Fatherhood

Rating:
Summary: Coz shares insights and anecdotes about Fatherhood.
Review: Anybody who has a passing knowledge of Bill Cosby knows he has five children, for they are the focus of many of his beloved comic routines. In fact, reading Fatherhood is almost like reading a transcript of one of his shows, because so much of the material in this slim book is lifted word for word from them. From The Breathing Cosbys to Chocolate Cake For Breakfast to Kill The Boy, it is all here, sprinkled with an earnest message for fathers to always love and, just as importantly, be there for your children. Rereading the book makes me smile and shake my head just thinking about the trials and tribulations I will face with my son, who, sadly, is just like me when I was a boy. No doubt there will be lots of fresh gray hairs in my future. The only saddening thing about the book is the obvious love Coz had for his late son. No doubt the loss was shattering for the man and his wife. Fans and expectant fathers would benefit greatly from reading this comic report from the trenches of parenting. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a terrific read for any parent!
Review: Bill Cosby at his usual best provides laughter along with insight for anyone, especially fathers, of course! My husband and my father each have a copy. A fairly short read, you can open anywhere for a quick chuckle. I recommend it to all!! :)

Rating:
Summary: highly recommended for all dads or would-be-dads
Review: Bill Cosby brings his talent for humor to this series of essays on the father's role in raising children. Starting with the initial desire to have children, and following the child-rearing process to the eventual hope of the "empty nest," Cosby takes us on a humorous trip through his experiences parenting his five children. Underlying the humor is his positive approach to parenting that will be a welcome support to both fathers and mothers. He models the flexibility and sense of humor needed for successful parenting, as well as the loving closeness with both spouse and children essential to a happy family.

An Introduction and Afterword by a child psychiatrist points out the fatherhood essentials humorously treated by Cosby in the text.

I read this with Motherhood by Erma Bombeck and I can highly recommend them both to stressed-out parents looking for a grasp on parental sanity in hard times.

Rating:
Summary: Plain common sense about parenting
Review: Bill Cosby, who is probably America's favorite father, wrote a gem of a book about his experiences with being a father to five children, four girls and a boy. Cosby's book reads much like his stand-up comedy, but there is so much down-home common sense in these pages that the reader can relate to much of what is written and is reminded of his or her own childhood. Reading this book, it was rather reassuring to find that I wasn't the only mother who threatened to introduce her child to the joys of time-travel (Mrs. Cosby to obnoxious child: "I'm gonna knock you into the middle of next week"), and Cosby reminded me of my own dad banging on the door to my room during my teens when I jacked up the rock 'n' roll station, bellowing through the wall to "TURN THAT CRAP DOWN!" Cosby also provides some back-up for parents who have reached the conclusion that sometimes the best reason you can give to your child who demands to know why he or she can't do this or that, is "because I said so." Cosby takes parents on a tour of parenting from pregnancy through the teen years, with sound observations on developmental quirks at each stage of childhood. He's not one of those parents who forget as soon as they become parents, what it was like to be a youngster. Listen to Cosby's alarm at his daughter wanting to spend the day hanging around the mall: "He (the father) knows exactly what those boys at the mall have in their depraved little minds because he once owned such a depraved little mind himself. In fact, if he thinks enough about the plans that he used to have for young girls, he might even run over to the mall and have a few of those boys arrested."

Cosby inherited his parenting skills from his mom and dad, who raised their own children back in the day when parents were presumed to know more about their own kids than a whole army of child psychiatrists and psychologists. His parents stood for no nonsense (after Cosby broke a glass table playing parlor basketball, his mother entered with a stick and threatened to "bust him in half"; Dad, his nose buried in a book, asks Mom, "Why would you want twice as many?") but they taught their kids good manners, pride and self-respect, values Cosby takes seriously. He's not averse to a good swat on the rear end if the situation calls for it but in general he emphasizes reasonable discipline leavened with good will and humor. Cosby strongly believes parents are parents first and friends second, but he's no tyrant. As he says toward the end of the book, he and his wife and children "have the kind of mutual trust that I wish the United Nations had. And, with breaks for a little hollering, we smile a lot." There is probably no better definition of good parenting.

Rating:
Summary: Humor that strikes home
Review: Cosby applies his unique way of looking at everday situations with there inherent, funny, shortcomings to Fatherhood. However, this is not just a work of humor. Cosby makes an honest attempt at providing real advice cloaked in humor. A significant part of the book is also dedicted to the Afterward (not written by Cosby) which contains real parenting advice. Cosby covers a variety of parent situations and never fails to be humorous. Nevertheless, I only rated the book 4 stars because the humor rated only a smirk from me (maybe it's just my taste)and some of the book is starting to seem dated, but mostly because I thought the primary focus of the book was blurred between a work of humor and a work on parenting to the point where it compromised both with a lack of depth. I would also like to mention that the quality of paper used by the publisher proved a annoyance. I bought my copy in a bookstore (prior to my discovery of amazon) and the pages where warped near the s! pine. This was true of all of the copies of this book I have seen anywhere.

Rating:
Summary: The world's favorite father tells all!
Review: Cosby's observations on fatherhood are just delightful. He describes how he coped with all the surprises that come with the birth of a child. Moreover, he does it with such honesty and love that readers who have the good fortune of already been parents will identify immediatly and those who don't have kids may have the will to do it as soon as possible. Wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: "Strong Families Raise Strong, Healthy Children"
Review: Even almost twenty years after the original printing, this book is still relevant and very funny. Because I work with children daily and hope to have children of my own in a few years, I particularly enjoyed this book.

Bill Cosby's humor avoids the profanity laced tirades of many contemporary comics. While maintaining a focus on the value of the family, Cosby discusses the role of a father as an often neglected role in the family. In this book, I could see my father behaving in many of the ways Cosby describes. The students I have today are also no different than the way he describes his children's school expereinces. On this note, my favorite quote in the book has to do with his son not failing English so much as failing to hand in his assignments. It is no wonder this book has sold so many copies. Cosby's wit and insight had me laughing out loud several times.

While the foreword and afterword by Alvin F. Poussaint seems a bit obvious to me, it may not seem so basic to all readers. Poussaint strips Cosby humor down to give it a scientific basis. Poussaint supports the points made by Cosby. He is effective in making a point in concise terms.

This is probably the best book I have read by a stand-up comedian. I give Cosby the distinction as a stand-up comic because some the material in this book was in the "Himself" video. Despite being labeled as humor/comedy, the book has valuable insight for fathers and parents in general. Truly, this is a valuable book.

Rating:
Summary: Laughter lesson for all fathers!
Review: Fatherhood was a hilariously funny guide for all fathers. Whether or not you have had or are going to have children, this book tells it all. From start to finish, Fatherhood had everything your kids will do, to drive you to the edge and back again. I was laughing so hard through reading this book, I had to stop to breath. Tears of laughter raced down my face during chapters four and five. Each page was something crazy and true, that only Bill Cosby could put into words, in a way that would leave you begging for more. If I had three thumbs, I would give Fatherhood four! Cosby took me on a journey to my past and reminded me of what I have put my parents through. I continually had to stop reading, to share the laughter with other people around me. On some occasions, I even had to show my father parts of this book's joy and misfortune. He commented on how truthful it was. If you want to read, pick a dictionary. If you want to embark upon the ancient mystery of parenting, go get this book and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Witty and outrageously funny!
Review: I bought "Fatherhood" in1992, a few weeks after our first son was born. I was looking for some comic relief to help me cope with this new event that would change my life forever. When the inevitable, daunting task of changing diapers became a reality to me, I turned to "Fatherhood," and true enough, I found comfort in these words:

'A baby overwhelms us with its lovableness; even its smell stirs us more deeply than the smell of pine or baking bread. What is overpowering is simply the fact that a baby is life. It is also a mess, but such an appealing one that we look past the mess to the jewel underneath.'

"Fatherhood" is a gem of a book by one of America's funniest comedians. Every new father should have one.

Rating:
Summary: Like Hearing a Cosby Stand Up Act - Almost
Review: I love Bill Cosby. Every time my wife and I watch the movie, Bill Cosby: Himself, we end up crying from laughter because of the humorous spin he can put on many of the frustrations and joys of parenthood. He is a master of story telling, but the book is written as if he is giving a stand up act. It doesn't provide the depth of discussion one usually expects from a book. It is very amusing, but doesn't measure up to actually seeing the man in person or watching his acts on video. For example, chapter four is titled "Are They Evolution's Missing Link" with a subtitle for the first section of "Dr. Spock Never Promised Us a Rose Garden." This is classic Cosby humor, but the chapter is only eight pages long (for three different vignettes). Some chapters are only three pages long. The entire book is only 150 pages with lots of white space and 15 chapter title pages. I don't mind reading short books, especially fun ones like this, but you would be better off seeing his comedy on video. That way you can get the hilarious gestures and voice inflections that only Bill Cosby can provide.

This is the type of book you can give as a gift on Father's Day or for a birthday for the Dad who is hard to buy for. It is nice to open to a chapter and read for a few minutes if you need a laugh. If you haven't heard Cosby before, I highly recommend the book as a refreshing look on parenthood. If you are a Cosby fan, you will have heard all of the humor before.