Why did the autobiography feel self-centered?

The humor in this joke springs from a delightful bit of wordplay, taking the common phrase "self-centered" and applying it literally to an autobiography. When we call a person self-centered, it's usually a critique of their personality, suggesting they think only of themselves. However, an autobiography, by its very definition, is a book written by the author about their own life, making it inherently and quite literally "centered" on the self.

Autobiographies have been a cornerstone of literature for centuries, offering readers intimate glimpses into the lives of fascinating individuals, from historical figures and artists to everyday people with extraordinary stories. From ancient memoirs to modern tell-alls, these books are unique because the subject and the author are one and the same, ensuring that every page, every chapter, every anecdote, is indeed focused entirely on the individual whose life is being chronicled.

So, the joke cleverly plays on this inherent characteristic of the literary form. It winks at the idea that while a human being might be judged for being too self-absorbed, a book about one's life can't help but be the ultimate example of self-focus, making the punchline a perfectly logical, albeit humorous, conclusion to the setup.