Customer Reviews

Cosbyology: Essays and Observations From the Doctor of Comedy

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For those who will forever be fans of Cliff Huxtable M.D., you will not want to miss "Cosbyology." Bill Cosby has a gentle, down-to-Earth sense of humour and a style that is truly all his own. He can captivate an audience and make them feel raw emotion, whether it be saddness or outrageous humour. In this book we get some "brilliant" obversations from the Doctor of Comedy as only Cosby could tell them.

The only downside of the book is the length; it simply was not long enough. One just became absorbed in this man's flair for humour when the book came to an end. However, the best medicine we can sometimes receive in life is laughter, and on that note, readers will not be disappointed.

If you've ever laughed at Bill Cosby's standup comedy, you'll laugh at this. Insightful looks into true stories in Cosby's life, it covers everything from skiing to ingrown hairs. He lovingly treats stories about his wife with a touching humor. Cosby isn't afraid to play his own straight man. This book was bought for me as a present, and not something I would ordinarily read. However, I do like Bill Cosby, and now, this book. I had a few chortles and laughs while reading it, and others are quite likely to as well.

Ingrown hairs? Noisy boats? Routine Physicals? How do you get enough funny material out of these subjects? Just ask Bill Cosby. With this collection of short subjects, he pulls the most amusing moments and displays for all to read, and I will be the first to admit it, some of that stuff made me laugh out loud, especially when dealing with the subject of his wife and what makes their marriage work. Another subject worth a good chuckle is when he talks about his stint in the navy. His observations and responses to life in the armed forces was a real trip. Never having seen him in concert, I have a feeling that this book represents his stage act, and that alone is worth it's weight.

Bill Cosby is a very funny guy. His spoken delivery has left me in stiches countless times, but unfortunately his humor didn't carry over into print very well in this case. The writing is flat and awkward, and the chapters seem to wander without purpose. George Booth's drawings, however, are delightful as always.

This was a wonderful read for early morning risers. The chapters are short and concise. Very easy bathroom reading. It felt good to wake up laughing!!!

Fernando M.
9/29/05
5*
Book Review Memoir/Autobiography
Cosbyology Essays and Observations from the doctor of comedy
By: Bill Cosby
The book talk about thing that were a good experience to him and of course when good thing happen to you then there will be bad thing that happen to bill in his life.. Bill was not my fist choice I wanted some one that was really famous I didn't find any thing. Till I went to my grammas house and I went to the library and found bill I think that he is one of the greatest comedy that still lives. Mr. Cosby is man that tries to look the other way when he has a bad day but when he need to he will go back and face the problem.

Bill like many people didn't like school and so he didn't like homework but there was a math teacher that loved to teach geometry. His name was Mr. Sapolsky he gave home work but bill didn't take a text book eventually he got really bad grade and one day he took a test in geometry class. He used twelve pages and got the answer right he still failed because of those to many pages. He went to another high school but there they taught trigonometry but a different teacher and one day that teacher was absent and Mr. Sapolsky. Bill realized that the teacher was not mean he just wanted to help him and bill was sorry that he thought of him bad.

Mr. Cosby liked to play football and he was good at it he played when he was in high school for his school. His granddad found out and told him that he shouldn't play football because his bone were bitter and he should what till he is 20 or some close to that. Bill didn't listen to him and he play a game in that game he crashed in to a person and fell at fist he was going to fall on his face but landed on his hand "The doctor said that I had a bruised muscle (pg.128)." Then I went home I couldn't move my right hand my granddad found out. He helped me heal it my parents didn't know I told my granddad I should of listen to him.

Can you believe that the doc of comedy almost quit show business and all because to one mistake. Well he started at this place called gas light which was across from Mr. Kelly's a really big time club. One day bill got a try there because his agent saw that they wanted bill to play there so when he went and people clapped when he was said to the crowed but not when he left. Bill was not funny he went to his room and then he said he didn't want to do the second act and he left. But the manger that got bill there said you better get bill to do the second act or I will sue him he said to the manger. Bill did it and then this time he got the crowed to chuckle he knows to never give up.

Bill probably learned that life is hard put if you make it hard on yourself it is a lot worse .He knows that he is funny and he shows it proud of it to he is smart to. He knows that not all people try to put to out make you feel bad some try to help you but there are not many. If you don't take a change that you will never get any where. If you don't try how would you know how that is and if it is hard or easy?

Dr. William Henry Cosby,Jr.,the Doctor of Comedy,tells many great stories that he could tell them live on stage also. Of course,there are some of his childhood memories,his Navy days and his days at Philadelphia's Temple University. This book is so small,and yet so big. Many of Cosby's fans who read COSBYOLOGY also read LOVE & MARRIAGE,TIME FLIES and FATHERHOOD.

The true measure of a talented comdian is often said to be the ability to be funny without foul language. Cosbyology is a series of short essays about observations of life and recollections of the past. While not necessarily as funny as some of his other work, it is a charming collection.

As usual Cosby has found stories the masses can identify with. As a failed skier, I enjoyed the chapter, "Why I Don't Like Melting Snow Going Down the Crack of My Back". As an educator, "To Mr. Sapolsky with Love" was a treat. Although this story reminded me of the television show where the teacher seems to follow the kid from 1st grade through college. My personal favorite chapters were the descriptions of going to the bathroom at night in "Oh, Baby' and "Ingrown Hair". In "Ingrown Hair", Cosby gives meaning to the guilty pleasue of popping the strange growth on you find on your body which bugs the heck out of you.

Cosby's works continue to be observant and witty. I still have a few more of his books to read and I genuinely hope he continues to write more of his edgy and intelligent humor.

I have to agree with the reviewer who said that Cosby's material just doesn't translate well to the printed page. Most of this book is composed of anecdotes, commentary, and a little bit of biography that's mildly amusing.

If you're a Cosby fan, however, you should buy this book for the bit about the bug in the first chapter ("Oh, Baby!"), which is laugh-out-loud, roll-on-the-floor funny. Though I've never heard Cosby do this routine in his stand-up, I can see him incorporating it.

Bill Cosby is such a classic icon in America, you can guarantee anything that he writes will be hilarious! This is no exception. I must say this was my first book by Cosby given to me at Christmas time. I was dying of laughter, the way he puts things so frankly, is hilarious. A definite must have for any Cosby fan!