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Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography [Hardcover]

Rob Lowe
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (463 customer reviews)

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Book Description

April 26, 2011

A teen idol at fifteen, an international icon and founder of the Brat Pack at twenty, and one of Hollywood's top stars to this day, Rob Lowe chronicles his experiences as a painfully misunderstood child actor in Ohio uprooted to the wild counterculture of mid-seventies 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 eighties, 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 twenty-five years. These stories are as entertaining as they are unforgettable.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lowe, actor and 1980s teen idol, delivers a keen and insightful look at how the movie industry packages a celebrity, the phenomenon of "objectification," and being "The Next Big Thing." His astute look into a Midwest childhood, as well as counterculture Malibu as a young adult, raises lifelong issues of isolation and detachment for him as he adapted the persona of "a people pleaser with very few personal boundaries." Lowe vividly records the making of Coppola's The Outsiders, witnessing the emergence of Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, and Patrick Swayze alongside his own career launch. He offers insightful anecdotes about people he knew throughout his career, such as Jodie Foster, Andy Warhol, Roman Polanski, Jane Fonda, Michael Dukakis, and Princess Stephanie of Monaco. In an era that he describes as self-indulgent, he discusses his alcoholism, his video escapade, and his life as defined by the term "Brat Pack." In the end of this honest memoir, Lowe tells of his reformed life, in which he got married, had a family, and landed a career-defining role in The West Wing. (May)

Review

"A lovely autobiography, equal parts dish and pathos."--Vanity Fair

"[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

"I really enjoyed it...Thoroughly entertaining: the Brat Pack years, the Wayne's World years, the Alcoholic Obscurity, the Glamorous Romances (Princess Stephanie of Monaco!), the Inevitable Rehab, and the Triumphant Comeback on The West Wing."--Time Magazine

"[Lowe's] charming, honest, even affectionate memoir is the story of strong guts behind a strikingly handsome face...A book to recommend widely."--Booklist

"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

"The world would be a better place if more stars’ memoirs were like Lowe’s--chatty, dishy, and with celebrity walk-ons (Tom Cruise! Sarah Jessica Parker! Princess Stephanie of Monaco! Martin Sheen!) galore. As entertaining as a Brat Pack film festival."--Parade


Product Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.; First Edition edition (April 26, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 080509329X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0805093292
  • Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (463 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #170,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
157 of 162 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars SodaPop can write! April 28, 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
To be honest, my main reason for buying this book was that I was a huge "Outsiders" fan back in the early 80's. I always felt Rob was the best looking Greaser in the cast & as the years passed, also felt he was the best looking of the Brat Pack. I certainly didn't expect his book to be more than a compilation of stories about his life in Hollywood but it is more than that. He discusses his parent's divorce, his mother's depression, their financial struggles & his love for his wife & sons. He also gives Outsiders fans a great behind-the-scenes look into the making of that film. He is very candid & exposes himself as a flawed human being like the rest of us. He does discuss other Hollywood pals & tells some great stories but he doesn't make their celebrity the focal point of these tales or his book. A must read for those who loved the movie the Outsiders and anyone who is a fan of Rob's.
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110 of 117 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining, Honest, and Candid April 27, 2011
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As soon as I read the book excerpt in Vanity Fair I knew I would have to read Rob Lowe's book and it does not disappoint. He has had a very interesting life and shares the details with a humbleness you would not expect. Whether you are a huge fan of his work over time or fell for his way too good looking young face 25 years ago (which has only improved with age)Rob reveals himself and his imperfections, vulnerabilities , and genuine spirit. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and would like to thank Mike Myers for suggesting he write it.
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53 of 54 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
As several other reviewers have mentioned, I ordered this book for my Kindle after seeing Rob on "Oprah!" last week. I'm almost finished with it (2 more chapters to go) and have enjoyed every word.

Those readers looking for salacious, mean-spirited gossip won't find it here. But Rob does talk a great deal about the famous folk he's been involved with over the years: JFK Jr., the Sheens, Daryl Hannah, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, and of course his fellow members of the Brat Pack. His fondness for many of them shines through, and he describes the relationships in such a way that I felt I'd had an honest little glimpse of each one.

As a movie and TV buff for most of my life, I loved the behind-the-scenes glimpses of Rob's various projects, particularly "The Outsiders" and "The West Wing."

Others may pick up this book with different expectations, but I've found it well worth the investment of time and money. Thanks, Rob, for the interesting peek inside your various worlds: son and brother, fledgling actor, Brat Packer, Hollywood superstar, and finally, devoted husband and brother.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Takes me back to the "old days"
I'm only half way through, but have a hard time putting it down. Soooo well written. I can hear him as though he were in my living room telling me stories. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Carol A Kannenberg
4.0 out of 5 stars great story of Lowe's life
Held my interest. I enjoyed the story and all of his hollywood tidbits. I would read again. I recommend it.
Published 3 days ago by Paul Avery JR
3.0 out of 5 stars Kinda Disappointed...............
I really was looking forward to reading this book & was actually kinda bored...., and I'm a big "brat pack" fan.
While I was reading it, I kept thinking, why ...... Read more
Published 6 days ago by CThomas
4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for a Road Trip
I listened to it on a drive - it was PERFECT for that! It's a collection of stories, well thought out, well written and well read. I liked it.
Published 16 days ago by J. Thomas
1.0 out of 5 stars Stories I ONLY TELL MY FRIENDS ROB LOWE
I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY, IT WAS
NOT AT ALL
HE IS SOOOOOO CONCEITED
HE IS NOT ALL THAT. HE SKIPPED OVER HIS REALLY
BAD SIDE. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Unknown
5.0 out of 5 stars Halfway through it but couldn't wait to review!
This will be short since I've only read halfway through, but I couldn't wait to post a review. GREAT STUFF HERE. I'll probably never look at Malibu quite the same way again. Read more
Published 19 days ago by P. Lyons
5.0 out of 5 stars great memoir
i am addicted to memoirs and this one did not disappoint. I only wished that i had gotten a paper copy to pass on to my friends. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Tanya J. Simpson
5.0 out of 5 stars quick, fun read
Who knew- Mr. Lowe has lead quite a remarkable life meeting interesting people by just being at the right place at the right time. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Noah Cohen
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
It was very interesting. Kept my attention. I would recommend it to others. Pleasently surprised at what a good writer Rob Lowe is.
Published 21 days ago by Sarah
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy on the eyes in more ways than one
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Rob Lowe is an excellent writer and his life reads like a great novel. Read more
Published 23 days ago by C. Martin
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