Where Awesome Book Readers Meet Awesome Writers
About Robert Barzelay
Robert Barzelay is a Dutch-Israeli writer whose life reads like an adventure novel. Born on the same day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted and the Nobel Peace Prizes are awarded, his story blends intellect, culture, and curiosity.
A graduate in Political Science, History, and Marketing, Robert has lived in eleven countries, visited over one hundred, and speaks six languages fluently. Throughout his career, he has held positions from salesman to CEO, worked with multinational corporations and start-ups alike, and built global partnerships across industries.
Now semi-retired, he divides his time between writing, consulting, and mentoring entrepreneurs. He is also a musician, event and street photographer, and passionate genealogist. Married for forty-one years, he enjoys family life with four children and six grandchildren. His favorite pastimes include judo, sailing, rowing, skiing, flying, and skydiving a perfect reflection of his adventurous spirit.
The Inspiration Behind Blood, Sweat and Dreams
Robert’s latest book, Blood, Sweat and Dreams, is a collection of ten short stories blending fiction, semi-fiction, and personal experiences. The stories explore travel, food, culture, emergency landings, imagination, terrorism, and counterterrorism.
He explains that the book grew from his own life moments of danger, discovery, and reflection. “My experiences, past and present, shaped these stories,” he says. “Some are real, some imagined, all drawn from the human condition.”
Before Blood, Sweat and Dreams, Robert co-authored Klompen en Kamelen (Clogs and Camels), a Dutch-language collection featuring forty-eight short stories written by immigrants from the Netherlands and Belgium living in Israel. The book, which includes four of his own stories, was well received for its humor, honesty, and multicultural insight.
Writing Habits and Creative Process
Robert’s writing process is intuitive and inspired by life itself. “I write when I have a thought, experience something special, or remember a moment from the past,” he explains. “It could be a place, a meal, a person, or even a scent that brings back memories.”
Currently, he is working on his autobiography, A Chaotic Mix of Experiences. The book chronicles not only his personal journey but also his family’s history across generations. It includes tales of adventure, near-death experiences, business challenges, and lessons learned from a life lived fully.
The project has already reached 800 pages and continues to grow. “I use my old flight diary to recall where I’ve been and what I experienced,” he shares. “Each city brings back a memory, even if not always a name.” He wrote Blood, Sweat and Dreams as a creative break from the intensity of the autobiography and is already planning a sequel.
Literary Influences
Robert’s literary tastes are as global as his life. Among the authors who have shaped his thinking are Frederick Forsyth, Steve Jobs, Baruch Spinoza, Bernard Lewis, and Erich Fromm.
His favorite books range from classics to contemporary works, including 1984, Exodus, The Kite Runner, Animal Farm, Atlas Shrugged, The Da Vinci Code, The Art of War, Don Quixote, and In Cold Blood. “Each of these books left a mark,” he says. “They reflect humanity’s constant struggle between ideals and reality.”
Current Projects
Robert is currently focused on completing A Chaotic Mix of Experiences, his ambitious autobiography that captures both the extraordinary and the ordinary moments of his life. “It’s about everything family, work, food, travel, relationships, successes, failures, and survival,” he says.
He is also developing a sequel to Blood, Sweat and Dreams, further exploring stories inspired by real events and human encounters around the world.
Promoting His Books
Robert’s first book, Clogs and Camels, was targeted toward Dutch-speaking readers and still achieved remarkable success, selling 920 out of 1,000 printed copies. He promoted it creatively through a dedicated website, magazine interviews, flyers on public transport, and even a custom T-shirt with the book’s title on the back. All proceeds went to charity.
For Blood, Sweat and Dreams and his upcoming autobiography, Robert aims to reach a broader, international audience. He’s exploring more professional marketing strategies, including digital platforms and partnerships with global book communities.
Advice for Aspiring Writers
Robert’s advice to new authors is simple and timeless: “Never stop writing about what you see, hear, and feel.”
He believes that stories are everywhere within daily life, fleeting conversations, and quiet reflections. The key, he says, is to capture them while they are fresh, then shape them into something meaningful.
The Best Advice He Has Ever Heard
“The best advice I ever received,” Robert says, “was to listen to the world around you.” He believes that observation is the foundation of storytelling. Every person, every place, and every experience has a lesson to offer if you are open to hearing it.
What He’s Reading Now
True to his intellectual curiosity, Robert is currently re-reading Politics by Aristotle and The Boys from Brazil by Ira Levin. “I love returning to books that challenge the mind and remind me of the timelessness of human behavior,” he says.
What’s Next for Robert Barzelay
Robert is determined to complete his autobiography and continue writing the sequel to Blood, Sweat and Dreams. His goal is to leave behind not just stories, but a reflection of a life fully lived rich with adventure, insight, and meaning.
If Stranded on a Desert Island
If Robert were stranded on a desert island, his reading list would include both classic literature and historical insight:
- Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- The Source by James Michener
- Jerusalem: The Biography by Simon Sebag Montefiore
Each of these books, he says, reveals something essential about the human spirit.
Connect with Robert Barzelay
Official Website: Robert Barzelay Website
Amazon Author Page: Robert Barzelay on Amazon
Twitter: Robert Barzelay Twitter Account
Final Thoughts
Robert Barzelay is a storyteller whose words bridge continents, cultures, and generations. From his Dutch-Israeli heritage to his travels across more than one hundred countries, his writing captures what it means to live curiously and write fearlessly.
With Blood, Sweat and Dreams and his upcoming autobiography, Robert invites readers into a life shaped by resilience, wonder, and reflection a reminder that every experience, good or bad, can become a story worth telling.
