Childhood

by Bill Cosby

A salute to childhood by the American entertainer, Bill Cosby. It blends anecdotes from his own childhood with observations on children today.

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

188 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

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

[Ahmad Taleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never laughed in the street while reading a book as I did while reading this book, other than that, Cosby seems to have almost exactly the same idea about how his generation was innocent, creative, and better than his children's generation, which happily agree with.

[Russell Kapryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book from Bill Cosby is pretty short and insightful. To be clear, it deals with Cosby's childhood growing up primarily in 1940's Philadelphia. Cosby gives insight on the raising of his children in the modern day (1980's/early 1990's) as well.

It's quite something to read Cosby's perspective from 1991 how much technology had upended and changed how children grew up from when he was a child in the 1940's. The world has changed from a technological perspective tremendously since the early 1990's so I'd imagine what an updated version of this book from Mr. Cosby would be like if it were written today.

Now one thing that does stand out is the chapter on when his childhood friends endeavored to drug young girls with "Spanish Fly" powder at a house party so the girls would go wild, take off their pants and clothes, and begin copulating with Cosby and his friends. Now thankfully they did a poor job of administering the "Spanish Fly" to the girls so the planned orgy did not happen. Still, it was quite something to read this chapter knowing all of the allegations that were subsequently made in the years after this book was originally released.

[Go · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting more of a laugh. It was mildly humorous. I agreed with his observation about children nowadays lacking creativity as far as free play is concerned. Too many kids play electronics and neglect their childhood. Cosby said: "I was a child when hand-eye coordination was needed only to stick your hand in someone else's eye." I loved his parents comments whenever he was up to something. His mother asked "what's that bandage for?" He answered "oh, nuthin'." "Now that's a new kinda stupid answer. That bandage gotta be coverin' somethin'--besides your entire brain."

[Kaethe · Rating 1 out of 5]

After a while Cosby started getting on my nerves. His schtick got old.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

humorous
this book felt like a stand-up comedy. unforgettable
i love it

[Antonio Meridda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro molto divertente, dove l'un tempo famoso (e non famigerato) Bill Cosby parla di cosa significhi crescere dal punto di vista di un bambino.

[Rebecca]

Interesting retrospective of Cosby’s childhood

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! I enjoyed every second of it, it was hilarious. It really unlocks a lot of childhood memory's

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny. But Cosby is funnier when you can hear him like on his CDs.

[Karen Brodoski guth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny memories…he has a gift for story telling. I saw him perform once and could “hear” his voice telling these stories as I read…made them even funnier!

[Andrew Fast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long long time ago. i remember loving this book in 6th grade!

[Joanne G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It may horrify some to think that I probably culled some of my parenting skills from Cosby, but parenting is hard and one should take inspiration where one may. This book covers the battlefield of bedtime, mutual embarrassment between parent and child, and those exciting teen years. Thankfully, our children survived my mothering and turned out to be productive members of society. With quirky senses of humor...

[rainbow unicorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

usually books dont make me actually laugh out loud, but Childhood actually forced me to cover my mouth from laughing so hard. this book is a hilarious tale of bill cosby's childhood, and although hearing his stories out loud is better, many people can't have the feel of story telling in their books. loved this book!

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've heard many of the stories he shares through other sources (comedy tapes and as part of his comedy act). Reading them as a father though just made me chuckle a lot! His perception of children & their desire to discover is amazing. This book is an easy read, but it also encourages the thought to enjoy our own children and their mischief.

[Carl Sivels · Rating 4 out of 5]

bill cosby is the king of comedy. as you read along in this book, you read the short stories as he would say it and it constantly makes you think of how interesting it would be to know bill cosby through his adolescent years. there are some very sad parts, like when his son is murdered. but overall it is a great book that helps remind us why bill cosby is the greatest.

[Krishna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is a light and easy read. The writing it at a teenager or children's level novel, which is not in and of itself a bad thing. The autobiography of Bill Cosby is an interesting comical read but to me was neither great excellent or dull. It was merely mediocre. While I would not say Don't read this book...I would not recommend it either.

[Jessie Bartlow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think Bill Cosby is a interesting writer. He didn't grab my attention in the beginning. He should stick to comedy acts.
He did have some funny stories about his childhood... but I cant really remember any good ones because they weren't that good.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short book on tape with Bill Cosby actually talking about his childhood. It was funny, funny. He's come a long way from life in the inner city. He did have a father that pushed him to a better life.

[G. Salter · Rating 2 out of 5]

The jokes in this book aren't quite as funny as in Cosby's book "Fatherhood" and some of them I knew from other books, but this was definitely amusing to read once or twice. Bottom line, read it and enjoy yourself, but don't buy a personal copy.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So funny it hurts!

[Cws]

305.2302

[Sharyn Schmit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book for 25 cents - it was well worth the price! He shares stories of his childhood and stories of his children - it is quite a chuckle.

[Charity · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was more of a memoir and I didn't find it as enjoyable as 'Fatherhood'.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but I prefer hearing Bill Cosby tell his stories.

[Joe Martin]

Childhood by Bill Cosby; Alvin Poussaint (1991)

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, and quick, but not as good as his stand-up. I prefer LISTENING to Bill. he is a funny guy tho.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anecdotes of childhood.

[Apryl Anderson]

So fun!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A humorous pseudo-memoir, this is good fun and worth a few laughs.

[Alexandria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious from cover to cover. This will certainly not be the last Cosby book I read. Very cute, and kept my laughing out loud the entire way through.