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Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact including the dust cover if applicable . Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include From the library of labels. Shrink wrap dust covers or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media. See less
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Stories I Only Tell My Friends: An Autobiography Paperback – January 3, 2012

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 6,505 ratings

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Actor Rob Lowe's memoir presents a wryly funny and surprisingly moving account of an extraordinary life lived almost entirely in the public eye.

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

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

About the Author

Rob Lowe began his acting career at the age of eight in local television and theater. After his family relocated to Los Angeles, Lowe began his national acting career starring in the ABC television series “A New Kind of Family.” In May 2010, Rob Lowe joined the cast of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” where he played the role of Chris Traeger. His television work also includes a three-episode appearance on Showtime’s “Californication,” in which Lowe plays unpredictable, megawatt movie star Eddie Nero. Preceding his move to “Parks and Recreation,” Lowe stared in the ABC-TV hit series “Brothers & Sisters.”. Additionally, for four seasons (from 1999 – 2003) Lowe starred as Sam Seaborn on Hit NBC drama “The West Wing.” His performance in the show garnered Lowe an Emmy nomination, as well as two Golden Globe nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He was nominated three times for the Screen Actors Guild award, winning twice. In September of 2005 Lowe made his West End debut starring in Aaron Sorkin’s “A Few Good Men”, receiving rave reviews at the Royal Haymarket Theatre in London. In 2006, Lowe starred in the hit satire “Thank You for Smoking”. In Spring of 2011 Rob Lowe added author to his credits with the release of his very first memoir Stories I Only Tell my Friend: An Autobiography. Complete with adolescent anecdotes, Rob Lowe shares astoundingly personable excerpts as he recalls his encounters, experiences, and the audition that changed his life forever.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (January 3, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250008859
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250008855
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.85 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 6,505 ratings

About the author

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Rob Lowe
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Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe (/ˈrɒb ˈloʊ/; born March 17, 1964) is an American actor. He garnered fame after appearing in such films as The Outsiders, Oxford Blues, About Last Night..., St. Elmo's Fire, Wayne's World, Tommy Boy, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

On television, Lowe played Sam Seaborn on The West Wing, Senator Robert McCallister on Brothers & Sisters, and Chris Traeger in Parks and Recreation. He played President John F. Kennedy in Killing Kennedy, a 2013 television film that premiered on National Geographic Channel. In 2014, he began appearing in a series of DirecTV commercials. As of 2015, he stars alongside Fred Savage in The Grinder on FOX.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. By David Shankbone (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
6,505 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the storytelling entertaining and interesting. They appreciate the writing quality as great, readable, and page-turning. The introspective outlook on life is refreshing and heartwarming. Readers describe the book as humorous, witty, and grateful. They appreciate the intelligence, humility, and understanding the author shares. Overall, customers consider the book honest, genuine, and up-front.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

800 customers mention "Story quality"795 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book's storytelling. They find it entertaining and engaging, with humorous scenes like hanging out with Tom Cruise. The autobiography is described as well-written and interesting.

"...There is laughter, surprise, sadness and interesting parts of him shared & exposed. After reading the story you'll understand...." Read more

"...very interesting autobiography, which is also a thoughtful exploration of the pitfalls of early and rapid fame and the associated difficulties with..." Read more

"...lacks the pace and dramatic impact of the original, but is interesting for scenes by future superstars Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe...." Read more

"Rob Lowe is a great storyteller! Thank you Sir for sharing your life stories with us. A great, great read !" Read more

271 customers mention "Writing quality"271 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it readable, engaging, and well-crafted. The tone is down-to-earth, intimate, and sincere, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

"...After reading the story you'll understand. Its well written with expressive vocabulary his mom would be proud...." Read more

"This is a well written and very interesting autobiography, which is also a thoughtful exploration of the pitfalls of early and rapid fame and the..." Read more

"...Though this book is well-written, coherent and nicely paced, it does sometimes have the feeling of stories told over cocktails...." Read more

"...So, I decided to try. Amazing writer! I am not the hugest fan of all his work but there are several I have enjoyed...." Read more

154 customers mention "Heartwarming"151 positive3 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and refreshing. They find the author's introspective outlook on life interesting and humbling. The book is described as an inspiring read that keeps an interesting human element.

"...He was very intense & open about his personal life more so his feelings regarding his personal life and the changes he's made in himself and how he..." Read more

"...that he made along the way, in a way that's both honest and lacking in self-pity...." Read more

"...of checking himself into Rehab to be moving, and his new healthy perspective on life (and especially life in his chosen profession) quite inspiring...." Read more

"...All were completely perfect gentlemen and incredibly kind. I'm not sure if I would been as kind at his age...." Read more

114 customers mention "Humor"106 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it entertaining, with moments of laughter, surprise, sadness, and interesting parts. Readers describe the author as witty, sweet, and introspective.

"...There is laughter, surprise, sadness and interesting parts of him shared & exposed. After reading the story you'll understand...." Read more

"...His stories made me laugh, cry, and took me back to my own childhood and young adulthood...." Read more

"...stories he shares about Michael J Fox, it's probably the funniest part in the entire book...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book because I needed sometimes light and humorous. It was a fun read and if you like celebrity stories you will enjoy this one." Read more

108 customers mention "Intelligence"96 positive12 negative

Customers find the book insightful and well-written. They appreciate the author's humility and genuineness in sharing details about his life. The book is described as informative, relatable, and intelligent.

"...There is laughter, surprise, sadness and interesting parts of him shared & exposed. After reading the story you'll understand...." Read more

"I was surpised to read such a cerebral book from an 80's heart throb...." Read more

"...The book is chronological starting with his child life in Ohio right on through the to the "West Wing"...." Read more

"...You know, this book really helps the reader to see the full human in all the people he meets and helps you to move beyond the, “Gosh, he is good-..." Read more

106 customers mention "Honesty"103 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the author's honesty and integrity. They find him genuine and interesting. The book is described as honest, straightforward, and truthful. Readers praise the author's candor about his struggles with alcohol and sobriety.

"...and the mistakes that he made along the way, in a way that's both honest and lacking in self-pity...." Read more

"Great book. Could not put it down. Honest, authentic and humbling" Read more

"...His bald and unflinching honesty was delightfully unexpected...." Read more

"...but read the sample in a short evening and was hooked on the candid and sincerely insightful perspective on the Hollywood machine and how things..." Read more

94 customers mention "Autobiography"94 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the candid account of the author's life and his journey to success. They find it interesting to learn about his upbringing and how he came to be famous. The author has a unique way of introducing people from his past that is surprising. They appreciate the anecdotal style in which he subtly tells about incidents without being overly descriptive. Readers also mention that the book provides enough information about the author's career for wanna-bes to read.

"...He was very intense & open about his personal life more so his feelings regarding his personal life and the changes he's made in himself and how he..." Read more

"...that I come across too often, and I think it's a very neat way to put across an autobiography...." Read more

"...I found this to be a wonderful heart-felt biography, well written. I found myself laughing and then gasping out in shock." Read more

"...He writes about his unconventional family, his early drive to act, the celebrities he has stumbled across along with the ones he has developed close..." Read more

80 customers mention "Looks"80 positive0 negative

Customers find the book appealing. They appreciate the author's writing style and find it easy to read. The book provides an interesting look at Hollywood and showbiz. Readers mention that the author is a family man who loves his wife.

"...written & if you had any doubt he is definitely more than just a stunning face...." Read more

"...on Oprah, I realize that he is truly a family man that loves his beautiful wife Sheryl and holds Sheryl and their children close to his heart...." Read more

"...by it's cover - this pretty boy has a lot more to him than that stunning face and natural talent...." Read more

"...The book is refreshing and so insightful. Here is this beautiful man who I know nothing about and couldn't pinpoint what I imagined him to be like..." Read more

Story great, but library ruined the last disc :(
3 out of 5 stars
Story great, but library ruined the last disc :(
Oh man, I was really enjoying this book, but then I got to the last disc and it won’t play in my car because there is this sticker on it preventing my player to read it. Looks like the Salt Lake City Public Library put it on there, but the sticker has bubbles under it and I can’t peel it off. I will have to find another way to read or listen to the final bit of the book! :( The book is great, though, I am just annoyed I can’t finish it.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2022
    Great read! Well written & if you had any doubt he is definitely more than just a stunning face. I was going to say pretty but that gets into "pretty boy" & my meaning is his "pretty boy" days are past and he's a lot more mature & shown he has more substance in addition to the "face". 😀There's a lot of him that he's shared in this book I enjoy hearing about his past (childhood & starting on his way with audition stories) but also there's a lot about how he got parts in detail. He was very intense & open about his personal life more so his feelings regarding his personal life and the changes he's made in himself and how he feels about them & how he's accomplished so much even more than he dreamed if. I think about the stories of his childhood & am not surprised he has such a close relationship with his own sons & his own dad & the need & desire to develop & enjoy them The early part of the book was really emotional for me when I read it & I think it still has a place in his heart. There is laughter, surprise, sadness and interesting parts of him shared & exposed. After reading the story you'll understand. Its well written with expressive vocabulary his mom would be proud. It might have been good to hear some more of his stories from the past but he kept it pretty much about himself - his feelings & emotions. Bottom line it's well worth it ... I got it on audible and then enjoyed it so much I got a hard copy. Enjoy!!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2011
    This is a well written and very interesting autobiography, which is also a thoughtful exploration of the pitfalls of early and rapid fame and the associated difficulties with staying grounded. The title of this book is appropriate because it often reads like a collection of fascinating stories, but it's pulled together so well that it never feels disjointed.

    Rob Lowe emerges as a kind of Forrest Gump character, with connections to many famous people or events over the past thirty years. He gives JFK Jnr the encouragement that he needs to get married, visits the set of an eccentric movie that he thinks has promise (the first Star Wars), hangs out with Presidential candidates, even sits next to the 9/11 hijackers on their rehearsal flight.

    The book is crammed with amusing anecdotes and recollections of a massive array of stars. Tom Cruise impresses Rob early with his robotic, intense but friendly personality. Bill Murray randomly invites him to hang out in his hotel room. Daryl Hannah shows up as a nineteen year old virgin who is saving herself for Jackson Browne (a man she has never met). John Belushi warns him to keep out of nightclubs. A youthful Charlie Sheen is a conspiracy-theory freak who sometimes wears a bulletproof vest under his clothes to school. There are even walk ons by Hollywood legends like Cary Grant - who plies Rob with aftershave - and Frank Sinatra.

    Rob is selective with what he discloses and if you're looking for smutty revelations you will be largely disappointed. While he certainly doesn't hide the fact that he well and truly indulged in women, alcohol and drugs, nor does he spill any graphic details. Towards the end when he talks about his time on The West Wing, you also feel that he's holding back a lot.

    So many of Lowe's early friends and co-stars went on to become huge stars: Tom Cruise, Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, Robert Downey Jnr, Charlie Sheen, Winona Ryder. Rob talks about the difficulties in plotting a Hollywood career and the mistakes that he made along the way, in a way that's both honest and lacking in self-pity. It's clear that while he's never commanded the respect that he so yearned for, that he has found peace with where he's now at. At one point he wryly comments, "no one is likely to take a nineteen year old as pretty as I was seriously".

    I found this book highly readable but also surprisingly thought provoking. I recommend it.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2011
    I downloaded a sample chapter of Rob Lowe's memoir to my Kindle and enjoyed it. But because of the price I was hesitant to buy the complete book. But then I read a few Amazon reviews that spoke about how much Lowe dwells on his first big movie, THE OUTSIDERS (about a quarter of the book by my estimate), and since that's one of my favorite movies I decided to spend the money. From that perspective alone, I feel I got my money's worth. If you're an OUTSIDERS fan, there are things you'll learn from Lowe that you probably hadn't heard before. I was especially moved by the encouragement and help he got from the film's lead, C. Thomas Howell (his junior by 2 years) with an especially difficult scene. I remember Lowe making a snarky dig about Howell when he hosted Saturday Night Live once (saying Howell had no career after THE OUTSIDERS); perhaps including this touching salute to Howell's generosity and professionalism was Lowe's way of making a Twelve-Step amends.

    Though this book is well-written, coherent and nicely paced, it does sometimes have the feeling of stories told over cocktails. Lowe seems especially drawn to painting a portrait of someone he's just met and then revealing only in the last paragraph the full name of the person in question. "Meet cutes" as Hollywood jargon would have it. The tactic is a bit coy for my taste and the telling feels well rehearsed (we are not the first "friend" he has told these stories to). But the stories are good, so I really shouldn't complain.

    As Quit Lit, I found Lowe's account of checking himself into Rehab to be moving, and his new healthy perspective on life (and especially life in his chosen profession) quite inspiring. One can't help but wonder what, if anything, he has said to out-of-control acting pal Sheen fils. But Lowe breaks no confidences in this regard. He's also fairly mum on his brother Chad's career and on his fairly long-term relationship with Melissa Gilbert. He also seems to pull punches in his discussion of his conflicts with the producers of WEST WING. I've listened to all the commentaries and "extras" on the DVDs of WEST WING and it remains puzzling why after snagging a boldface person like Lowe, they never really used him. (The work Lowe did turn in was certainly evidence he could have handled any challenge they gave him.) Because Lowe is so gracious and forgiving, his account doesn't shed much light on this. Perhaps we'll have to wait for Aaron Sorkin's memoirs.

    A note to OUTSIDERS fans: there are two versions of this movie available on DVD. The originalThe Outsiders, which I prefer, has an operatic movie score that underscores the dramatic themes of the story. The version released years later (on DVD only, I believe) The Outsiders: The Complete Novel uses rock music from the era of the story and restores scenes that had been cut to remove extraneous story lines. This version lacks the pace and dramatic impact of the original, but is interesting for scenes by future superstars Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe. These clips support Lowe's memory that he turned in a substantial performance.

    The Kindle version includes only one photograph from the book.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2024
    Rob Lowe is a great storyteller! Thank you Sir for sharing your life stories with us. A great, great read !

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Deanna
    5.0 out of 5 stars awesome autobiography
    Reviewed in Canada on April 9, 2023
    I was fascinated from the very beginning. I have been watching 911 lone star series and was fascinated by the Chief…Owen Strand played by Rob Lowe. I wanted to find out more about him and how his real life is portrayed in his part of the show. The connections are so clear.
    I really enjoyed the events Rob experienced growing up that lead him forward. His honesty and the way he faces challenges is exemplary.
    A wonderful book.
  • albatros
    5.0 out of 5 stars A likable character
    Reviewed in Germany on April 1, 2024
    This was a great read. Rob Lowe comes across as a very likable character. I never cared too much for his movies but his background is very interesting. Lowe battles with addiction which made me compare the book to the memoir by Matthew Perry. There are some similarities but Lowe's book felt more real and that's what made it more compelling.
  • Loredana Vocale
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfetto
    Reviewed in Italy on November 4, 2022
    Perfetto
  • CJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars Historias y anécdotas que enganchan.
    Reviewed in Spain on March 22, 2021
    Un libro realmente ameno.
  • Mel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant read
    Reviewed in Australia on September 25, 2019
    If you grew up watching Rob on the big screen you will absolutely love this book. Honest and engaging, my school girl crush only deepened reading his story. What an interesting life and positive role model.