Dr. Rob Carpenter

Rob Carpenter is a UCLA faculty member, inspirational nonfiction author, and thriller novelist whose work explores one central question from two powerful directions: how stories shape human flourishing and how power, conscience, and control test the limits of our humanity.

In his nonfiction, he blends storytelling, psychology, neuroscience, and cultural insight to help readers grow in resilience, leadership, creativity, happiness, and purpose. His books turn complex science into practical wisdom, using movies, real-world narratives, and timeless themes to equip readers to flourish in everyday life.

In his fiction, Rob writes high-concept, fast-paced thrillers that dive into humanity’s darkest and most urgent struggles, including power, conscience, control, identity, and moral choice in a tumultuous age. His novels fuse cinematic storytelling with philosophical and ethical intensity, confronting what it truly means to be human under pressure.

Rob has written multiple nonfiction works and is the author of the thriller Of Kennedy & King: A Novel, with many more projects in development. His work and ideas have been featured in The New York Times, People Magazine, and Business Insider, and he has guest lectured at Harvard, spoken at SXSW EDU, and appeared on TEDx panels and national stages.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Elizabeth and their two dogs, Rocket and Bam Bam, where storytelling, big ideas, and fun collide daily.