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)

I actually really enjoyed this book

What did you love best about Stories I Only Tell My Friends?

I am a couple of years older than Rob Lowe so much of the stories he spoke about were things I could relate to. Hearing the behind the scenes stories of people and projects I remember was fun.

What about Rob Lowe’s performance did you like?

His voice was easy to listen to and understand. It was good to hear the stories from his voice.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes but since I listen on my commute it's not possible.

Any additional comments?

Rob was very careful in this book to not speak negatively about others. If you want to hear Hollywood dirt you will be disappointed. I didn't mind it though. It was kind of refreshing to just hear mostly fun and positive stories. I must admit that I've watched a few old Rob Lowe movies again after reading.

Highly Enjoyable

Very fun to sit back and hear all the interesting stories from Rob Lowe's treasure trove of experiences. Kind of felt like he was sharing over a glass of wine, very entertaining and quite enjoyable.

Great storytelling.

An amazing "read", wonderful story telling, you will not want it to end. I now have more respect and appreciation for this self described pretty boy. Wonderfully narrated by Rob Lowe himself this is a steal!

Started off a little pretentious but ended well. Was great to hear about his on set experiences. listened to this right after reading Chris Farley Show. Would recommend books of these periods to be read together.

Much better than I expected it to be

I don't read a lot of biographies, at least not of living actors, I usually couldn't care less. But, Rob Lowe was a figure from my childhood and I have liked who he seems to be, which seems to be a nice person. This book was a very entertaining look at youth, stardom, and the hazards of Hollywood, told with candor and humor. I really enjoyed it, and was still glad that I had never run away to Hollywood to find fame.

Excellent!

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

Yes, since it is read by Rob Lowe.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rob - story is about him.

Have you listened to any of Rob Lowe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no - I don't think there are any others

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but do to the length, not possible

Any additional comments?

Rob is a good story teller.

Embarrassed I liked it as much as I did.

I am not a big follower of Rob's career, so I don't quite know why I wanted to listen to his story but I gave it a shot. As someone who is constantly finding his way around the Hollywood machine, it was fun to see how much lives and careers intersect in this town. It amazes me how small the town is and Rob has navigated the waters with humor and panache. The book went way too fast for me and look forward to his next offering whenever it comes.

Fun, Insightful and Well Written

I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. Rob Lowe is not only a great actor but a master storyteller and writer. One of the things I liked most about the book is that it was written with integrity and avoids telling a story at the expense of other celebrities. Bravo, Mr. Lowe, bravo.

A Great Listen!

I have very happy with this book. Rob did a great job narrating this/his book.
It was very interesting and kept me entertained.
I highly recommend this book.

Wow, what a great book!

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

I didn't read the print version, but I think having Rob Lowe narrate this book made it so much better.

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

So many it's hard to pick. I grew up about the same time as Rob Lowe, so it's pretty neat to hear the behind the scenes of how The Outsiders was made.

Which character – as performed by Rob Lowe – was your favorite?

Christopher Walken - cracked me up.

Any additional comments?

Rob Lowe is like Forrest Gump - LOL