Love Life

By: Rob Lowe

Narrated by: Rob Lowe

Actor, producer, and New York Times best-selling author Rob Lowe offers up a collection of personal stories in an honest and celebratory memoir about men and women, art and commerce, fathers and sons, addiction and recovery, and sex and love.

Actor Rob Lowe is an entertaining raconteur whose best-selling first audiobook, Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography, was hailed as "self-deprecatingly funny" (The New York Times) and "thoroughly entertaining" (Time) and earned the author the cover of Vanity Fair.

Love Life serves up another delicious selection of intimate stories and observations from Lowe's life, told with humor, warmth, and brutal honesty. After writing his acclaimed debut effort, Lowe felt he had more stories to share and many more friends to introduce. The result is a touching memoir about the business and craft of acting, the pitfalls of success, family, love, and much more.

Among the many adventures Lowe describes in Love Life are what it's like in the trenches as both the star and producer of a flop TV show; how a visit, as a 20-year-old, to Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion led to a surprise in the hot tub; how an actor prepares for a role, as well as the practical, boots-on-the-ground details no drama or film school would ever teach you. You'll delight at the hilarious account of the time a major movie star stole his girlfriend, and of coaching a kid's basketball team dominated by omnipresent helicopter parents. The story of coming to terms with his son's departure to college for the education his father never got will touch anyone with a family.

Building on Stories I Only Tell My Friends, Love Life is the literary equivalent of returning to a favorite restaurant to savor a completely different, delicious new dish. If you love life, you'll love this audiobook.

©2014 Rob Lowe (P)2014 Simon & Schuster

Open, Honest, Sentimental... not quite as Intimate

In Rob Lowe’s first book he shared an intimate portrait of himself - sharing his vulnerabilities, his failures and successes, his friendships and loves. He was open and honest and humble. I came away from that book feeling as though he had allowed me to know his heart and I became a bigger fan than I had been before. Stories I Only Tell My Friends was a wonderful memoir from a man who was willing to learn from his mistakes and share those lessons with me. I loved it.

So, when Love Life was released I immediately added it to my audible.com Wish List. I finally read it yesterday and today. This sophomore effort is good - but not as good as Stories … was. Mr Lowe remains open, unpretentious and self-aware. He shares much about his love for his family and is particularly vulnerable when speaking of his two sons. He certainly allows us to see that he truly does love his life. But… at times I felt the book became a “how to” book for aspiring actors. Although I enjoy the glimpses into this world that I know nothing about, the reason I loved Stories … was that he opened his heart and mind and shared his inner self. That is what I was looking for in Love Life, He did it, but not as much, and I wanted more.

Having said that, I look forward to a third installment.

Extraordinary work - well done Rob Lowe!

Would you consider the audio edition of Love Life to be better than the print version?

I did not think he could top his first book, but this is terrific. Thoughtful, honest and funny. I want to meet his wife, Cheryl and spend an afternoon hang out with them at a BBQ. I highly recommend this next series of stories.

What did you like best about this story?

All of the stories and how he tells them. His self awareness is refreshing.

What does Rob Lowe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hearing his stories in his own words and voice. It brought an honesty and warmth that just added to the book. Somehow he connects with his listener in a way that just reading it, would not have done.

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

Yes, I laughed and was so touched by the story of Buck. I felt a kindred spirit to what he has learned about himself at his age.

Any additional comments?

Thank you for sharing your stories and lessons Mr. Lowe.

Rob Lowe is a "proven" author

Where does Love Life rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is my second experience with a Rob Lowe authored and read selection and I'm pleased to say "Love Life" was on par with his autobiography - a personal, reflective, often humorous, and in this case, family-focused read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rob, of course. Yet, not in the way many of us can fully define depending on the era we became familiar with him. I was taken into his characters as well as the public and private person keeping me engaged as the stories are told.

Which scene was your favorite?

The missteps that failed to lead to roles and opportunities he would have easily entertained had he had the chance.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Keeping it in Perspective

Any additional comments?

Read it!

Simply enjoyed the storytelling ride. Thanks Rob

If you could sum up Love Life in three words, what would they be?

Smooth, thoughtful, solid

What did you like best about this story?

The stories and life wisdoms.

What about Rob Lowe’s performance did you like?

His reading of his own story with the appropriate flow.

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

No. I like breaking it up.

Any additional comments?

Great.

No one follows the frog...

Enjoyable book but the second the last chapter was worth it all! Lorne Michaels is my hero. Rob tells many wonderful stories. This isn't the book for you if you want to hear 'The West Wing' stories. But great for everything else. Funny too!

Great stories, I laughed out loud at parts

What did you love best about Love Life?

His stories, characterizations of other celebs/well known people

What other book might you compare Love Life to and why?

Very similar to his first book, obviously, with new stories, some new characters.

What does Rob Lowe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I can't say this enough of this book and his first one: HE DOES THE VOICES of all the famous people he talks about. In this book, he does Arnold Schwarzenegger, Warren Beaty, Hugh Heffner, Tom Seizemore and others. He does spot-on impressions, and is very funny.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

He does address some emotional stuff... his experiences in rehab, people he met there, etc.

Any additional comments?

My absolute favorite part was when he talks about the ending of 'The Lyon's Den.' Makes me want to see if someone from Finland or Azerbaijan has uploaded it to YouTube.

Awesome Read

Great book, well written, the author is a great story teller and a lot of the stories warm the heart!

Rob Does it Again

If you could sum up Love Life in three words, what would they be?

Honest Insightful Entertaining

What was one of the most memorable moments of Love Life?

Aside from the below, I appreciate how he describes script readers. My sister writes scripts and currently has a few of her scripts being reviewed with "Hollywood people". Based on her experience, I do believe Rob is right on with this subject.

Which scene was your favorite?

The camping story with Big Foot. I was working out at the gym and I literally laughed out loud through almost the whole chapter.

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

Many emotions. I laughed out loud at Big Foot, got emotional as he talks about the love and respect he has for his wife of over 22 years, respect his honesty about his sobriety, and admire the father he is to his boys. In both of his books I am so happy to see that he has turned in to such a well rounded loving caring man.

Any additional comments?

I couldn't wait to hear the whole thing, yet I did not want this book to end. Rob narrates his story as beautifully as he writes it.

Finally, learning that his son John Owen wrote the music for the book gave me one last huge sigh of admiration.

Great Job Rob!!

Enjoyable narration and playfulness

What did you love best about Love Life?

The narration and humbleness

What about Rob Lowe’s performance did you like?

Intonation, also he was reading a book he wrote/help write and seemed honest and genuine.

Any additional comments?

Good, not quite as good as his first book.

excellent

Loved it!!
I love listening to Robs voice. He was a great storyteller.
I would listen to another one of his books.