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The Timewaster Diaries: A Year in the Life of Robin Cooper
Rita fell down the stairs at twenty-two minutes past midnight.'
Robin Cooper, author of The Timewaster Letters, turns his hand to diary writing in this hilarious new novel.
The year starts badly for Robin, who is fired for writing too many letters on company time, and for his wife Rita, who sprains her ankle (yet again). But Robin has a cunning plan - his marrying of the crossword and Sudoku into his devilish 'crossoku' - which might just make their fortune...
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
19 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Robin Cooper
44 books28 followersRobert Popper is a multi-award winning writer, producer and performer, and best-selling author.
Robert produced Peep Show for Channel 4, winning a BAFTA for series 4 and British Comedy Awards for both series 3 and 4. With Peter Serafinowicz, Robert created, starred in and composed the music for the BBC 2 spoof science comedy, Look Around You, winning the Rose D’or for Best Comedy in 2006 plus a BAFTA nomination.
Robert has written on a number of shows, including BBC’s BAFTA-winning Harry & Paul, and The Peter Serafinowicz Show. He has also script-edited some of the country’s most exciting comedy programmes, including the multi award-winning The Inbetweeners, Graham Linehan’s EMMY award-winning IT Crowd, Peep Show series 5, 6 & 7 and Him & Her.
As a Commissioning Editor for comedy at Channel 4, Robert commissioned Bo’ Selecta!, helped develop The IT Crowd, oversaw two series of Black Books, as well as series 2 of Spaced, and ran Comedy Labs.
Under his pseudonym, Robin Cooper, he wrote The Timewaster Letters books, which have so far sold over 300,000 copies.
Robert apperared regularly on Charlie Higson & Paul Whitehouse’s Sony Award-winning Radio 4 series, Down the Line, as well as their BBC2 show, Bellamy’s People. He also appeared in Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s movie, Hot Fuzz, saying just three words – “I’m not Janine”, and worked in Los Angeles as a writer on Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie, Bruno.
In December 2008, Robert set up his own production company, Popper Pictures, to make comedy TV shows.
Robert and Peter created the online afterlife comedy, The Other Side (Radio Spiritworld), as well as the online world religion, Tarvuism (www.tarvu.com).
In 2010, Robert wrote on series 14 of South Park in LA. His six part comedy series, Friday Night Dinner – starring Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter, Tom Rosenthal and Mark Heap – which Robert wrote and produced – aired on Channel 4 in 2011, winning the Rose D’or for Best Sitcom and a BAFTA nomination.
A pilot of Friday Night Dinner was recently produced in the US for NBC by Greg Daniels, creator of King of The Hill, and US producer of The Office. Robert recently starred alongside Steve Coogan in Sky’s forthcoming ‘Alan Partidge on Open Books’ which goes out in July. The second series of Friday Night Dinner starts on Channel 4 on October 7th, along with a Christmas Special at – well, Christmas.
Robert produced Peep Show for Channel 4, winning a BAFTA for series 4 and British Comedy Awards for both series 3 and 4. With Peter Serafinowicz, Robert created, starred in and composed the music for the BBC 2 spoof science comedy, Look Around You, winning the Rose D’or for Best Comedy in 2006 plus a BAFTA nomination.
Robert has written on a number of shows, including BBC’s BAFTA-winning Harry & Paul, and The Peter Serafinowicz Show. He has also script-edited some of the country’s most exciting comedy programmes, including the multi award-winning The Inbetweeners, Graham Linehan’s EMMY award-winning IT Crowd, Peep Show series 5, 6 & 7 and Him & Her.
As a Commissioning Editor for comedy at Channel 4, Robert commissioned Bo’ Selecta!, helped develop The IT Crowd, oversaw two series of Black Books, as well as series 2 of Spaced, and ran Comedy Labs.
Under his pseudonym, Robin Cooper, he wrote The Timewaster Letters books, which have so far sold over 300,000 copies.
Robert apperared regularly on Charlie Higson & Paul Whitehouse’s Sony Award-winning Radio 4 series, Down the Line, as well as their BBC2 show, Bellamy’s People. He also appeared in Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s movie, Hot Fuzz, saying just three words – “I’m not Janine”, and worked in Los Angeles as a writer on Sacha Baron Cohen’s movie, Bruno.
In December 2008, Robert set up his own production company, Popper Pictures, to make comedy TV shows.
Robert and Peter created the online afterlife comedy, The Other Side (Radio Spiritworld), as well as the online world religion, Tarvuism (www.tarvu.com).
In 2010, Robert wrote on series 14 of South Park in LA. His six part comedy series, Friday Night Dinner – starring Tamsin Greig, Simon Bird, Paul Ritter, Tom Rosenthal and Mark Heap – which Robert wrote and produced – aired on Channel 4 in 2011, winning the Rose D’or for Best Sitcom and a BAFTA nomination.
A pilot of Friday Night Dinner was recently produced in the US for NBC by Greg Daniels, creator of King of The Hill, and US producer of The Office. Robert recently starred alongside Steve Coogan in Sky’s forthcoming ‘Alan Partidge on Open Books’ which goes out in July. The second series of Friday Night Dinner starts on Channel 4 on October 7th, along with a Christmas Special at – well, Christmas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
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March 22, 2019This seems to have numerous negative reviews to its name, but I for one thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was disappointed in a way to learn that Robin Cooper is a young man, as he writes so well about being a middle aged man that it seemed a shame not to be one!
Robin's year starts badly, as he has recently been fired for writing too many 'timewaster' letters to companies in work time, and has to contend with his wife constantly injuring herself, his mother falling for a con-man, and his fragile friendship with his next door neighbour who keeps getting thrown out of the house by his wife and taking refuge in Robin's shed, drunk.
Cooper's way of writing is wonderful, I really warmed to him as a character, and I love his positive good humour that gets him through his most trying days. Think of him as a middle aged Adrian Mole with a more imaginative sense of creativity (aqua-choc above all!). Lovely to dip in to. I wouldn't hesitate to re-read this, especially during hard times where it's an extreme comfort read.
I was disappointed in a way to learn that Robin Cooper is a young man, as he writes so well about being a middle aged man that it seemed a shame not to be one!
Robin's year starts badly, as he has recently been fired for writing too many 'timewaster' letters to companies in work time, and has to contend with his wife constantly injuring herself, his mother falling for a con-man, and his fragile friendship with his next door neighbour who keeps getting thrown out of the house by his wife and taking refuge in Robin's shed, drunk.
Cooper's way of writing is wonderful, I really warmed to him as a character, and I love his positive good humour that gets him through his most trying days. Think of him as a middle aged Adrian Mole with a more imaginative sense of creativity (aqua-choc above all!). Lovely to dip in to. I wouldn't hesitate to re-read this, especially during hard times where it's an extreme comfort read.
February 15, 2016
If you liked the Adrian Mole series you will also like this one.
The diaries of a middle-aged wannabe inventor naively believing in the superioriy of his inventions and other creative outputs (his poems are appalingly bad, I say I say....) and, very like Adrian Mole, not quite seeing things as they are. Pathetic in its own right but very entertaining. And if you ever come across Aqua-Choc (chocolate with a water centre) you know where it stemmed from.
The diaries of a middle-aged wannabe inventor naively believing in the superioriy of his inventions and other creative outputs (his poems are appalingly bad, I say I say....) and, very like Adrian Mole, not quite seeing things as they are. Pathetic in its own right but very entertaining. And if you ever come across Aqua-Choc (chocolate with a water centre) you know where it stemmed from.
April 19, 2014
hmm, i think the book is really funny. the letters and doodles never fail to make me chuckle.
i like the little dramas of robins life and the little world he lives in.
its an easy and light hearted read that will make you smile to yourself a lot if you are a lighthearted person who doesnt take things too seriously.
the time waster letters are also good but, do not follow any story at all. it is just a collection of robins dodgy letters. but there are loads of chuckles to be had.
i like the little dramas of robins life and the little world he lives in.
its an easy and light hearted read that will make you smile to yourself a lot if you are a lighthearted person who doesnt take things too seriously.
the time waster letters are also good but, do not follow any story at all. it is just a collection of robins dodgy letters. but there are loads of chuckles to be had.
August 2, 2011
This book was hilarious!! A very light and fun read. It was also addictive to read because I just got so curious about how things will go the next day and then the next, etc. I especially loved the house handles part! The book is much like JD's very random fantasies on Scrubs which makes it more realistic and something everyone can relate to.
June 12, 2013
loved it, read mainly on trains causing embarrasment due to sniggering and actual lolling. Usually other peoples diaries are quite self-centred and I cant really enjoy in case they come in and catch me reading but this was better.
April 3, 2022
This is now the third (and last, unless he decides to write more) book by Robin Cooper, the pseudonym of Robert Popper that I've read. And I can safely say he's become one of my top comedy writers. The concept is simple: a year in the life of a middle-aged family man who wants to be an inventor, loses his job (twice), whose wife Rita (who keeps spraining her ankle) kicks him out of the house at one point, and who goes to Switzerland to meet his Swiss pen-pal Gunter, among a myriad of other funny things. Highly recommended!
January 3, 2024
As a huge fan of the original Timewaster Letters, I had high hopes for lots of laughs in this diary style book!
And while there *were* plenty of laughs (Gunther's ongoing problems with "House Handles" for instance... ) I'm afraid much more of this book just felt like a bit of a chore for me to read.
With hindsight, the fictional character of Robin Cooper is most effective when writing ridiculous letters to bemused real-world organisations.
While I enjoyed aspects of this book, and am glad I saw it through to the end, I must admit I have no desire to read any more of Cooper's diary entries.
And while there *were* plenty of laughs (Gunther's ongoing problems with "House Handles" for instance... ) I'm afraid much more of this book just felt like a bit of a chore for me to read.
With hindsight, the fictional character of Robin Cooper is most effective when writing ridiculous letters to bemused real-world organisations.
While I enjoyed aspects of this book, and am glad I saw it through to the end, I must admit I have no desire to read any more of Cooper's diary entries.
March 24, 2019
Granted I read the ‘Time Wasters Letters’ and ‘The Return’ when I was much younger, however I remembered that I laughed a lot more then I did when reading this.
Yes, there are a few little chuckles, but all in all, a bit ‘meh’
Yes, there are a few little chuckles, but all in all, a bit ‘meh’
December 5, 2018
A bit of fun!
April 24, 2012
If you've read Diary Of A Nobody you won't gain anything from reading this modern pastiche, most of which is barely amusing. I got about halfway through before deciding I couldn't be bothered to find out what house handles were, what his mysterious job consisted of, nor any of the other unanswered questions at that point. The recurring story of Smithy the pigeon is downright stupid, utterly implausible - a pigeon that lives in the attic and wears pajamas when it's cold... I don't think so. Harmless fun if you've nothing better to do I guess.
September 17, 2010
There really isn't much point to this book, but then again I have a strong feeling there isn't supposed to be a point. Very humorous in parts ( especially the talking toilet) and a nice light read to make you chuckle now and then. Reading it has really made me want to read 'Robin Cooper's' Other book, The Timewaster letters. Only three stars though because it really wasn't anything special, just a humourous light read.
July 31, 2008
Slow going so far, I hope that this diary, by the fabulous author of the Timewaster Letters picks up. I was hoping for somehthing more like a novel. This is as anal and bizarre as the letters, but without much to suck you in. Perhaps a good toilet book ... ?
August 8, 2011
Hilarious, the best book I've read in years. This book sees the return of Parmaynu (Table tennis bat that is also an Expert) as well as pleasing to see the character of Robin Cooper develop. Plus some of the best jokes known to man (What is glass made from? Sand, mostly)
February 3, 2009
Reading this book was such a waste of time.
January 29, 2010
Sadly I think the point escaped me
February 2, 2010
Like a male version of Bridget Jones. Silly and simple and entertaining to listen to in the car on the way to work.
March 6, 2014
Paul Whitehouse reads the fictional comic diaries of a 52-year-old wannabe inventor.
Broadcast on:
BBC Radio 7, 2:00pm Monday 22nd March 2010
Category:
Comedy
Broadcast on:
BBC Radio 7, 2:00pm Monday 22nd March 2010
Category:
Comedy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2011
not bad for when you want to kill some time. Short book to read, I had it on audio book, the narrator with a British accent made it a bit more enjoyable.
September 29, 2011
Hilarious!
July 25, 2011
Love it!!! Absolutely hilarious!
August 11, 2011
Absurde et addictif. Terriblement drôle.
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August 12, 2011In short, The Timewaster Diaries is a waste of time. Strangely compelling but full of crap!
September 18, 2011
Loved this book! Even better than the timewaster letters books. I really hope there is a follow up diary soon!
July 6, 2012
humerous
December 28, 2021
very funny in partsbut a bit weird in others...
July 30, 2014
Innocently entertaining! I enjoyed the fact that the book is like "butter sandwiches" bland to some but delicious to others. Definitely not hot or spicy, but pleasant.
October 4, 2016
I say I say I say, Robin Cooper is jolly good.
November 26, 2014
Disappointing
August 6, 2014
well I thought the house handles were funny anyway!
July 22, 2018
A bit repetitive and something of a one-joke book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews