Sean Lowe

He was that guy! There he was on national television and he wouldn't bend from his faithful way of life. How real was Sean Lowe? Was it just another way to get girls? From the iHeart Radio Studio I'm Unplugged and Totally Uncut with the star of ABC's The Bachelor Looking for love on reality television – where temptation, compromise, and betrayal are the norm – could cause anyone to falter. In his new autobiography FOR THE RIGHT REASONS (Nelson Books; January 27, 2015; $24.99), ABC’s “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” favorite Sean Lowe traces his incredible path to unexpected stardom, life-changing love, and personal faith, sharing behind-the-scenes moments of the two groundbreaking television franchises created to help real people find real love. Sean’s story is now a beloved piece of pop culture: the Dallas-raised college football standout fell into a late-twenty-something rut, single and selling insurance while he prayed for another life. He writes: “I was twenty-eight years old, stuck in a job I didn’t love. Every day, I answered questions about floods, lightning, and automobile collisions and ate my lunch watching ‘Seinfeld’ reruns. It wasn’t a bad life, but it didn’t feel like I was headed to anything more.” Unbeknownst to Sean, his sister and brother-in-law submitted an application for him to appear on the eighth season of The Bachelorette, and his life changed forever. He placed a disappointing third on the show and nursed a surprisingly real heartbreak, dumbstruck after believing he and The Bachelorette had a profound connection rooted in shared faith—a faith he held tightly throughout the show. He writes, “When I was on The Bachelorette, she often described me as ‘perfect.’ But I’m fallen, flawed, and in need of redemption.” Disappointed but still hopeful, the humble hero then became the star of the seventeenth season of The Bachelor and the entire country watched as the blond, steak-eating Texan fell in love with Catherine Giudici, a Birkenstock-wearing vegan from Seattle—a match made in reality TV heaven. Millions tuned in one year later to see the two tie the knot live on national television. “For the Right Reasons” is about Sean’s real life journey in the complicated world of reality TV. Sharing exclusive stories of his experiences on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor—along with his impressive run on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars—Sean gives readers insight into how the shows are produced and what happens when the cameras turn off. Stories of genuine friendships formed with crew and cast mates shed warm light on the people working—and caring—off camera. Recalling his sudden departure from The Bachelor he writes: “I stared out the window, unable to speak. I only turned around when I heard loud sniffling. The camera ops and sound techs were not supposed to be involved in the show in any way except behind the scenes, of course. One really sweet sound tech, named Kittye, was in the backseat with me. […] She was staring out the window too—crying. […] I looked up and saw that the producer Jonah and my handler Brenner were both bawling.” From the isolation that ensues when phones, tablets, and laptops are confiscated for the duration of the show, to the globe-trotting luxury he experienced for the first time, Sean recounts the highs and lows of participating in two of the most unique and popular television series ever. He shares never-before told moments and show secrets, including why he convinced producers to break the rules and allow him to see Catherine the night before the proposal, and why no one ever eats on one-on-one dates. Sean also argues that the camera fairly portrayed him and others. He explains that while dramatic storylines propel the shows, the characters sketched—whether villainous or virtuous—are usually accurate representations of the individuals off screen.