HOLLYWOOD CAUSES CANCER: The Tom Green Story

Few Hollywood personalities have suffered the trials of outrageous fame and fortune more dramatically than MTV prankster Green. He offers his autobiography at the age of 32, when it's not at all clear that his career is over, but soon enough after his high-profile marriage to and divorce from actor Drew Barrymore to remain interesting. Green details his humble beginnings as an Ottawa skater punk turned cable public access TV show host. He honed his goofball, confrontational-style humor during this time, by approaching strangers in the street with meat on his head (a running theme throughout his career) or by embarrassing friends and family for cheap laughs. His low-budget hijinks attracted MTV executives, which began his whirlwind ride through TV and then Hollywood celebrity. Green reminisces about his Saturday Night Live appearances, his experiences filming the movies Road Trip and Freddy Got Fingered and, finally, his and Barrymore's tumultuous and doomed relationship. And while there's a dearth of revelatory or newsworthy info, Green's earnest tone is improbably flattering, and the author comes off as a very likable guy. 52 b&w photos. Agent, Jennifer Rudolph Walsh. (Oct.)

Forecast: Positive reviews and ads in Mad and the Onion may spur sales, and the author's affability could attract a wider audience than just the die-hard Tom Green fan (if such a thing exists).