This book was kind of hard for me to read. I have seen so many of Robin’s movies and loved his appearance on ‘Happy Days’, and then of course, ‘Mork and Mindy’. It was well researched and gave insight into the life and highs and lows of his life, from childhood all the way to the end of his life. It was definitely a tragedy that he is gone from us all too soon. Highly recommend this book! I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Itzkoff puts together the pieces that make up the life of Robin Williams, creating a heartbreaking portrait of a man we loved more than we knew.

Robin Williams life might look like until his suicide like an ideal life but this book talks about the good and the bad he has had in his life. Very interesting and very informative I do recommend it.

Robin Williams was one of my favorite actors growing up. As a kid born in the 1990s, I grew up watching movies like Aladdin and Mrs. Doubtfire and Hook, and I was continually entranced by this charismatic man that had this charm, this something that drew me in and made me laugh, even if my child’s mind didn’t fully grasp the joke. I laughed because even if I didn’t know the punchline, I knew it was funny because I knew Robin Williams was funny.

When I heard that Robin Williams had killed himself in 2014, I was deeply saddened. How could this man whom I had idolized in my childhood do something like this? It seemed such a juxtaposition between two opposing natures – comedy and tragedy – that it was difficult to view these contradictions as the same man. It was this lens that also seemed to put his past work into a different perspective:

"His suicide seemed to cast everything he had done previously in a newly foreboding light; the serious roles were suddenly more urgent and the comic roles now were irreparably tinged with melancholy. As the film critic Bilge Ebiri tweeted with uncommon precision that day, “You start off as a kid seeing Robin Williams as a funny man. You come of age realizing many of his roles are about keeping darkness at bay.”"

I really liked this biography of Robin Williams. The author did a really good job of portraying the comedian’s seemingly dual natures: Robin Williams was both the extroverted, slightly crazy funny man who was always cracking jokes, as well as a more introverted and introspective man, where he was sometimes filled with self-doubt of his abilities. Knowing how Robin Williams ended his own life gave a greater sense of meaning to each moment of self-doubt, to every hiccup on the road, and it made me see the actor and comedian differently than I had before.

This book had a lot of funny parts, too. The author described a lot of his work enough so, if you didn’t see the routine or the movie, you would be able to follow along as well as get a laugh or two from some of the jokes. After reading several sections about Robin’s stand-up, I went to YouTube to see if I could find the whole routines – a lot of it is there – since I’m not as familiar with his early work. It was an interesting experience to watch how his work evolved from his early stand-up roles to Mork & Mindy to movies to stand-up, and everywhere in between. Robin Williams was a fascinating actor and genuinely good person, and I’m glad this was able to shine throughout the book.

However, at its core, this book is about a man suffering from depression who decided to take his own life, despite all of his successes and family and fans that loved him. This book is important, now more than ever, especially with the recent deaths of two cultural icons: Vera Wang and Anthony Bourdain. Mental illness is such a debilitating disease that can affect those we love without us ever noticing, affecting even those who might seem to have a good life – like Williams, Wang, and Bourdain. Depression isn’t logical, but it is a disease with devastating effects, and it is crucial that those suffering from it aren’t subject to the stigma that goes along with mental illness. It’s not always easy to just “turn it off” and “get over it.”

I thank Dave Itzkoff for lending insight into the life of the man who I grew up idolizing as an actor. His life wasn’t always perfect, but he worked hard, overcame his demons for a time, and had a successful career making a lot of people happy. I really like this quote that Robin’s long-time friend, Billy Crystal, said shortly after his death while hosting the Emmy Awards, and so I’ll end here:

"“For almost forty years,” he said, “he was the brightest star in a comedy galaxy. But while some of the brightest of our celestial bodies are actually extinct now, their energy long since cooled, but miraculously, because they float in the heavens, so far away from us now, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever. And the glow will be so bright, it’ll warm your heart, it’ll make your eyes glisten, and you’ll think to yourself: Robin Williams, what a concept.”"

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic biography about Robin William's childhood and his rise to fame. Itzkoff did an amazing job with his extensive research and covered every aspect about Robin's life and death. Robin's childhood, his school years, the comedy clubs, all his movies, his personal struggles, his marriages, his children and his health. He conducted numerous interviews with family, friends and acquaintances in the comedy club scene. You really get the whole picture of who Robin Williams was. As a comedian, as an actor and as a father.

I was devastated when I heard the news about Robin William's death and shocked about the circumstances around it. How could this man who brought some much laughter to so many people be depressed and no one knew it? I couldn't wait to read this book and know more about this infamous comedian. I was surprised to learn Robin was shy and quiet. Never in a million years would I have thought that. I enjoyed reading about his friendship with the late Christopher Reeve. The reason he got sober was because of his son. I'm glad I got to know the truth about Robin and Marsha's relationship. The media portrayed Marsha as the nanny that seduced Robin and a home wrecker but in fact that was not the case. I was saddened to read about their demise. And finally, I learned the reasoning on why Robin took his own life.

I definitely recommend this biography to anyone who knew Robin Williams. Fan or not, you will fall in love with him in the end.

FYI, my favorite movie with Robin Williams was August Rush.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an ARC of Dave Itzkoff's "Robin" in exchange of an honest review.

Outstanding biography about Robin Williams. You got an indepth look at his pleasures and pain.and felt ad if you were a friend of his. Marvelous read. Felt so badly that I didn't see more of his shows and movies.

This book was an undeniable triumph. Ever since I saw Jumanji as a child, I loved Robin Williams and grew to love him even more as I took in more of his work. When I learned we shared a birthday, I felt a sense of honor, though it may be silly to say so. And when I saw that he had committed suicide on the news, I was stunned — looking back, I know I disassociated. That’s how much he meant to me. This biography showed not only his work and personal life, but also his personality and character. By the end, I was in tears. I still cannot watch Dead Poets Society without crying at “O Captain, my Captain,” and I suspect I will not be able to reread this book without grieving as well. It’s a triumph, a monument to a man who was himself monumental. Well done — the only reason I refrained from a 5 star review is that I was left wanting more. But then again, who didn’t want more from such a loving, generous, comedic spirit?

What a great book and tribute to Robin Williams. While reading I was reminded of so many memories of my family and I laughing along while watching movies starring Robin Williams. I learned so much about Robin that I did not know about before. Very well researched book. A must read for any and all Robin Williams fans!

Itzkoff does a great job presenting the conflicted, energetic, insane, overwhelming, amazing person that Robin Williams was. I am sure all of us are aware of a few parts of his life history, but this biography really does a great job in seeing more of Williams's career curve and life experiences. A worthwhile read.

Where were you when you heard that Robin Williams had died?

I was so stunned and grieved at this loss that I honestly wondered if something was wrong with me. I had admired Williams since Mork “uncorked” in the late 1970s, and for decades I enjoyed his work, but after all, he was a complete stranger. I had never met him; why did my heart drop to my toes and stay there for a while when he left us? But as the internet exploded and friends also responded, I understood that it wasn’t just me. He was so raw, so vulnerable in so much of what he did on screen that he became, in a way unlike most entertainers, a part of who we were.

Huge thanks go to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the review copy. This book is for sale now.

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.”

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.

My favorite parts have to do with behind-the-scenes vignettes from the Robin Williams movies I most enjoyed. One interesting anecdote concerns the making of Dead Poets Society. Disney deemed the title to be too risky; nobody wants to watch something dead, they figured, and so why not change the title to “The Amazing Mr. Keating”? Robin and other cast members laughed; the producers laughed; then they told the Disney people that production would stop immediately if such an attempt were made.

Although usually even well-known movie actors have to audition for Disney animation voice roles just like anyone else would, an exception of great proportions was made for Williams, and in fact, the role of the genie in Aladdin was written for him specifically. Try to imagine that movie without him. Impossible!

I tore voraciously through this absorbing biography of this truly brilliant performer, but as the end neared, the pace of my reading slowed, because I knew, more or less, how it would end. I would have liked the chance to change it, but nobody can do that. It’s a sad, rotten thing to see such a bright star fall so tragically.

Itzkoff’s sources are strong ones, and his tone is intimate without being prurient, affectionate but not fawning. I would read this biographer’s work again in a heartbeat.

Highly recommended.

Excellent, complete bio of Robin. Easy to follow sequence of events, written conversationally. Also very sad watching his decline, which he took great pains to keep private. Quotes from and interviews with plenty of key figures in his personal and professional life. Highly entertaining and informative book!

When I first heard about this book, I knew that I had to read it! Robin Williams was a comedian who also suffered depression and trials like many deal with. Reading this book made me realized that he was losing his spark in acting and he was just not himself for years. This book had me intrigued to find out more about Robin!

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! Thank you for writing this book to give people an in-depth look into Robin's life and mind. This book is so well written, I felt like I was there hearing the conversations as they took place. This book gave amazing insight into Robin Williams the human-being, not just the "funny guy." This is one of the best memoirs I have ever read & would recommend it to anyone who liked Robin Williams and wondered why he committed suicide.

Robin by Dave Itzkoff is one of the best biographies I have ever read and I would recommend this to anyone. Itzkoff obviously did a lot of research and conducted numerous interviews to be able to write such a comprehensive biography.

I always enjoyed Robin Williams. It's easy to recognize what a comedic genius he was, but I always thought of him as a troubled, gentle soul. This biography proves that. His childhood and youth were very privileged, very strict, and very isolated. His father was an executive busy with work; his mother, a socialite who spent little time with her son. That, combined with numerous moves due to his father's job, resulted in a child who spent most of his time alone in the attic, playing with his toy soldiers, making up his own friends, giving them full characters and voices.

As he grew older, Robin found entertaining others as a way to connect with people, and it met his need for approval and validation. Like a snowball rolling downhill, the applause and kudos which temporarily abated his insecurities, combined with a lightning fast mind, made him appear manic to many, so eager was he to please. The more applause he got, the more he needed.

Undoubtedly a genius, it was as if he couldn't keep up with his own thoughts. Robin was either "on" or "off", and when "off" he was quiet, introverted, yet gentle, and caring towards everyone he met. He wanted everyone to be happy, and would do whatever he could towards that, even when it drained him.

Robin Williams was a sweet, gentle genius who never believed that his value lay with him as a person, not just because he made people laugh; who never felt that he was good enough. It seems he just couldn't find where he fit in or get as much approval as the often ignored child still inside him needed. Facing Lewey Body Dementia, and the loss of his quick wit, Robin chose to take his own life.

A much-loved and admired man; a tragic loss.

Itzkoff tells Robin's story in such a compelling manner that I didn't want to put the book down. I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

This was a very in depth biography of the late Robin Williams, which made me realize how little we all knew of him.

This large book goes into detail about Robin’s life, with the help of interviews he gave, and comments from other people near him. It starts from his birth and goes through the end of his life, giving quite a detailed history of the man. At times it’s a bit too detailed and it lingers in some aspects of his life that I wanted to move out of, but otherwise I now feel like I understand what he was really like - and how well he kept that side of him hidden from the world.

I may be about to date myself here but I have always been intrigued by Robin Williams since Mork and Mindy. I was very young but I can absolutely remember watching it. Then of course he went on to so many other wonderful acting roles (Genie from Aladdin...Hello). I always felt that watching him was like watching a mini hurricane in action because he was so very animated. Mrs. Doubtfire was by far one of my very favorite roles he played. This book really digs deep into his past and struggles to get to where he was and all the things that went on behind the scenes no one knew about. I loved reading interview portions from various people who had known him. The recurring theme was that no matter how much they tried it was almost impossible to get to know the "real" Robin. This is a must read for anyone who loves biographies or even if you just happen to admire Robin's body of work. Fantastic read and worthy of a 5 star rating in my book.

Fascinating look at a brilliant but complicated man. Well written, well researched and overall very interesting.

I didn't realize this was as long as it is until I started reading it but, oh man, it was so worth it. I'm a big Robin Williams fan and I feel like this is such a well written look into his life. The author really captured his life so well. I can't help but be a bigger fan after reading this. It's so informative and heartwarming and heartbreaking all in one.

Robin by Dave Itzkoff is surely as complete a look into the comedian's life. The author who, as the reader learns in the Epilogue, had access to the actor while he was alive, has gone deeper with interviews with people from various walks of life who encountered Robin Williams.

Though, as I find most biographies do, this one got off a bit to a plodding start. Even though Williams' childhood and relationship to his parents is important, the lead up to that and the family tree takes a bit too much of this earlier section. As expected the work really takes off when Williams begins to work in theater and comedy,and then travels to Los Angeles and makes his name known to millions for the first time.

The book was difficult to put down, and it pretty much skips over longer details of projects, some of which were merely phoned in by the performer and brings us to the double tragedies; the comedian's death, and the family dispute that followed.

Still, unlike the start of the book, the rest is really a fantastic and tragic read. It was worth the time for sure.

I'll never forget the day I heard the news that Robin Williams had died. A child of the 1990's, I was first introduced to his work in Disney's Aladdin. The VHS of that movie played on a loop for several years at my house. As I grew older, I discovered William's other classics like Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning Vietnam, and Dead Poet's Society. There was something about the magnetism and unabashed humanity in William's performances that you couldn't look away from. Hearing the tragic news that he had ended his own life seemed incomprehensible. This man who was such a blazing force within American popular culture was suddenly gone. When the publisher offered me a copy of New York Times reporter Dave Itzkoff's biography of Robin Williams, I jumped on the chance to read more about his fascinating life.

Like most biographies, Itzkoff begins Robin William's story at the beginning. A young Robin lived in a household of financial and cultural privilege, but also one of isolation. His family moved around a lot, and as an only child, Robin spent hours alone. He collected miniature soldiers. Young Robin would spend his days reenacting famous battles and providing the various voices to his characters. During these formative years, he discovered the relationship between comedy and emotional connection. The foundation of his relationship with his parents was making them laugh.

Into adulthood, Robin had difficulty following the path of his father's expectations. A corporate job just wasn't going to work for Robin. He found solace in the theater department of his college and soon began to dabble in improvisation. In improv, Robin could let loose and allow his vast imagination to take control. When he burst onto the Los Angeles standup comedy scene, everyone took notice. Other comics related his style to turning on a faucet. When Robin got on stage, the faucet turned on, and a stream of invention flowed out. His time at the comedy clubs turned into a guest appearance on Happy Days. When ABC was looking for a new sitcom, executives created the spin off Mork and Mindy, and a star was born.

Throughout Robin, Dave Itzkoff provides an intimate and illuminating portrait of Robin Williams. He interviewed countless people who were involved with Williams both personally and professionally, giving this book a full scale look at the man through their eyes. We read about Robin's elation at fatherhood, marriage, and winning the Academy Award. Equally featured are the darker times of addiction, divorce, and costly career missteps. The last section of the book deal with the months leading up to Robin's death. The reporting on this tragic end is the most complete and thorough telling that I've read. Itzkoff peels back the layers of Robin's public persona and reveals the raw and intricate details that made this fascinating man function. Whether you are a fan of Robin William's work, interested in addiction or mental health, or are just looking for a good read, Robin by Dave Itzkoff is certainly a biography worth spending some time with.