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)

Stories I only tell my friends

Very nice read kept it interesting and it was great that it was Rob Lowe reading his book and not someone else.

Rob Lowe invites you to be his trusted friend

A small town boy looks meaningfully into your eyes and in his calm, friendly and engaging voice somehow recognizes YOU as someone he can trust, someone who will understand and someone who will simply listen to his heartfelt stories...because (aside from the famous names he includes along the way) haven't we all struggled to find our place and grow up?
And by the end of the book, I think we can all smile wistfully and knowingly ...hey , Rob great catching up with you! Let's do it again soon!

Honest, sincere, and with the deepest sense of truth and humility

I liked this book right from the beginning. I was touched by his vulnerability and willingness to share his pain, his joy, and most importantly the truth about himself and how he saw others. Rob is a true gentleman and has inspired me in many ways. I am grateful.

Warm and Funny

Listening to Rob Lowe narrate his life story provides a peek into a world that seems so close and personal you feel like you are right there with him drinking Corona while sips a coffee. His timing is just as evident in his writing as it is in his acting. He just gets better everyday.

A wonderful book

You really couldn’t ask for more from a Biography. Was truly sad it had to end.

Loved this book! Rob Lowe shares great stories!

The story telling has lots of surprises. I enjoyed them all and I'm sure you will as well.

Loved every word!

This is the first autobiography I have listened to where the writer also narrates the story. Mr Lowe set the bar high for all future books I listen to! What a captivating storyteller.
It was excellent but I may be a bit biased as I am a child of the 80s- I even had a poster of The Outsiders on my bedroom wall when I was 12.

Outstanding!

How do you tell your story when you’ve lived an incredible life in a humble, self-effacing way? Like this. Mr. Lowe’s honesty and insight is spectacular. I loved every word of it and was saddened when it ended. Plus, his character impressions were a delightful surprise! I think mom would be proud.

Enjoyed every moment!

Very interesting and entertaining. I can only hope that he's planning to write a second book.

Spiritual without intending to be

I came to select this book from what very little I knew about Rob Lowe: the sex scandal in the 90’s and his character in a show I watch, Brothers & Sisters; honestly, outside of those, I was unfamiliar with his early work and his abilities. Lowe spends half of the book recounting the experience of filming The Outsiders with Francis Ford Coppola and the group of young actors he worked with on this journey, all of which ended up with successful careers in the aftermath (Swayze, Cruise, Estevez, Dillon). This is a book to listen to, not read. Lowe brings such nuances and rhythm to the narration that you can visualize and place moods, setting, imagery and sound into the text. Every single character he gives voice to is spot-on, the impersonations, especially of President Clinton at the end of the book (when discussing The West Wing section) is as if you’re actually listening to Clinton himself. I wished for Lowe that he would have spent more time telling the story of what he endured at the grip of alcoholism and his darker days instead of spending the entire first half on The Outsiders, but he does maintain a consistent optimism throughout the storyline which sometimes gives it the tone of a self-help book (not a bad thing, as a listener, it’s refreshing to tune into something uplifting – especially when unexpected). I enjoyed the book more than I thought I would, and came out of it wanting to know Lowe – actually feeling as if I know Rob – personally. A great listen.