Robert Coles

Robert Coles

Robert Coles (Robert Martin Coles) was born on October 12th, 1929 and is currently 96 years old. Robert Coles was born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Coles attended Harvard College where he received an undergraduate degree and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons where he received a medical degree.

Robert Coles is a child psychiatrist, author, and professor emeritus at Harvard University.

He went to Boston Latin School, where he ran track, played tennis, and edited the school literary magazine. Then in 1946 he entered Harvard College, where he studied English literature and helped edit the undergrad literary magazine, The Harvard Advocate. He graduated magna cum laude and in 1950 earned Phi Beta Kappa honors.

Robert had originally intended on becoming a professor or teacher, however as part of his senior honors thesis, he interviewed William Carlos Williams (physician and poet), who persuaded him to go into medicine instead. He studied medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and he graduated in 1954.

After his residency training at the University of Chicago, he moved on to psychiatric residencies at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

Robert, knowing that he’d be drafted into the US Armed Forces as part of the Doctor Draft, he joined the Air Force in 1958 and got assigned the rank of captain. His field of specialization was psychiatry, with the intention of eventually sub specialize in child psychiatry.

Handing One Another Along: Literature and Social Reflection is about shaping an ethical and meaningful life, this renowned writer explores how bravery, character, and moral and human understanding can be fostered by reflecting on others’ lives, through stories. Based on Robert’s legendary course at Harvard, it’s a provocative book which addresses such questions as where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going? It calls on us becoming stronger and more aware, by reflecting on others and ourselves with help from great literature and art.

Robert shows how the work of artists, writers, and thinkers of the past 2 centuries can inspire our own reflections on the daily lives we lead. He offers up a pretty compelling call to venture outside our own selves, lives, and listen attentively and with growing humanity, to the way that others get through life. He encourages us to examine our own character, complexity, and kindness by carefully examining our perceptions of other people, and studying the wisdom of authors from Flannery O’Connor, Charles Dickens, George Orwell, and James Agee, as well as many others.

In an influential conversation about engagement and empathy, he inspires us to seek out some deeper meaning in our lives, and guides toward achieving greater strength, clarity, and richness of comprehension, amid the psychological, moral, and social complexities of the modern world.

Robert Coles: Awards & Accolades

Coles' book, When Race Becomes Real won the Gustavus Myers, Outstanding Book Award, in 2003.

Robert Coles: Lists & Other Mentions

• The Richard Trilogy: Things As They Are [1951], Everything to Live For [1968], The Thin Mountain Air [1977] was a National Book Foundation: 100 Life-Changing Books Selection in 2006.

Related Authors

Fans of Robert Coles also enjoy these authors:

1. John Grisham, author of the Jake Brigance Series.
2. Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games Series.
3. Norton Juster, author of the Norton Juster Children's Books.
4. J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
5. Charles Dickens, author of: A Christmas Carol.

Robert Coles: F.A.Q