this autobiography was how clearly NPH's personality shone through. Honestly, it almost felt like it smacked me in the face. And I loved it.
Fun: Again, not a word I would usually associate with autobiographies. But this was so humorous and innovative in the writing and the telling that I could not help but to fall in love with it.
"Admission is free and worth every penny."
Barney: As, arguably, NPH's most famous role, Barney Stinson of course makes and appearance or two throughout the book. Being a big HIMYM-fan, that was greatly appreciated!
Honesty: Even thought the tone of this book was largely comedic, it was also very honest and candid. I really felt like I got to peek behind the curtains into the inner sanctum of NPH.
Follow me for more book goodness: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
March 30, 2015
Hi, my name is Diane and I am a recovering theater addict.
(Group: Hi, Diane.)
I've long been a fan of Neil Patrick Harris. The guy can sing, dance, act funny or serious, and he makes hosting award shows look easy. He's a quintuple threat.
Reading NPH's memoir, it felt like I grew up with him. As a kid, he loved the musical "Annie" and memorized the choreography. I also loved Annie and used to drive my mom nuts singing "It's a hard knock life."
NPH was blown away by the show "Les Misérables," calling it a "phenomenal, transcendent experience." Les Miz is my favorite musical and I am in crazy love with the soundtrack.
He acted in a bunch of community theater productions in his hometown. So did I.
As a teenager, he starred in the TV show "Doogie Howser, M.D." I used to watch Doogie.
Neil said a pivotal event of his life was starring in a touring production of "Rent." "When you act in Rent you have to own its ideals: no day but today; forget regret or life is yours to miss; there's only us, there's only this. You instantly embrace the beautiful worldview of the show."
I loved "Rent" and would pay big bucks (or what was a big bucks to a college student) to see the show whenever it toured through my city. I also have the soundtrack memorized.
Neil is a fan of Joss Whedon and starred in one of the most wonderful things ever to be on the web, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." I lovelovelove Joss Whedon and, yes, I regularly listen to the Dr. Horrible soundtrack.
In short, this NPH memoir was perfect for me and helped me break out of a reading slump. I listened to this on audio, and as expected, Neil is an excellent narrator. If you haven't seen a printed copy, he did this fun gimmick where he borrowed the style of the Choose Your Own Adventure books (which I also loved as a kid) and it gives you a chance to make choices about what section to read next. (In audio, Neil basically read the book in sequence, and he adapted the choices at the end of each chapter by saying something like, if you want to host the Emmys, wait a little bit. If you want to star in a network TV show, keep reading!)
Neil is a very funny guy. I frequently laughed out loud while listening to his stories. I am such a theater dork that I loved hearing the behind-the-scenes stuff about the different Broadway shows he's been in, or even his process for hosting an award show. Frequently I paused my reading to go watch videos online of whatever story he just told.
The book is also poignant, especially when Neil writes about becoming a father, or his feelings about being an openly gay man in Hollywood.
"You have seen instances when the hard-core vehemence of some gay-rights activists creates a backlash, making homophobes even more homophobic. For you it all goes back to the fundamental rule of creative endeavor, and life is if nothing else a creative endeavor: Show, don't tell. Personal confidence, ease, conducting yourself publicly with grace and humility — these are the qualities you consider most effective. Directly showing family and neighbors and co-workers that you're proud of the way you live accomplishes something on a core level that intense advocacy sometimes can't."
This is a thoughtful and delightful memoir, and I would recommend it to fellow NPH fans.
(Group: Hi, Diane.)
I've long been a fan of Neil Patrick Harris. The guy can sing, dance, act funny or serious, and he makes hosting award shows look easy. He's a quintuple threat.
Reading NPH's memoir, it felt like I grew up with him. As a kid, he loved the musical "Annie" and memorized the choreography. I also loved Annie and used to drive my mom nuts singing "It's a hard knock life."
NPH was blown away by the show "Les Misérables," calling it a "phenomenal, transcendent experience." Les Miz is my favorite musical and I am in crazy love with the soundtrack.
He acted in a bunch of community theater productions in his hometown. So did I.
As a teenager, he starred in the TV show "Doogie Howser, M.D." I used to watch Doogie.
Neil said a pivotal event of his life was starring in a touring production of "Rent." "When you act in Rent you have to own its ideals: no day but today; forget regret or life is yours to miss; there's only us, there's only this. You instantly embrace the beautiful worldview of the show."
I loved "Rent" and would pay big bucks (or what was a big bucks to a college student) to see the show whenever it toured through my city. I also have the soundtrack memorized.
Neil is a fan of Joss Whedon and starred in one of the most wonderful things ever to be on the web, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." I lovelovelove Joss Whedon and, yes, I regularly listen to the Dr. Horrible soundtrack.
In short, this NPH memoir was perfect for me and helped me break out of a reading slump. I listened to this on audio, and as expected, Neil is an excellent narrator. If you haven't seen a printed copy, he did this fun gimmick where he borrowed the style of the Choose Your Own Adventure books (which I also loved as a kid) and it gives you a chance to make choices about what section to read next. (In audio, Neil basically read the book in sequence, and he adapted the choices at the end of each chapter by saying something like, if you want to host the Emmys, wait a little bit. If you want to star in a network TV show, keep reading!)
Neil is a very funny guy. I frequently laughed out loud while listening to his stories. I am such a theater dork that I loved hearing the behind-the-scenes stuff about the different Broadway shows he's been in, or even his process for hosting an award show. Frequently I paused my reading to go watch videos online of whatever story he just told.
The book is also poignant, especially when Neil writes about becoming a father, or his feelings about being an openly gay man in Hollywood.
"You have seen instances when the hard-core vehemence of some gay-rights activists creates a backlash, making homophobes even more homophobic. For you it all goes back to the fundamental rule of creative endeavor, and life is if nothing else a creative endeavor: Show, don't tell. Personal confidence, ease, conducting yourself publicly with grace and humility — these are the qualities you consider most effective. Directly showing family and neighbors and co-workers that you're proud of the way you live accomplishes something on a core level that intense advocacy sometimes can't."
This is a thoughtful and delightful memoir, and I would recommend it to fellow NPH fans.
Want to read
September 17, 2014Someday we will be over our rediscovered love for Neil Patrick Harris
Someday we will no longer think every single thing he does is awesome and magical
Someday we will watch someone doing a shitty job at hosting the Oscars or making a healthcare website or pitching for the Red Sox and not think "They should have gotten Neil Patrick Harris, he would have been awesome at whatever this is"
Not today though my friends
Not today
Update: Neil Patrick Harris releases trailer for book, continues to be entertaining. How does he do this? Shouldn't he have plummeted into smug shtickiness like three years ago?
Someday we will no longer think every single thing he does is awesome and magical
Someday we will watch someone doing a shitty job at hosting the Oscars or making a healthcare website or pitching for the Red Sox and not think "They should have gotten Neil Patrick Harris, he would have been awesome at whatever this is"
Not today though my friends
Not today
Update: Neil Patrick Harris releases trailer for book, continues to be entertaining. How does he do this? Shouldn't he have plummeted into smug shtickiness like three years ago?
February 9, 2017
Well, I’ve never read anything like this book before. I tried to read it in a Choose Your Own Whatever style, and also in a linear way – neither worked for me. Obviously, this kind of writing is not for me.
As for the content, I expected something different. I thought it would be more hilarious, and as sparkling as NPH’s personality. I love NPH, seriously, but his autobiography didn’t get me involved emotionally. Apart from this, the book was still fun, sweet, and interesting.
As for the content, I expected something different. I thought it would be more hilarious, and as sparkling as NPH’s personality. I love NPH, seriously, but his autobiography didn’t get me involved emotionally. Apart from this, the book was still fun, sweet, and interesting.
May 13, 2019
Cute and quirky, Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography is a light-hearted and funny autobiography. Remember those choose-your-own-ending books? This is written in that style. It is a very different concept for an autobiography and I could have done without that for the very simple reason that those books always make me anxious! I worry that I'll miss something if I do the "choose-your-own" thing -- I won't get to read every single page and miss something important. I also worry that if I read it cover to cover like a regular book, I'll miss something! One solution to that would be to keep re-reading until I've exhausted all the possible options... but I think I'd grow bored very quickly! And so, I read this cover to cover, one time. It was fun and I did enjoy the humourous choices given, in spite of feeling anxious about possibly missing something.
Neil Patrick Harris presents as a very likable person, very sweet, kind, and funny. He's never been my favourite actor because I don't like the shows I've seen him in, but I like him more having read this book. He talks about his childhood (giving an alternate version in case someone wants to read about awful parents!), his career, his husband, and his children. There are some cute drawings in the book, as well as a few recipes, card tricks, and letters written by various celebrities to and about Neil. Worth reading if you enjoy auto-/biographies.
Neil Patrick Harris presents as a very likable person, very sweet, kind, and funny. He's never been my favourite actor because I don't like the shows I've seen him in, but I like him more having read this book. He talks about his childhood (giving an alternate version in case someone wants to read about awful parents!), his career, his husband, and his children. There are some cute drawings in the book, as well as a few recipes, card tricks, and letters written by various celebrities to and about Neil. Worth reading if you enjoy auto-/biographies.
Want to read
June 1, 2014A CHOOSE YOUR OWN NPH AUTOBIOGRAPHY???
Note to self for October:
Step 1: buy this book
Step 2: buy a pregnancy test kit just in case it can get you pregnant
Step 3: renew driver's license
Note to self for October:
Step 1: buy this book
Step 2: buy a pregnancy test kit just in case it can get you pregnant
Step 3: renew driver's license
December 7, 2022
But magic is like pizza: even when it’s bad, it’s pretty good.
I’ve been a NPH fan since his Doogie Howser days, and I was interested to read how he became a child actor, and then survived being a child actor. Choose Your Own Autobiography has a breezy tone, and never takes itself too seriously even when the subject matter is more serious. The gimmicks are fun, as are the cameos of other people telling NPH stories. Finally, his obvious appreciation of his life make what could have otherwise sounded braggy sound like someone telling stories that amaze him as much as the reader. A solid, enjoyable book. Recommended.
September 1, 2016
I am charmed.
I'm a big NPH fan going all the way back to his Doogie Howser days, so I was really excited to listen to this audiobook.
Though the format was a little strange for audio (choose your own adventure works less well when you are listening linearly), it worked well enough. And I promise you that you will leave this audiobook feeling a kinship with Neil Patrick Harris in one way or another.
I loved all of the intimate details, that we got about his life, from his journey in self-discovery of his sexuality, to hearing about his relationship with the theater, to his love of magic (though I'll admit to skimming some of the magic trick clips), to his childhood, and last but not least, his loving relationship with his husband and kids. I laughed and cried along with NPH, and I felt like I gained a friend during the listening experience.
Not surprisingly, NPH is also a great narrator, with a voice that feels familiar and emotional. He did an excellent job narrating this book, and I sort of wish he narrated other audiobooks too, just so I could keep hearing his voice.
An easy, fun listen, and an extremely satisfying audio experience.
August 13, 2016
I am torn about this book. I have procrastinated rating this book and writing this review because I am really very sad about reaching the conclusion I have come to.
Usually if I abandon a book, it automatically gets one star because if I can't finish a book, well, that kind of says it all. With this book, I can't do that. My dislike and inability to finish this book were not due to the content or writing style, it was due to the format.
While I very much enjoyed the idea of the nostalgic nature of the Choose Your Own Adventure format (which falls right into happy memories from my childhood--I am basically NPH's target audience!), I absolutely hated it where this book was concerned. I felt like it was too easy to miss the gems hidden within or to really understand the progression of his life and works and learnings. It was too hard for me to choose my own adventure and not get lost; a choose-your-own-adventure book doesn't work too well with reality, which was very hard to find and follow amongst the overreaching adventure scenarios. At one point, I tried to just read it straight through, skipping the obviously made-up parts so I could at least finish it and have some idea of his life. I made it to about page 120, and then I gave up.
More importantly, however, now that I've had time to think on it, what bothered me more was that I felt this format took an amazing life filled with wisdom, love, and discoveries... and turned it into one big joke. I get it, NPH is a comedian, a showman, so something like that is expected. But I enjoyed the laughs that were weaved into his stories and writing so much because they added to it, whereas the ultimate "joke" of the format untangled all that. It reads like Neil Patrick Harris wanted to write an autobiography, but was frightened of how vulnerable it would make him, so he hid behind two layers of comedy, one of which works really well and the other of which doesn't work at all. It almost made it painful to read in a way, uncomfortable, like that through his avoidance to tell the story in a linear fashion and despite the overall positivity the words bring, I was witnessing some inner-turmoil that I shouldn't be seeing and that still hasn't been resolved. I am probably reading way too much into it, but I also can't change the fact that that is how I felt reading this. I think this book is more emotional than people realize.
Lastly, I felt like a book like this would be virtually impossible to enjoy on a Kindle, particularly where using it in the intended way comes into play, so I shelled out $25 or whatever for the hardcover, which I deeply regret.
So, one star for the fact that I couldn't finish it due to the format + five stars for the writing and non-made-up content = a 3-star book.
Usually if I abandon a book, it automatically gets one star because if I can't finish a book, well, that kind of says it all. With this book, I can't do that. My dislike and inability to finish this book were not due to the content or writing style, it was due to the format.
While I very much enjoyed the idea of the nostalgic nature of the Choose Your Own Adventure format (which falls right into happy memories from my childhood--I am basically NPH's target audience!), I absolutely hated it where this book was concerned. I felt like it was too easy to miss the gems hidden within or to really understand the progression of his life and works and learnings. It was too hard for me to choose my own adventure and not get lost; a choose-your-own-adventure book doesn't work too well with reality, which was very hard to find and follow amongst the overreaching adventure scenarios. At one point, I tried to just read it straight through, skipping the obviously made-up parts so I could at least finish it and have some idea of his life. I made it to about page 120, and then I gave up.
More importantly, however, now that I've had time to think on it, what bothered me more was that I felt this format took an amazing life filled with wisdom, love, and discoveries... and turned it into one big joke. I get it, NPH is a comedian, a showman, so something like that is expected. But I enjoyed the laughs that were weaved into his stories and writing so much because they added to it, whereas the ultimate "joke" of the format untangled all that. It reads like Neil Patrick Harris wanted to write an autobiography, but was frightened of how vulnerable it would make him, so he hid behind two layers of comedy, one of which works really well and the other of which doesn't work at all. It almost made it painful to read in a way, uncomfortable, like that through his avoidance to tell the story in a linear fashion and despite the overall positivity the words bring, I was witnessing some inner-turmoil that I shouldn't be seeing and that still hasn't been resolved. I am probably reading way too much into it, but I also can't change the fact that that is how I felt reading this. I think this book is more emotional than people realize.
Lastly, I felt like a book like this would be virtually impossible to enjoy on a Kindle, particularly where using it in the intended way comes into play, so I shelled out $25 or whatever for the hardcover, which I deeply regret.
So, one star for the fact that I couldn't finish it due to the format + five stars for the writing and non-made-up content = a 3-star book.
October 14, 2021
Neil Patrick Harris is an American actor, writer, producer, singer, and magician.
*****
I listened to the audio version of this book, read by the author. The book takes us from Harris's childhood with a loving, supportive family in New Mexico to his current mega-success in show business and his happy home life.
Harris developed his love of performing as a child and started his acting career at a young age. He also developed an early interest in magic, which he studied seriously, and he includes some nifty card tricks in the book. Harris seems to have had few 'lows' in his career. In addition to two successful TV series ('Doogie Howser, M.D'. and 'How I Met Your Mother') and a Netflix show ('A Series of Unfortunate Events'), he starred in theatrical productions, did guest spots on TV series, starred in TV movies, had parts in big-screen films, hosted award shows, starred in popular YouTube series, and is now a successful author.
Neil Patrick Harris as Doogie Howser, M.D.
Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf in A Series of Unfortunate Events
Harris's stories about his career - and his co-stars, directors, and people he worked with - are generally rendered in an upbeat, positive tone (the book is not a mean-spirited tell-all). While detailing his many successes Harris never comes across as arrogant but rather as a talented, hard-working guy who's had some good luck. Harris is also a keen student of the 'behind the scenes' aspects of show business and likes to go backstage, shadow the director, study how shots are set up, etc.
One of the most detailed stories in the book is about Harris's starring role in the Broadway production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." It's interesting to see how he got the role, prepared for the part, and was able to do eight shows per week while juggling other responsibilities. Harris also describes how he and the writers prepared musical numbers when he hosted award shows like the Tony Awards and the Oscars - a feat that was very creative and entertaining.
Neil Patrick Harris in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He won a Tony Award for 'Best Actor in a Musical'
Harris talks openly about his sexuality. As a youngster he had girlfriends, apparently not quite realizing (or admitting to himself) that he was gay. Afterwards Harris was publicly silent about his sexuality until circumstances forced him to come out - which he did in a graceful, carefully crafted statement. Harris's tale about meeting the love of his life - actor/writer David Burtka - is engaging, as is the story of their becoming parents to two children (via egg donor and surrogate).
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka
David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris with their children Harper Grace and Gideon
Another story describes how Harris and Burtka became close friends with Elton John and his husband David Furnish. The lucky Harris/Burtka household gets to ride in private planes and visit Elton John's mansion in England - complete with pampering household staff and wonderful food.
The book isn't a text on how to succeed in show business but rather a wide (though not always deep) overview of Harris's life and career. I thought it was well-written and interesting. The 'alternate life stories' (fictional) are humorous, though some are gritty and end badly. Overall, I liked the book. Neil Patrick Harris fans will probably enjoy it.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
January 13, 2019
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.
This book brings back a lot of fond memories for me. I used to adore reading the choose your own adventure books as a child although I would never choose the right option and always ended up dying of thirst or some other horrible death. I would eventually give up on my ability to make the right choices and try to figure out what I needed to choose by working backwards in the book. Despite my poor decision making skills, I never gave up on these books. Every time I brought home a Scholastic flyer from school, I would end up picking out another one of those books. I am the same age as Mr. Harris so it makes some sense that he would fondly remember these books as well as I do and I just love the fact that he used this approach in this book.
There is just something about Neil Patrick Harris that seems to be almost universally appealing. I am not a biography reader. I probably read a few back in high school and college because I had to but I can't think of a time where I picked one up to read for entertainment as an adult....but I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it. I am not exactly sure what I find so entertaining about Mr. Harris. Sure I have watched and enjoyed some of his work. His portrayal of Barney Stinsen is...wait for it....legendary. I loved him in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. I just have never considered myself to be a huge fan though. If he is on, I'll certainly watch him but I don't go out of my way to be sure to catch him either. I still knew that I had to read this book because there is just something about the way that he tells a story.
One thing that I think is genius about this book is the fact that I will certainly be picking it up quite a few more times. It is a choose your own adventure so you have to read it several times just to make sure that you have read every option available. This is a book that I recommend reading as intended with all of the jumping around and choices because it just makes it so much fun. I have been through quite a few options so far with a few ending in a less than ideal manner. I don't think that the book would be nearly as appealing if it were to be read cover to cover.
Neil Patrick Harris does have an interesting story to tell. He is a child star that I will always think of as Doogie to some extent. He also talks about his sexuality, his family, and all the things that make him who he is. Some of the parts in the book are simply silly and I liked those just as much as anything else. The book itself looks wonderful. I just love the cover and the section in the center of the book filled with photos is nice to have.
I would recommend this book to others. It is witty, funny, touching, and sometimes thought provoking. Plus it is just a lot of fun! This is the first book by Neil Patrick Harris that I have read but I look forward to see what kind of original spin he might apply to a novel in the future.
I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for the purpose of providing an honest review.
This book brings back a lot of fond memories for me. I used to adore reading the choose your own adventure books as a child although I would never choose the right option and always ended up dying of thirst or some other horrible death. I would eventually give up on my ability to make the right choices and try to figure out what I needed to choose by working backwards in the book. Despite my poor decision making skills, I never gave up on these books. Every time I brought home a Scholastic flyer from school, I would end up picking out another one of those books. I am the same age as Mr. Harris so it makes some sense that he would fondly remember these books as well as I do and I just love the fact that he used this approach in this book.
There is just something about Neil Patrick Harris that seems to be almost universally appealing. I am not a biography reader. I probably read a few back in high school and college because I had to but I can't think of a time where I picked one up to read for entertainment as an adult....but I wanted to read this book as soon as I heard about it. I am not exactly sure what I find so entertaining about Mr. Harris. Sure I have watched and enjoyed some of his work. His portrayal of Barney Stinsen is...wait for it....legendary. I loved him in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. I just have never considered myself to be a huge fan though. If he is on, I'll certainly watch him but I don't go out of my way to be sure to catch him either. I still knew that I had to read this book because there is just something about the way that he tells a story.
One thing that I think is genius about this book is the fact that I will certainly be picking it up quite a few more times. It is a choose your own adventure so you have to read it several times just to make sure that you have read every option available. This is a book that I recommend reading as intended with all of the jumping around and choices because it just makes it so much fun. I have been through quite a few options so far with a few ending in a less than ideal manner. I don't think that the book would be nearly as appealing if it were to be read cover to cover.
Neil Patrick Harris does have an interesting story to tell. He is a child star that I will always think of as Doogie to some extent. He also talks about his sexuality, his family, and all the things that make him who he is. Some of the parts in the book are simply silly and I liked those just as much as anything else. The book itself looks wonderful. I just love the cover and the section in the center of the book filled with photos is nice to have.
I would recommend this book to others. It is witty, funny, touching, and sometimes thought provoking. Plus it is just a lot of fun! This is the first book by Neil Patrick Harris that I have read but I look forward to see what kind of original spin he might apply to a novel in the future.
I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books for the purpose of providing an honest review.
September 17, 2017
Have I read the whole book? I don't think so! Why not you ask me? Well, it's because in this book you will have to pick your own way to get to the end/endings. Which means that I have read the book, jumping around, precisely like the old adventure books my brother had when I was younger. You haven't read an adventure book where you have to pick your own way? Then I feel sorry for you, they are great, I wish I had one of them right now (well if I had one I would probably just cheat to get to the ending). So there is probably parts of the book that I have missed, but that is part of the fun. The next time I pick up the book, I could very well find a hidden gem, that I missed the last time.
Anyway, got sidetracked a bit. This is a great book. I had a lot of fun jumping here and there, reading about NPH life. He's such a great guy. The kind you really, really would love to have as a friend. This is one of the best autobiographies I have read, not only because it is different, but because it's interesting and funny.
I received the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
Anyway, got sidetracked a bit. This is a great book. I had a lot of fun jumping here and there, reading about NPH life. He's such a great guy. The kind you really, really would love to have as a friend. This is one of the best autobiographies I have read, not only because it is different, but because it's interesting and funny.
I received the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
June 10, 2025
I found this available digitally through my local library, after DNFing my library hold that had arrived. Not being that big a fan of Neil Patrick Harris, I wasn't all that excited, but this book left me pleasantly surprised.
First off, NPH is really funny. I know most of you probably already know that, but I never watched any show with him in it, other than Doogie Houser, M.D.
This book is told in a choose-your-own adventure type way, but that doesn't really work for an audiobook, so the publishers and the author switched it up a bit for the audio version.
It covers his time on Doogie, his discovering that he was gay, his love of theater and drama, his love for his understanding parents and his current family with his husband David and their two children. It also covers his hosting of several awards shows, an online series from Joss Whedon and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, (both of which I've never seen.)
In spite of my lack of fandom, maybe even complete lack of interest, I ended up enjoying this funny book.
First off, NPH is really funny. I know most of you probably already know that, but I never watched any show with him in it, other than Doogie Houser, M.D.
This book is told in a choose-your-own adventure type way, but that doesn't really work for an audiobook, so the publishers and the author switched it up a bit for the audio version.
It covers his time on Doogie, his discovering that he was gay, his love of theater and drama, his love for his understanding parents and his current family with his husband David and their two children. It also covers his hosting of several awards shows, an online series from Joss Whedon and Hedwig and the Angry Inch, (both of which I've never seen.)
In spite of my lack of fandom, maybe even complete lack of interest, I ended up enjoying this funny book.
June 11, 2015
4.5 stars:)
I don't remember who recced this to me... I remember seeing this pop up on my feed alot at one point and getting curious so I added it to my amazon wishlist and forgot about it for awhile. Then I got Alan Cumming's beautiful memoir in the mail and remembered this one.
I went to buy it and noticed that there was an audiobook as well. Curious to see how the book's format would translate I got that instead of the hardcover.
Confession: I knew about Neil before but not very much. I was excited but a little apprehensive as well, sometimes autobiography/biography and me don't get along.
Right from the start, Neil put a smile on my face and had me laughing along with some of the stories.
At times touching/sweet/hilarious, he pulls you in and doesn't let go. It's like you are sitting there with him, curled up with your favorite drink.
The section where David came in and talked along with Neil was one of my favorites, I could just imagine them having so much fun and big smiles on their faces. I wanted to hug the stuffing out of them:).
I would highly recommend, it's inspired me to look up more of Neil's work (heck knows when I'll get to it haha but I shall!).
He's had such an interesting life and like Alan and also John Barrowman, is a very lovely person.
Happy reading!
P.S. The audiobook handles the 'choose your own autobiography' version very well. It just goes through each track with sayings like "keep listening", "hold on it's coming" among others.
Excuse any typos for now, doing this via phone
I don't remember who recced this to me... I remember seeing this pop up on my feed alot at one point and getting curious so I added it to my amazon wishlist and forgot about it for awhile. Then I got Alan Cumming's beautiful memoir in the mail and remembered this one.
I went to buy it and noticed that there was an audiobook as well. Curious to see how the book's format would translate I got that instead of the hardcover.
Confession: I knew about Neil before but not very much. I was excited but a little apprehensive as well, sometimes autobiography/biography and me don't get along.
Right from the start, Neil put a smile on my face and had me laughing along with some of the stories.
At times touching/sweet/hilarious, he pulls you in and doesn't let go. It's like you are sitting there with him, curled up with your favorite drink.
The section where David came in and talked along with Neil was one of my favorites, I could just imagine them having so much fun and big smiles on their faces. I wanted to hug the stuffing out of them:).
I would highly recommend, it's inspired me to look up more of Neil's work (heck knows when I'll get to it haha but I shall!).
He's had such an interesting life and like Alan and also John Barrowman, is a very lovely person.
Happy reading!
P.S. The audiobook handles the 'choose your own autobiography' version very well. It just goes through each track with sayings like "keep listening", "hold on it's coming" among others.
Excuse any typos for now, doing this via phone
September 12, 2016
Since it's a choose your own book, I guess I'll be reading it a few more times. So far it's very charming. Just what you'd expect from NPH.
October 25, 2019
NPH: I am a gay man.
TSG: So like a homosexual gay?... I have absolutely no problem with the gays.
Hi missed me? No yes who cares. I’m back. Sooo I went on a 5 day vacation and then classes started so I didn’t really feel like reading.
Let’s be real here. This is a Choose Your Own Adventure book but it’s me we are talking about so I obviously read it like a normal book. What do you mean this isn't what you are supposed to do? Not the biggest fun of Choose books so I can’t tell you if it’s good one. I got it because I love NPH and it was 4€.
There are recipes for food and cocktails in it. Will probably not attempt to make the spaghetti bolognese because your bitch can't cook but i will try the cocktails because i'm probably one drink away from alcoholism. Bro thanks i love you.
Anyways, long story short, I love NPH.
May 8, 2015
I'd say that the best parts of this book are his stories about show business and celebrity gossip. It's surprising how often he names names considering how "nice" the rest of the book is.
Things that wear thin after a while are the fictional choose-your-own-adventure bits and the fact that all the pointless bits written by other people are read by some guy with a British accent doing a Masterpiece Theater sort of shtick.
It's great the NPH seems to love his life, but for me I guess he came across as a bit glib and unreflecting. I'm sure there is a tension when you're writing something like this because you still want to keep some private things private, so hard's hard to know if NPH is as glib and happy-go-lucky as he seems or if he's presenting that sort of image on purpose. Either way, it became a little boring for me sometimes.
I've never read a biography before where nothing particularly bad ever happens to anyone. I mean, he's got to be in his early 40s; someone close to him has to have died or experienced something terrible that affected him in some kind of way.
When I think of the celebrity autobiographies I have particularly enjoyed (Katharine Hepburn, Tina Fey, Mia Farrow, Kathy Griffin...) the common thread, aside from excellent writing, is that they all give you a sense of them being very interesting people outside their careers. In these other books, it was moving to hear about how they all met the tragedies that life gave them.
Here, the writing is fine, if unremarkable, and you seldom learn anything that makes you see NPH as anything more than a decent, in-the-moment, "aw-shucks" sort of boy next door.
The book is funny sometimes, but by the end of it, it felt monotonous and overlong. His reading of it is often dynamic, but I found his pacing too slow and ultimately changed the speed in my player to 1.25x.
Things that wear thin after a while are the fictional choose-your-own-adventure bits and the fact that all the pointless bits written by other people are read by some guy with a British accent doing a Masterpiece Theater sort of shtick.
It's great the NPH seems to love his life, but for me I guess he came across as a bit glib and unreflecting. I'm sure there is a tension when you're writing something like this because you still want to keep some private things private, so hard's hard to know if NPH is as glib and happy-go-lucky as he seems or if he's presenting that sort of image on purpose. Either way, it became a little boring for me sometimes.
I've never read a biography before where nothing particularly bad ever happens to anyone. I mean, he's got to be in his early 40s; someone close to him has to have died or experienced something terrible that affected him in some kind of way.
When I think of the celebrity autobiographies I have particularly enjoyed (Katharine Hepburn, Tina Fey, Mia Farrow, Kathy Griffin...) the common thread, aside from excellent writing, is that they all give you a sense of them being very interesting people outside their careers. In these other books, it was moving to hear about how they all met the tragedies that life gave them.
Here, the writing is fine, if unremarkable, and you seldom learn anything that makes you see NPH as anything more than a decent, in-the-moment, "aw-shucks" sort of boy next door.
The book is funny sometimes, but by the end of it, it felt monotonous and overlong. His reading of it is often dynamic, but I found his pacing too slow and ultimately changed the speed in my player to 1.25x.
December 8, 2014
Actual Rating 3.5
I grew up watching Doogie Howser, M.D. reruns, and have spent the last nine years waiting for more episodes of How I Met Your Mother to watch, often over and over again, but I knew little about Neil Patrick Harris’ personal life. I knew about David and Harper and Gideon, but not how NPH had come out, how he had met his husband, or about how he knew he was born to entertain from a very early age. Nor did I realise that he’s a magician, and Barney Stinson’s adventures in magic must have come from Neil, rather than the producers or writers of the show.
While I feel like Neil Patrick Harris is one of only a few celebrities who could get away with a Choose Your Own Autobiography, and while I absolutely ADORED reading Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was younger, I can’t help but feel I lost a lot of information in this unique style of telling.
The rest of this review can be found here!
I grew up watching Doogie Howser, M.D. reruns, and have spent the last nine years waiting for more episodes of How I Met Your Mother to watch, often over and over again, but I knew little about Neil Patrick Harris’ personal life. I knew about David and Harper and Gideon, but not how NPH had come out, how he had met his husband, or about how he knew he was born to entertain from a very early age. Nor did I realise that he’s a magician, and Barney Stinson’s adventures in magic must have come from Neil, rather than the producers or writers of the show.
While I feel like Neil Patrick Harris is one of only a few celebrities who could get away with a Choose Your Own Autobiography, and while I absolutely ADORED reading Choose Your Own Adventure books when I was younger, I can’t help but feel I lost a lot of information in this unique style of telling.
The rest of this review can be found here!
December 10, 2019
I fell in love with Neil Patrick Harris when he was on "How I Met Your Mother" and this "memoir" just nailed that fact home. This would have been really cool to actually read since it's written in a Choose Your Own Adventure format, but I couldn't pass up listening to this narrated by NPH himself. And it worked, it was great!
Basically the idea is that this autobiography is about you - you get to live his life and choose how to proceed with possible alternatives. It's funny and packed with information I never knew about him. 5 Stars!
Basically the idea is that this autobiography is about you - you get to live his life and choose how to proceed with possible alternatives. It's funny and packed with information I never knew about him. 5 Stars!
October 30, 2015
Interesting concept, funny stories - from serious to seriously outlandish. Very entertaining.
My only complaint was that it was tough to make sure I read every single page, but I had that same problem with the original Choose Your Own Adventure books (I swear that I never made it out of the Cave of Time!)
My only complaint was that it was tough to make sure I read every single page, but I had that same problem with the original Choose Your Own Adventure books (I swear that I never made it out of the Cave of Time!)
Want to read
May 22, 2014
December 7, 2014
There are two ways to read this (one of a kind?) choose-your-own-adventure style biography, and I did both. You can either do the choose-your-own adventure team, either playing around with the format (there are several authentically horrible deaths) or just reading the parts you're interested in. Want to concentrate on NPH's magic? Sure! The musicals? Done! You can also read the book straight through, which is actually somewhat less confusing than it sounds. You'll go through his life in somewhat chronological order, with the exception of a few odd pages of magic tricks, cocktail recipes, and the aforementioned horrible deaths.
If you're already a longtime fan of NPH, you won't be learning much new. So if you have, for example, had a huge crush on him since you were in elementary school and he was Doogie. Just as an example. But it is still fun to read it all at once, with his thoughts. Which does, indeed, make it a fans-only type of book. But surely you expected that anyways, right? No, you won't learn much new here. I already knew about his Broadway career, his family, and that Dustin Diamond is an ass. The one thing that did stand out to me is how much NPH loves and feels grateful for his family, which is nice if undramatic to read about.
Not a particularly juicy memoir, it's true, but it is fun to read, especially for somebody who's been a fan for a long time.
If you're already a longtime fan of NPH, you won't be learning much new. So if you have, for example, had a huge crush on him since you were in elementary school and he was Doogie. Just as an example. But it is still fun to read it all at once, with his thoughts. Which does, indeed, make it a fans-only type of book. But surely you expected that anyways, right? No, you won't learn much new here. I already knew about his Broadway career, his family, and that Dustin Diamond is an ass. The one thing that did stand out to me is how much NPH loves and feels grateful for his family, which is nice if undramatic to read about.
Not a particularly juicy memoir, it's true, but it is fun to read, especially for somebody who's been a fan for a long time.
September 9, 2015
Ted: Hey Kids! Do you remember that time when Uncle Neil wrote his Choose Your Own Autobiography?
Kids: No not really... Oh great here we go again!
Ted: This story is going to leave you speechless and make you love Uncle Neil even more that you thought you possibly imagine!
(Cue the theme song)
♫♫ pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa ta da ta da ta da ta da da da ♫♫
Ted: The year was 2014, and by now I already fell in love with your mother, Aunt Robin was married to Uncle Neil, and life could not get any better! Until Uncle Neil took the time out of his busy life to write his own autobiography. Along the way he discovered that he is not the only famous person in the planet that has written their own life story. He figured being the Legend-wait for it-dary person that he truly is, discovered that as a child, he loved reading those choose your own adventures stories where you get to play the main character and get to decide your fate in the storyline, hopefully you would choose the correct path but most times than not you made the bad choices that ruined the fate of your character. So with using his creative mind, he decided to make the reader a.k.a You as Neil Patrick Harris and hopefully you choose the correct path to fame and stardom or ended up working at Subways wishing the life that you could have lived.
You learn that he grew up in New Mexico, he pursued theater at a very young age, and is incredibly lucky when it comes to how fate dealt the cards for him. Everyone encouraged him to pursue acting in a performing arts high school but refuse the sacrificed that his family and friends will struggle. So instead he attended a prestigious summer camp which the director of the event would later give him his lucky break with first film with none other than Whoopi Goldberg!!
Kids: Who is Whoopi Goldberg?
Ted: Oh yea thats right you live in the 21st century! You guys make me feel old. The woman who played in Sister Act as that fake nun, and that crazy psychic in Ghost? Won an Oscar? Ring a bell...??
Kids: *Stares blankly and shrugs*
Ted: Um... Anyway, Neil got a taste of the acting virus and could not get enough of it. After a few years and getting more experience in the entertainment business, he lands on his first major role of a lifetime as Doogie Howser!
Kids: OH YEA! You showed us that amazing show on Netflix and could not believe it only lasted for only 4 seasons?
Ted: It was Hulu but whose is keeping count?.. Yea I loved that show while growing up and what attracted such a huge fan base is that it was not a kids show and instead more of a drama!
Back to my story, after the show was sadly cancelled, Neil explored and indulge the life of a teen idol. He partied with other famous teenagers such as Ed Alonzo, the handsome Stephen Dorff, and countless others. He even witness the spoil brat Shannon Doherty going bat (bleep) crazy in the club with another girl. After many insane moments, Neil called it quits to the LA scene and decided to explore other career options.
At the same token, Neil had discovered that he was different from all his friends and family members. He discovered early on that he did not like girls and instead love boys. It was a confusing time for his upbringing but along the way in this incredible journey called life, he discovered his true identity and even met the love of his life known as Uncle David/Scooter.
It was a difficult time being teen idol yet he was a young adult by the time Doogie was finished. He did many made-for-tv movies but wanted to discover again the root of his passion for acting which was theater. He embarked on some life changing experiences while touring in musicals and has many crazy/amazing/sexual memories on these events in his book.
When life could not get any better, your Uncle landed his 2nd biggest role on television on How I Met Your Mother as Barney Stinson. I believe this role will surpass Doogie any day and made everyone fall in love with him instead of me.
Kids: Wait our life is a television show? We are a work of fiction?
Ted: How many times do I have tell you guys... Our life is real as it can be, but when I met your mother and discover what an epic adventure it was, I wrote the pilot script and submitted it to CBS and they developed my life story into a sitcom. Obviously they had to change a few characters name like Uncle Neil, and he could not reprised himself and live through that Legen-wait for it-dary period of his life so instead we hired his evil twin Dr. Horrible.
Uncle Neil was finally high on life. He had discovered his life partner, was on a hit sitcom show, and life could not get any better. He hosted a few awards show like the Emmys, Oscars, and made hit breaking records at the Tonys. He learned that coming out to the media could be career ending but luckily nobody couldn't care less about who he slept with and at the end of the day we love him as Barney. No one could deny that truth.
After nine wonderful seasons of HIMYM, he began researching a challenging role to act on Broadway and was offered the title role of Hedwig And The Angry Itch. It was a charming and exciting experience for it and one of the most difficult roles to play both physically and psychological. With all the hard work in place was rewarded with benefits and it won him the Tony for Best Actor.
There is so much in this book that I cannot do it justice. You learn secret hobbies and passions of Neil such as magic, the journey to fatherhood, and the incredible people that he has encounter on this path to fame. I love Uncle Neil and is one of the best role models of someone who is happy, loved, and is not afraid to try new experiences and experience life with open hands.
Sadly I had to read the book without choosing an adventure because it drives me nuts not knowing if I have read every page of the book and do not like the whole going back and forth from childhood to adulthood in 3 secs. I highly recommend this book for you kids and everyone on planet Earth! Until next time!
Kids: THAT'S IT?
Ted: Thats it...
Kids: No, I don't buy it! That is not the reason you made us listen to this.
Ted: Oh really? Then what is the reason?
Kids: Lets look at the facts here. You mean us to sit down and listen to the story of how awesome Uncle Neil is and how he wrote a "Choose Your Own Autobiography" when it is your lame attempt to avoid the announcement that you and Aunt Robin are getting married? Yet Aunt Robin is barely in the story. This is you trying to beat around the bush with telling us that you are in love with Robin after our mother passed away. Dad we are perfectly fine and you should marry her.
Ted: I kept this story short, to the point and you guys still missed it! The point of the story is your Uncle Neil is..
Kids: That Uncle Neil is AMAZING AND THAT YOU TOTALLY TOTALLY TOTALLY HAVE THE HOTS FOR AUNT ROBIN.
Ted: No I don't!
Kids: Yes you do!
Ted: You are both grounded!
Kids: Then does this review provide a resolution to everything that is going on in Uncle Neil and our life?
Ted: As your Uncle mentions in his book, "Kids, sometimes things don't end the way everybody wants them to. Sometimes they just kind of . . . end."
Kids: No not really... Oh great here we go again!
Ted: This story is going to leave you speechless and make you love Uncle Neil even more that you thought you possibly imagine!
(Cue the theme song)
♫♫ pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa pa ta da ta da ta da ta da da da ♫♫
Ted: The year was 2014, and by now I already fell in love with your mother, Aunt Robin was married to Uncle Neil, and life could not get any better! Until Uncle Neil took the time out of his busy life to write his own autobiography. Along the way he discovered that he is not the only famous person in the planet that has written their own life story. He figured being the Legend-wait for it-dary person that he truly is, discovered that as a child, he loved reading those choose your own adventures stories where you get to play the main character and get to decide your fate in the storyline, hopefully you would choose the correct path but most times than not you made the bad choices that ruined the fate of your character. So with using his creative mind, he decided to make the reader a.k.a You as Neil Patrick Harris and hopefully you choose the correct path to fame and stardom or ended up working at Subways wishing the life that you could have lived.
You learn that he grew up in New Mexico, he pursued theater at a very young age, and is incredibly lucky when it comes to how fate dealt the cards for him. Everyone encouraged him to pursue acting in a performing arts high school but refuse the sacrificed that his family and friends will struggle. So instead he attended a prestigious summer camp which the director of the event would later give him his lucky break with first film with none other than Whoopi Goldberg!!
Kids: Who is Whoopi Goldberg?
Ted: Oh yea thats right you live in the 21st century! You guys make me feel old. The woman who played in Sister Act as that fake nun, and that crazy psychic in Ghost? Won an Oscar? Ring a bell...??
Kids: *Stares blankly and shrugs*
Ted: Um... Anyway, Neil got a taste of the acting virus and could not get enough of it. After a few years and getting more experience in the entertainment business, he lands on his first major role of a lifetime as Doogie Howser!
Kids: OH YEA! You showed us that amazing show on Netflix and could not believe it only lasted for only 4 seasons?
Ted: It was Hulu but whose is keeping count?.. Yea I loved that show while growing up and what attracted such a huge fan base is that it was not a kids show and instead more of a drama!
Back to my story, after the show was sadly cancelled, Neil explored and indulge the life of a teen idol. He partied with other famous teenagers such as Ed Alonzo, the handsome Stephen Dorff, and countless others. He even witness the spoil brat Shannon Doherty going bat (bleep) crazy in the club with another girl. After many insane moments, Neil called it quits to the LA scene and decided to explore other career options.
At the same token, Neil had discovered that he was different from all his friends and family members. He discovered early on that he did not like girls and instead love boys. It was a confusing time for his upbringing but along the way in this incredible journey called life, he discovered his true identity and even met the love of his life known as Uncle David/Scooter.
It was a difficult time being teen idol yet he was a young adult by the time Doogie was finished. He did many made-for-tv movies but wanted to discover again the root of his passion for acting which was theater. He embarked on some life changing experiences while touring in musicals and has many crazy/amazing/sexual memories on these events in his book.
When life could not get any better, your Uncle landed his 2nd biggest role on television on How I Met Your Mother as Barney Stinson. I believe this role will surpass Doogie any day and made everyone fall in love with him instead of me.
Kids: Wait our life is a television show? We are a work of fiction?
Ted: How many times do I have tell you guys... Our life is real as it can be, but when I met your mother and discover what an epic adventure it was, I wrote the pilot script and submitted it to CBS and they developed my life story into a sitcom. Obviously they had to change a few characters name like Uncle Neil, and he could not reprised himself and live through that Legen-wait for it-dary period of his life so instead we hired his evil twin Dr. Horrible.
Uncle Neil was finally high on life. He had discovered his life partner, was on a hit sitcom show, and life could not get any better. He hosted a few awards show like the Emmys, Oscars, and made hit breaking records at the Tonys. He learned that coming out to the media could be career ending but luckily nobody couldn't care less about who he slept with and at the end of the day we love him as Barney. No one could deny that truth.
After nine wonderful seasons of HIMYM, he began researching a challenging role to act on Broadway and was offered the title role of Hedwig And The Angry Itch. It was a charming and exciting experience for it and one of the most difficult roles to play both physically and psychological. With all the hard work in place was rewarded with benefits and it won him the Tony for Best Actor.
There is so much in this book that I cannot do it justice. You learn secret hobbies and passions of Neil such as magic, the journey to fatherhood, and the incredible people that he has encounter on this path to fame. I love Uncle Neil and is one of the best role models of someone who is happy, loved, and is not afraid to try new experiences and experience life with open hands.
Sadly I had to read the book without choosing an adventure because it drives me nuts not knowing if I have read every page of the book and do not like the whole going back and forth from childhood to adulthood in 3 secs. I highly recommend this book for you kids and everyone on planet Earth! Until next time!
Kids: THAT'S IT?
Ted: Thats it...
Kids: No, I don't buy it! That is not the reason you made us listen to this.
Ted: Oh really? Then what is the reason?
Kids: Lets look at the facts here. You mean us to sit down and listen to the story of how awesome Uncle Neil is and how he wrote a "Choose Your Own Autobiography" when it is your lame attempt to avoid the announcement that you and Aunt Robin are getting married? Yet Aunt Robin is barely in the story. This is you trying to beat around the bush with telling us that you are in love with Robin after our mother passed away. Dad we are perfectly fine and you should marry her.
Ted: I kept this story short, to the point and you guys still missed it! The point of the story is your Uncle Neil is..
Kids: That Uncle Neil is AMAZING AND THAT YOU TOTALLY TOTALLY TOTALLY HAVE THE HOTS FOR AUNT ROBIN.
Ted: No I don't!
Kids: Yes you do!
Ted: You are both grounded!
Kids: Then does this review provide a resolution to everything that is going on in Uncle Neil and our life?
Ted: As your Uncle mentions in his book, "Kids, sometimes things don't end the way everybody wants them to. Sometimes they just kind of . . . end."
January 20, 2015
This book beautifully explains what make Harris such a marvelous performer: he is singularly focused on providing the most entertaining performance possible. Here he's made the actor memoir into a delightfully entertaining book. It's not because he's had such a fascinating life, although it's been a pleasant one, full of rewarding work from an early age, and it's not because he spills a lot of secrets. Mostly you walk away from this thinking what a devoted family man he is and how much he enjoys his work.
Very nearly pure fun.
Library copy
Very nearly pure fun.
Library copy
November 10, 2024
This amusing autobiography is brilliantly read by the man himself-Neil Patrick Harris-and although you're never quite sure which parts are true it's still planty of fun.
I must confess that I'm probably the wrong target audience for this book, as I have never seen a single episode of How I Met our Mother or Doogie Howser M.D. which Neil Patrick Harris is most famous for. However, I thought he was excellent in It's A Sin and Doctor Who. Perhaps it's time I watched some of his other work!
I must confess that I'm probably the wrong target audience for this book, as I have never seen a single episode of How I Met our Mother or Doogie Howser M.D. which Neil Patrick Harris is most famous for. However, I thought he was excellent in It's A Sin and Doctor Who. Perhaps it's time I watched some of his other work!
December 23, 2016
5 Stars
This was quite possibly the most fun I've ever had while reading an autobiography.
Firstly, it's NPH so you just know it's going to be awesome. Secondly, it's written in the format of a choose your own adventure which made it even more wildly entertaining.
I'm a bit OCD which is why it took me months to read; I just had to have every adventure this bio had to offer.
In NPH's shoes I died a time or two along the way - once involving Big Bird and an avalanche (READ IT!!) - but that just added to the fun!
This book was witty, uplifting and refreshingly honest. I laughed more times than I can count and I even shed a tear or two along the way.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
This was quite possibly the most fun I've ever had while reading an autobiography.
Firstly, it's NPH so you just know it's going to be awesome. Secondly, it's written in the format of a choose your own adventure which made it even more wildly entertaining.
I'm a bit OCD which is why it took me months to read; I just had to have every adventure this bio had to offer.
In NPH's shoes I died a time or two along the way - once involving Big Bird and an avalanche (READ IT!!) - but that just added to the fun!
This book was witty, uplifting and refreshingly honest. I laughed more times than I can count and I even shed a tear or two along the way.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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