A compliant adaptive robot grasper comprises a multi-bar finger linkage, including a fingertip link, at least one base link, and front and rear links joining the base link via a first set of joints with the fingertip links via a second set of joints. The base link includes a mounting structure, allowing it to be mounted on a mounting block for rotary actuation. Linear connections between the joints form a shape substantially in the form of a parallelogram allowing the linear connections across the front and rear links to remain substantially parallel to one another as the front and rear links pivot about the base link without substantially changing the orientation of the fingertip link until and unless the multi-bar finger linkage contacts an external object.