I grew up knowing Robin Williams as a successful actor; producing wonderful films for my entertainment. I never released all the heartaches, hard work and loyalty that went into the man I came to know.

From New York Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff, the definitive biography of Robin Williams – a compelling portrait of one of America’s most beloved and misunderstood entertainers. Coma was written 5 years later, while Robin Cook was a senior ophthalmology resident, doing cornea transplant surgery at the time, and it was published while he was a student at the Kennedy School of Government. Meticulously sourced and comprehensive in scope, Itzkoff's work gives Williams's many fans a rare glimpse of the man behind the celebrity." - Publishers WeeklyAs a regular follower of Robin’s career, I began to recall much of the ground the author covered, but as far as Robin’s personal life went, I wasn’t all that knowledgeable. I knew he had problems with drugs, that Belushi’s death scared him straight, that Robin had been married and divorced, then remarried and had several children, but I was mostly in the dark when about the details behind his marriages and relationships with colleagues and friends. The attic was the playground of his mind, where he could stretch his imagination to its maximum dimensions. It was his sanctuary from the world and his vantage point above it—a place where he could observe and absorb it all, at a height where nobody could touch him. It was also a terribly lonely refuge, and its sense of solitude followed him beyond its walls. He emerged from the room with a sense of himself that, to outsiders, could seem inscrutable and upside down. In a room full of strangers, it compelled him to keep everyone entertained and happy, and it left him feeling utterly deserted in the company of the people who loved him most. While there will probably be other Robin Williams biographies, author Dave Itzkoff gave us a thorough-all-encompassing Robin.

Every couple of months or so I think about Robin Williams and how he is no longer with us, and I just feel so sad. While he certainly made me laugh over the years and I thought he was a wonderful comedic and dramatic actor, I don't think I fully appreciated how absolutely brilliant he was until he was gone. The concerns about Robin’s third marriage didn’t feel one hundred percent balanced and may have been the only place in the book where the author’s personal opinion was made evident. Nothing wrong with being independent or having a life which is not defined by your husband’s career. The subsequent estate disputes also painted her in a bad light, but I’m not sure the author approached these events in an entirely subjective manner. A generous, appreciative biography of Robin Williams by a New York Times culture reporter. The author, who had access to Williams and members of the comedian’s family, is an unabashed fan but doesn’t shy away from the abundant messiness in his subject’s personal life."— The New York Times Book Review (editor's choice) Williams grew up in a well-to-do family, an only child that didn’t learn he had half-brothers till adolescence. His invented characters began in private during childhood with his large collection of toy soldiers, for which he invented complex lives and scenarios; in middle school he began assuming the voices of invented characters as self-defense socially. From his school days all the way through his life, those that spent time with him personally or professionally said that he was unknowable, and he admitted in an interview that in many ways, he was “performing to avoid.” Dave Itzkoff’s Robin is much like the man himself— warm, funny, frenetic, with a core of darkness and empathy. It gets at that darkness, and shows how it fueled, beautifully, the manic brain and kinetic body of the man himself. An amazing read."— Patton OswaltThe beginning of Robin’s career was somewhat familiar to me, but I had forgotten a lot of the ups and downs in those early days. The drugs, alcohol, the sudden and intense success, followed by career fits and starts, with spurts of wide recognition followed by incredibly harsh critical bashing. Distracted by the Fool’s perilous health, and swept up against his will in the intrigues of the royal court, Fitz lets down his guard . . . and in a horrible instant, his world is undone and his beloved daughter stolen away by those who would use her as they had once sought to use the Fool—as a weapon. One night, my mom announced we needed to get our minds off the divorce and decided we needed a fun night at the movies. A new movie just opened up, about a guy who dresses up like an old lady. His fake boobs catch on fire in the trailer- HILARIOUS ANTICS! I am of course talking about Mrs. Doubtfire . While it was and is still a hilarious movie with lines that will stand up through the test of time "My first day as a woman and I'm getting hot flashes!" "It was a run-by fruiting!", and my personal favorite, "We're his Goddamn kids, too!". For me, it's always Robin. I cannot believe that in a few months we will be approaching the 5 year anniversary of his death. It still hurts. It still makes me cry. Here it is, March 21 2019, and I'm watching clip after clip on YouTube of some of my favorite moments of his- going on David Letterman dressed as a surgeon after Letterman returned from heart surgery, his Broadway comedy special which still gets played on heavy rotation in my house, and my upmost favorite- him winning the 1998 Academy Award for my favorite movie, Good Will Hunting - the sheer joy and genuine laughter as he accepts the Golden trophy, and the heartfelt hug from host Billy Crystal as he embraces his longtime friend on stage. What a beautiful moment. And I still sob.

But FitzChivalry Farseer is not without weapons of his own. An ancient magic still lives in his veins. And though he may have let his skills as royal assassin diminish over the years, such things, once learned, are not so easily forgotten. After high school, he attended Wesleyan University for his undergrad studies, and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons for medical school, from where, after his graduation, he continued his studies by getting his postgraduate medical training at Harvard. After his ophthalmology residency, he also attended Kennedy School of Government, graduating with Chemistry as his major. Robin was also consistently honest about himself. While most celebrities go into a hospital for “exhaustion,” Robin was truthful about his demons. Whether in his stand-up acts or during interviews, he openly discussed his troubles with depression and addiction. He eventually conquered his addictions, but his self-esteem remained low throughout his life. He thought of himself as an ugly man since he was not the epitome of a movie star. Robin had hair tufts throughout his body. He did indeed have a hairy body, which embarrassed him. I couldn’t help but think his insecurities over his looks were so adolescent. But then again, in ways, the author shows that he never really grew up, preferring the company of children to adults. Off camera, he could play with his child co-stars endlessly. If he was in the company of a five-year-old, he became five-years-old. I confess, this reminds me of myself. Personally, I find it delightful to be able to connect with a child on their level. Robin gave us his fans unending joy during his lifetime. I thank him for that. I also thank the people who had the sense to record his talents in various ways so I and others can pop in a DVD and watch and hear him whenever we want. (which I did!) What a concept!Reading about Robin’s struggles with his mind was utterly heartbreaking, because this was something he shared with my mother. ONE book can save you reading several others. Most of Kevin Last’s biography of Christopher Robin Milne is based on Milne’s own autobiographical writings, beginning with The Enchanted Places (1974). From these memoirs, Last quotes extensively, and, where he is not citing them verbatim, they remain his source.

While The Year of the Intern is the author’s debut novel (a semi-autobiographical account of medical school), it’s really Coma that propelled Robin Cook to fame. In fact, 2017 was the year marking the book’s 40th anniversary. It could also very well be that it marks the creation of the medical thriller genre.

Take the guesswork out of your hybrid setup

In an interview. Robin Cook mentioned that with his books, he is not only entertaining but also educating people in all things medicine. He is truly trying to educate us all. There are lots of facets of medicine that regular people are not aware of, especially with the fast-growth of so many related fields. Also, in his books, the author brings forward socio-ethical problems that arise out of dealing with doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. Currently, Robin Cook spends his time between Florida, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, while he is working on his next book. Nevare Burvelle is the second son of a second son, destined from birth to carry a sword. The wealthy young noble will follow his father—newly made a lord by the King of Gernia—into the cavalry, training in the military arts at the elite King's Cavella Academy in the capital city of Old Thares. Bright and well-educated, an excellent horseman with an advantageous engagement, Nevare's future appears golden. But none of us knew that when he burst onto the airwaves; all we knew was that this actor was manic, hilarious, audacious, insightful, and unpredictable. Itzkoff deftly segues in and through each period in Williams’ life, through his marriages, parenthood, and friendships, and of course, through the enormous body of artistic work that he amassed over his lifetime. There are perceptive quotes by those that knew him, some wry, some surprisingly hostile, and many of them pithy, and it boggles the imagination to consider how many of these the author began with before he whittled them down to just the right size and number, to provide as complete an account as is possible without allowing the pace to flag. A breathtakingly good biography, exhilarating a lot of the time, yet disturbing, too, and one of the best books ever written about anyone who sees no way out of life except by trying to make people laugh. Or is it weeping? Who can tell in a storm?"— David Thomson, San Francisco Chronicle