Cosbyology: Essays and Observations From the Doctor of Comedy

by Bill Cosby, George Booth (Illustrator)

Returning to his early days of comedy, the comic genius and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Congratulations! Now What guarantees us a look at the funny side of life. In his long and illustrious career, Bill Cosby has been many things: award-winning actor, bestselling author, doctor of education, media icon, and role model. But first and foremost, he is a comedian, and here he returns to that role in this wonderfully funny collection of stand-up material that touches on everything from childhood and marriage to school, sports, and work. Fusing his classic jazzy timing and edgy humor with the intelligence and perception that have made him a huge star, Bill Cosby draws from his own life to tell these laugh-out-loud stories. With a dry wit and uncanny insight, Cosby writes about his first experiences skiing, making love to his wife, lying to his mother, and fretting about ingrown hairs. Fans young and old will be eager to add this volume to their collection, while new fans everywhere will delight in this sampling of great comic genius.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Memoir, Essays, Comedy, Biography, Autobiography

175 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

William Henry Cosby Jr. is an American retired comedian, actor, and media personality. Often cited as a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was a film, television, and stand-up comedy star, with his longest-running live-action role being that of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). He also released several stand-up comedy albums and was a popular spokesperson in advertising for decades. Cosby was well known in the United States for his fatherly image and gained a reputation as "America's Dad". Since 2014, dozens of allegations of sexual assault have been made against him.
Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the Hungry I nightclub in San Francisco in 1961, and primarily performed observational comedy in a conversational style. He released numerous standup specials starting with Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! (1963) and starred in the comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself (1983). Cosby still holds the record for winning the most Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, with seven wins. His acting career began with a starring role in the NBC secret-agent show I Spy (1965–1968), which broke new ground for African Americans when he made history by winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first black actor to do so.
Cosby made his film debut starring in Man and Boy (1971) followed by Hickey & Boggs (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let's Do It Again (1975), A Piece of the Action (1977), Leonard Part 6 (1987), and Ghost Dad (1990). He produced and starred in a series of television sitcoms such as The Bill Cosby Show (1969–1971), Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1985) and The Cosby Show (1984–1992) as well as its the spin-off A Different World (1987–1993), The Cosby Mysteries (1994–1995), and Cosby (1996–2000). He hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998–2000). During his prolific career he advertised numerous products including the Jell-O ice pop treats Pudding Pop.
Over 60 women have accused Cosby of rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Those allegations gained traction 2014 after a set which made mention of them by fellow comedian Hannibal Buress went viral. Numerous allegations followed with Cosby maintaining his innocence and repeatedly denying the allegations made against him. Despite receiving numerous awards and honorary degrees, several of them were revoked following the allegations. Reruns of The Cosby Show and other programs featuring Cosby were pulled from syndication. In 2018, Cosby was convicted of aggravated sexual assault against Andrea Constand. He was imprisoned until the conviction was vacated in June 2021 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on the basis of Cosby's 5th Amendment and 14th Amendment due process rights having been violated. In 2022, Cosby was found civilly liable for having sexually assaulted Judy Huth when she was 16.

Reviews

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay read!
I expected a little more funny insight but got something else...(paperback!)

[Go · Rating 1 out of 5]

This started out funny, unfortunately it quickly became drab. It was random and seemingly pointless. I had a few laughs but it was not up to par with his other works. I liked the stories about his changing relationship with his wife after years of marriage. It’s funny because it’s true, at least in my experience it is. When they were newlyweds certain things were cute, then they gradually became a nuisance. For instance, when they went to bed Bill put his leg on top of his wife and she said “Hey! Take that leg off of me! Nobody wants a big fat leg hanging on them the rest of their life. Cutting off my circulation. What do you think I am, a pack mule?” Then he continues talking about his snoring, how he woke up to a Scotch-taped mouth and upon trying to breathe out of his nose discovered that his wife was on top of him stuffing cotton up into it. She said “I’m sick of this! I haven’t slept in five weeks. All night that’s all I’ve heard.” Bill then comments “But I love her more today than back then when she would let me live.” Those were the most entertaining moments in the book for me. Oh! One more scene worth mentioning. Bill reflects back on a time in his life when he went snow skiing. He went shopping to get outfitted for his adventure and when the salesman tried to put used sweat socks on his feet his toes drew back all scrunched up. Bill told him “They don’t want a used sock.” It was hysterical to me because I have issues with used socks and shoes too. Gross.

[Brock · Rating 2 out of 5]

They are entertaining stories, but only if you imagine them being narrated by Cosby himself. Otherwise, they are poorly structured and grammatically terrible, like someone took shorthand of Cosby's standup.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book thinking that this would be a book with a list of famous jokes he has told but instead found myself reading persoanl stories of Cosby's life with some jokes thrown in. My favorite story was reading about his rise and fall to fame and what it took to understand how you have to get over what you think about yourself and just perform and make the people in the audience laugh. Some stories were not as fun or funny but were interesting to read none the less. I did enjoy this book for what it was and will look for more written work by him.

The book is very short to read with each story lasting only two to four pages at the most. Great for short flights or reading before bed.

[Kylene Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love his books.
In this wonderfully funny collection of stand-up material that touches on everything from childhood and marriage to school, sports, and work, Bill Cosby returns to his early days of comedy to give us a look at the funny side of life. Fusing his classic jazzy timing and edgy humor with the intelligence and perception that have made him a huge star, Cosby writes about his first experiences skiing, lying to his mother as a child, and fretting about ingrown hairs in midlife. Fans young and old will be eager to add this paperback edition to their collection, while new fans everywhere will delight in this sampling of great comic genius.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories about Bill Cosby's life. A variety of topics are presented with wit and humour. I found 'To Mr. Sapolsky with Love' the funniest as it was really about how karma comes back to bite you in the rear. 'A Gift from God', although funny is very sentimental and the story of Cosby's first skiing trip is another humorous one.

The stories are from Cosby's childhood into adult life, from school to work and leisure. This book was not laugh-out-loud funny for me but had me smiling at the insight and perception Cosby's shows of the human psyche.

[Ender · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cosbyology is a collection of stories from Bill Cosby's life. The greatest part of the book is the brevity of the stories. Some are only three pages long and all are light-hearted. Each entry reminded me how we all have stories to tell and to remember the funny ones. The book also inspired me to write down some of my own tales. "Oh, Baby!", "Why I don't Like Melting Snow Going Down The Crack Of My Back", "Grandparents," and "Seating Arrangements" are my favorites.

[Maurean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Bill Cosby. Always have. I think he's funny, without being crass, which is a commodity in short supply with many of today's comedians. Cosby has never been (to me) a laugh-out-loud comedian, but more of the smile-cause-ya-know-its-true kinda guy. As I read, I could hear The Cos telling the story, as he tends to write just as he talks. I enjoyed this, thanks for sending it my way!

[Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that teaches young couples, old couples any kind of couple how to fall back in love and stay in love with each other, and he expresses the joys of his own relationship which makes the book more tangible than ever... he really touches some deep areas and with simplicity to iron out the creases.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gets 3 1/3 stars. Yes. I did give it an extra 1/3. There were some parts that were so funny I was laughing out loud and shaking my head, thinking "oh Bill. What a kid"

But... There were some parts that were distinctly less funny.

Regardless of the comedy of the bit, I loved learning more about Bill Cosby's life.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

More from this master of comedy is always welcome. These short pieces are sometimes funny, sometimes thought-provoking but always insightful. He is a observations on human beings and their behaviors are always intriguing. However, there is nothing in the world like hearing or seeing him perform his own sketches as the intonations of his voice and the looks on his face are priceless.

[Isman · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are only two essays that have an impact on me: the one about Bill's early comic days. And the one explaining why old folks are pure. Both made me laugh for several seconds and then think for several minutes.

The others, however, are forgettable.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bill Cosby's distinctive voice comes through loud and clear in this autobiographical collection of essays and schtick. The little narrator voice in my head was definitely his.

I read this to fulfill the part of the Spring 2009 challenge.

[Kevin Rummel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good anecdotes and stories. Felt like reading transcript of stand up routine so not as easy to read as typical prose. Also some humor lost without Cosby's classic delivery. Still worth reading, looking forward to reading his second book.

[Robert Kope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was disappointed. Was kinda funny (very much so in some parts) but had to read with Mr Cosby's voice doing the narrating or it fell flat. Took a lot of energy to keep my imagination going the entire book, LoL. Part about his geometry teacher was hilarious.

[Primadonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow and tedious at first, but quite funny nearing the end.

[Peachy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE IT!!! I can read it over and over and over...

[Adam Torreano · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected better from mr cosby.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thought this would be a good cheer me up book, but reading Bill Cosby is alot different than listening to or watching him. Didn't really like it.

[Leticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just for Fun!!!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was great fun to read, but I think I was so tired I couldn't really get into what the point was.

[Ann Amadori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Bill Cosby's humor but as he gets older he gets wordier. Some of these stories were short and enjoyable but the longer ones could have been edited a bit.

[Fabio · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was okay. This is a collection of some of his stand up comedy but it's not funny. It's better watching him present it instead of read it.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some essays were funny, some were not. I read it just for a change in pace. Ehh just ok...

[Frank Taranto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny book. Cosby's little tales are always great to read or listen to.

[Captain · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no one funnier in my book than Bill Cosby. This book has a few hilarious stories, although none I can recall right now, but anything by Cosby is cool in my book.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bill Cosby is a great man. Love his stand up comedy. Reading it isn't quite as good as listening to him, but still a fun read.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Bill Cosby doing what Bill Cosby always does. I could hear his voice throughout all his stories, it was almost freaky.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright. At times it read like an elementary school student wrote it. There were some funny essays and some just plain stupid essays.
It was an easy read.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and thought-provoking.

**Cosbyology, rated ages 10+, rated 3.2/5 stars.