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)

Unexpectedly fantastic!!

I highly recommend this book. It is surprisingly well written and beautifully narrated by Rob Lowe. I was engaged and enthralled throughout. I am the same age as Rob Lowe and grew up in Los Angeles so I thought I knew the high points of his career and story. I was wrong. He is multidimensional and writes each chapter with humor, touching intimacy and self insight.

Intersting look at a celebrity's ife

I felt like Rob was actually telling me stories in a sit down conversation with him thus its easy to see why the book was titled as it was. I enjoyed all the stories he told and especially was impressed with his vocabulary and the way they were told. Very, very good listen and highly recommend it.

One of my all time favorite audio books!

This is a wonderful story about coming of age in the movie business from a homegrown Midwest boy transplanted to Malibu when it was still sleepy who takes on Hollywood with all the twists and turns that come with the film industry. His life is Zelig like in that he meets and befriends many of our most famous and adored stars and celebrities including a politician or two!
Rob Lowe is a funny, warm and endearing narrator whose impressions make this a must listen! Thank you Rob Lowe. Please narrate a third book!

I loved this book

This book was a perfect blend of authenticity, warmth, struggle, and charm. It is well written and is filled with little famous vignettes that range from Andy Warhol to Lucille Ball.

Wonderful!

It kept my attention and inspired me to live my life with passion and meaning.

Funny and touching

What made the experience of listening to Stories I Only Tell My Friends the most enjoyable?

Rob Lowe's voice and his way of telling the stories. It was like you were sitting with him in his living room.

What did you like best about this story?

His honesty and transparency.

What about Rob Lowe’s performance did you like?

He had inflections in his voice, which many readers don't bother with. And his imitations of other actors.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was moved. And it was hilarious, I would be driving along and laughing outloud.

Thumbs up.

I enjoyed this book immeasurably. Especially Rob's spot on impersonations. I highly recommend it to biography lovers.

Enjoyable listen

I always enjoyed watching Rob Lowe. He's pretty on the eyes. Now that I have experienced his life in a more personal way, I appreciate his inner beauty. Rob had to maneuver the world of acting basically alone and through instinct. Through his ups and downs, he finally rested upon his true authentic self. I applaud him for that. I look forward to listening more of his writings.

Completely entertaining, surprisingly insightful

Would you consider the audio edition of Stories I Only Tell My Friends to be better than the print version?

Although I haven't read the print version, I can't imagine there's anything better than hearing an autobiography from the writer's own voice, especially when the writer happens to be a highly talented actor. Frankly, I had no idea Rob Lowe was this versatile.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Stories I Only Tell My Friends?

Loved when he met Liza Minelli. Insights into "The Outsiders" and "West Wing" were terrific.

Any additional comments?

I actually scoffed when I saw this book on the store shelves because I really dislike all the celebrity autobiographies basically celebrating their already inflated egos and I associated Rob Lowe with the whole pretty boy image. But after reading reviews, and liking good biographies, I gave it a chance and I was not disappointed. It was a quality book both with entertainment value and philosophical insight. I've started watching "West Wing" on Amazon streaming since I actually did not see the series when it aired on TV - although my husband was a fan and named a daughter after a WW character! Highly recommend this audiobook.

Outstanding autobiography

I just finished this book and can't speak highly enough of it. Rob not only takes us on a journey through his life, but does a great job of narrating it as well. I really enjoyed it. If there was any one negative, I would say that it ended somewhat abruptly. I'm not sure when he actually finished writing it, but there wasn't much about his time from when he left The West Wing to present.
That being said, the book shows him to be so much more than the "brat pack" actor of the 80's that most people know him as.