Rob Lowe

A gracefully written account of a career and life at midpoint - proof that it's possible to overcome poor choices to build a solid and satisfying existence. I have the audiobook, which Lowe reads himself, and he's really good. If you're looking for kiss-and-tell, this isn't it; however, anyone who enjoys an account that not only says a lot about an industry in structural transition but also makes it possible to read between the lines as to who is benefiting from the new ways of doing show more business in Hollywood will find this book both interesting and worthwhile. It's certainly one of the best movie-star memoirs to come out in a long time. show less

I liked Rob Lowe before I read this book, but I now LOVE Rob Lowe because I have found my kindred spirit with my fascination of Bigfoot. His tale of scaring his sons and nephews dressed as Bigfoot had me laughing out loud. My favorite chapter was the love letter he has written to his wife in the end of the book. If you are interested in the "craft" of acting or movie making, this book is very interesting. It's not a "dirty, tell-all, TMZ, National Enquirer" type book. It's more about his show more interpretation of he sees fatherhood, marriage, friendships and career. It was a quick and enjoyable read. show less

This is the second book by actor and producer Rob Lowe. Having read his autobiography ‘Stories I Only Tell My Friends’ and really enjoyed it, I was very much looking forward to reading his follow-up, and I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint.

In ‘Love Life’, Lowe shares stories and anecdotes from his life, both personal and professional. He is a very engaging narrator, thoughtful and contemplative, but also very witty (his story about dressing as Bigfoot on a camping trip show more with his children was wonderfully told and incredibly funny).

Other stories involve his musings on marriage – from being a playboy with an addiction problem in his 20s, to being a sober, happily married father of two 25 years later; being involved in a tv show which is rapidly heading toward oblivion, and making a monumental script cock-up on stage in the West End. He talks with pride of his two sons, and the chapter where his older son goes away to college was very moving.

Maybe I’m biased – I really like Lowe as an actor; he is very versatile, and equally able to do both comedy and drama, and understandably, he does discuss his acting career here – but I think I would have enjoyed this book even if I was not especially a fan of his.

As mentioned earlier, this is not an autobiography, and nor does it claim to be, but it does provide more insight into his character and his philosophy. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I would definitely recommend it. show less

This was probably one of my favorite autobiographies to date. Having Rob Lowe read his own life story, you get a feel for the emotion behind certain chapters in his life, which was such a bonus. The experiences he shared from his childhood, of his parent's divorce, being uprooted from Ohio, and his mother's mental ups and downs really do correlate to the addictions and issues he struggled through later in life. Interestingly enough, he had a constant, internal dream of the stable family with show more a wife and children he loved. Despite his good looks, his easy women, and his foray into addiction, Hollywood seems to be something that he has figured out and given a spot in his life, but not given the spotlight. That journey was really interesting to sit back and experience with him.

One of the things I found most interesting about this autobiography was Lowe's constant identification with his passions. Acting is obviously something that he is incredibly passionate about. He loves acting, and it shows in the way he talks about the movies and television shows he has been in. Rather than always playing the lead role, he learned that he had an aptitude for playing the supporting role in comedies. Now he is engaged in searching out great films that he can direct and be involved in producing. It's nice to see how passionate he is about acting and to hear about the craftsmen side of things.

Stories I Only Tell My Friends is a juicy read, filled with Hollywood tales and insider stories. Rob Lowe has seemed to rub shoulders with presidents, stars, and royalty alike and has the stories to back them. However, his end goal seemed to be more about finding happiness, which he has done with a wife that is his match in friendship and love, and with the jewels of his life, his sons. The passion he feels for his family and acting make his life story even more interesting. I enjoyed listening to this audio book and would definitely recommend giving it a try. The biography feels true to Lowe as a person and allows us a nice insider view. show less