For millions of Americans, Bill Cosby is an icon: a fast-talking, quick-witted, warm-hearted comedian with a penchant for crazily patterned sweaters. In the first major biography of Cosby, Mark Whitaker (My Long Trip Home) explores the man behind the public image, delving into both Cosby's personal history and the impact of his career on stand-up comedy, television and attitudes toward racial tensions in the U.S.
Whitaker traces Cosby's journey from the housing projects of Philadelphia to his stints in the U.S. Navy and at Temple University (he dropped out of high school and college, but later earned several advanced degrees). Despite the stabilizing influences of his mother, Anna, and his Granddad Samuel, Cosby struggled with discipline and motivation until he found his way to the comedy circuit in Greenwich Village. Spending night after night performing in New York City clubs, Cosby honed his skills, creating and refining the routines that catapulted him to fame when they were released in album form.
Although Whitaker clearly admires and respects his subject, he does not idealize Cosby: the biography balances stories about Cosby's groundbreaking TV roles in I Spy and The Cosby Show with accounts of his financial troubles, the lingering painful effects of his extramarital affair and his controversial views on race relations. The book's last section focuses on the emotional repercussions of the murder of Cosby's only son.
Blending social history, family stories and behind-the-scenes glimpses into Cosby's career, Cosby is a compelling, layered portrait of a towering figure in American comedy. --Katie Noah Gibson, blogger at Cakes, Tea and Dreams