Can Fiction Change Healthcare? Robin Cook on Thrillers, Science, and Power
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"I thought by using entertainment, I could get people to understand medical issues and change health policy. It didn’t work out that way—but people are fascinated by medicine." — Robin Cook
In this episode of Uncorking a Story, bestselling author and physician Robin Cook joins us to discuss his incredible career, the origins of the medical thriller genre, and his latest novel, Spasm. With over 42 books and 400 million copies sold, Cook shares how failure shaped his success, why medicine remains endlessly compelling, and the disturbing realities behind the medical-industrial complex. Plus, we dive into prions, private equity’s impact on hospitals, and what’s next for Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery.
Key Themes:
- The Birth of the Medical Thriller: How Robin Cook combined medicine and suspense to create a genre that captivates millions.
- Lessons from Failure: Why his first book flopped and how that setback fueled the success of Coma.
- Medicine Meets Business: Cook’s concerns about the growing influence of private equity in healthcare—and how it inspired his upcoming novel, Bleed.
- Science That Feels Like Fiction: From genetics to prions, Cook explains how real medical advances often seem stranger than sci-fi.
- Character Evolution: Why Jack Stapleton feels like Cook’s alter ego—and how Spasm changes the game for this beloved protagonist.
- Hollywood Adaptations: The highs and lows of seeing his novels transformed for the big screen.
- Advice for Aspiring Authors: Why writing should be a personal journey first—and why luck plays a bigger role than most realize.
Buy Spasm
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44MXvYZ
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798217044931
Connect with Robin
Website: https://robincook.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrRobinCook
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
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