Stories I Only Tell My Friends

An Autobiography

By: Rob Lowe

Narrated by: Rob Lowe

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

A wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye.

A teen idol at 15, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at 20, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio who was uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-'70s Malibu, where he embarked on his unrelenting pursuit of a career in Hollywood.

The Outsiders placed Lowe at the birth of the modern youth movement in the entertainment industry. During his time on The West Wing, he witnessed the surreal nexus of show business and politics, both on the set and in the actual White House. And in between are deft and humorous stories of the wild excesses that marked the '80s, leading to his quest for family and sobriety.

Never mean-spirited or salacious, Lowe delivers unexpected glimpses into his successes, disappointments, relationships, and one-of-a-kind encounters with people who shaped our world over the last 25 years. These stories are as entertaining as they are unforgettable.

©2011 Robert Lowe (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"[Lowe] writes viscerally and insightfully...He looks back at the aberrant highs of his heart-throb days, the changing nature of stardom in Hollywood, the trade-off he has made between high life and home life, and the step-by-step effort behind his show business survival. He looked like the callowest kid in the "Outsiders" crew. Now he looks like the sturdiest of them all" (The New York Times)

"A fresh pop-culture history of Hollywood in the ’70s and ’80s from the point of view of the man who lived it…[Lowe] is as funny as he is thoughtful. This is the best type of celeb memoir, because its author is as interested in the world as the world is interested in him." (People Magazine)

"A lovely autobiography, equal parts dish and pathos.” (Vanity Fair)

More to Rob Lowe than I might have imagined

I'm not sure why I downloaded Rob Lowe's book initially. I have never particularly been a fan. I wasn't not a fan, but I guess I figured he was another shallow, pretty faced aging kid actor.

Whatever struck me, I'm glad I listened to this book. In it Rob talks about the stress and thrill of being hounded by hoards of adoring fans and admits that while he loves people, the mindless mob can steal your soul (not a quote, but my summation). However, his true affection and admiration for the interesting cast of characters who have populated his life make him seem like a deeply caring, thinking, fun person I would enjoy chatting with. And I feel like I had the opportunity to do so.

I hope he wasn't just acting this part... I believed him. If you're a Rob fan, you must read this book. If you're not, but you have at least a mild interest in the who he is a a human being, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Hey Rob, thanks for sharing.

So much more to Rob Lowe

I loved this book. Honest. Passionate. I never grew up in the age of his teen heartthrob years. But Rob Lowe has made it clear he is much more than just as actor. He is intelligent, poignant and has a heart of gold. You won't be disappointed.

More than a pretty face....

I had always heard that Rob Lowe was a great writer and even better I had loved him in Tommy Boy. But to listen to his stories as told by him makes you appreciate him as someone who put in the work and has the passion for the craft. This was such a fun listen and now in my mind we are best friends....Hahahah.....okay maybe not but overall, you will enjoy this because it will be the only way 99% of the world will be able to have him tell jokes in our ears!❤️

Fun "summer beach" read

As a woman it was fun to read how life is for a good looking man. This book won't rock your world but it will be fast and fun.

Intriguing and Enjoyable!

What a great book! Intriguing - get a first-hand view of an actor’s life (the good and the lessons learned) and commitment to his craft. So enjoyable to listen to Rob Lowe recount his life so far. We laughed and teared up as Rob narrated his hopes, dreams, and disappointments. We learned interesting things about Rob but also felt connected to him as he shared his values and insights.

Super listen

I have always discounted him as simply too atttractive to be so witty, intelligent and charming. He taught me something about myself. I really enjoyed his story and insight. I am very impressed.

fantastic all the way around!

falling for Rob Lowe all over again :-) seriously though, what an amazing author and true talent!

An excellent read!

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. As a child of the 80's I could remember where I was when Rob describes many of the events in the book and I remember seeing him in many of the projects he talks about.
I have been telling everyone what a great storyteller he is and I would recommend this book to anyone who's a Gen-Xer or even heard of Rob!

Like having a conversation with Rob Lowe

Any additional comments?

Rob Lowe is a gifted story teller and hearing his life's history told in his own words made for a memorable listen.

A surprising treat.....

Well, I never was a particular fan of Mr. Lowe, but I did enjoy his work on The West Wing. With that said, I took a chance on a recommendation of a friend and 'read' the book. Who knew that he's lead such an interesting life. Truly great stories and his impressions of the characters of his life are very entertaining.