"Stories I Only Tell My Friends" by Rob Lowe

I picked this partially autobiographical book while my sister was reading it. If she set it down, I picked it up. When she finally finished it I was able to give it my all and I chewed through it in hours. Rob Lowe is someone I have always known about but I am a little too young to have known exactly how impressive the early years of his career actually was. He was a real child star of the 80's and he rode it high into the early nineties. I think he would agree that many of the movies he starred in early on weren't box office smashes that someone of my generation would have heard of but the caliber of people he was working with is, without doubt, as high as it gets. Understandably, Lowe sort of skims over the sex tape debacle he found himself in the center of in the early nineties. Most readers of his book would have been old enough to follow the story and aftershocks as they happened. I don't know much about it but it seems evident that it greatly affected his career for nearly a decade. It seems like Lorne Michaels was his only real supporter through much of the 1990's and even in the beginning of the new millenium, Lowe had to audition for a career changing role. He has certainly revived his stardom in the past 11 years and rightly so. He is, indeed, a very good looking man and talented in both comedic and dramatic stylings. As his book moves from Lowe's early days in Ohio, through his family's move to California, through the decade of sex and alcohol, and past his stint in rehab to his happy domestic and work-related lives, we see an incredible amount of chance meetings, impressive sexual accomplishments (a princess), and tons of anecdotal moments of hilarity. Even more so, I was inspired by the manner in which Lowe approached his career and progressed through the, mostly unnavigable, Hollywood environment. To see how optimism, drive and constantly striving for perfection can affect a person route to the top was greatly appreciated. Lowe is a very capable writer. In his book he indicates that he is working on several film projects and penning some himself. I have little doubt that they will be well written. He understands how to include only what is necessary and pointedly, while still amusingly at times, delivering a story. If he writes another book I will definitely pick it up (when my sister sets it down).

"At Home" by Bill Bryson

I love learning. I also love anecdotes. This was the first book I have read by Bill Bryson. It combines historical anecdotes, revelatory back stories of everyday items that we often overlook, and fascinating stories of individual accomplishments. I honestly think I could pick this book up and re-read it forever. I wish I could buy note cards with all the fun facts demonstrated between the two covers. It would be a few thousand cards but I'd like them nonetheless. The basic premise of the book is a walk through a mid 19th century English Country home. As Bryson moves through the house he delves into the architectural evolutions of the past few centuries, the ways a house has changed, the etymological roots of everyday words, and the origins of many things we use everyday in the home. This book was a revelation and I would be thrilled to pick up another Bryson novel.

"Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts

My friend cautioned me while handing me this book, 'this is the most dangerous book I've ever read.' Right he was. This book's purpose is to demonstrate the realistic possibility of living a semi-transient life. Not necessarily a "leaf blowing in the wind" type of lifestyle but a lifestyle that enables one to travel about, live in, or explore any part of the world in a more satisfying way. Potts would say that the way most people travel is based in a tourism mindset. Tourists travel to see sights and get a taste of a distinct part of the world. Potts stresses the value of 'vagabonding' instead. His definition of vagabonding is traveling in style that is slow, freeing, and fully immersive. He demonstrates, through his own experiences and the anecdotes of others, how some of the most affecting travel experiences happen off the 'tourism beaten path' and are sometimes more influenced by interactions with other people, whether they be natives of where you are or other like minded travelers. After demonstrating the higher value of these experiences, Potts lays out the most likely scenario in which to encounter them. Through saving money and taking long periods of time off from work or finding employment on the road, a person is better enabled to get to know people from others walks of life, find jaw dropping sites of beauty, take in moments of sheer and utter inspiration and discover great things about yourself in the process. "Vagabonding" inspires a lifestyle then lays out a clear cut game plan that can be used to achieve it. This book is very dangerous for anyone who feels like they should stay in one place and only allow themselves short periods of time for worldly experiences. It is also a book I would recommend to any and everyone.