I Didn't Ask To Be Born : (But I'm Glad I Was) by Bill Cosby

Charlie Chaplin. Groucho Marx. Richard Pryor.

Over the past century, few entertainers have achieved the legendary status of William H. Cosby Jr. His successes span five decades and virtually all media, remarkable accomplishments for a kid who emerged from humble beginnings in a Philly housing project.

And the world's most beloved funnyman is back with I DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN, his first humor book since the best selling Cosbyology. Cosby brings us more of his wonderful and hilarious insights into the human condition.

Sample chapters include:



 Missing Pages: Bill Cosby owns eight Bibles, all written in English. They were published at different times. One of them in 705. Another one was printed in 1709. One came over on the Santa Maria. They're all very old but none are autographed. One thing these Bibles have in common is the fact that he's convinced there are missing pages.The Morphamization of Peanut Armhouse: When Peanut's mother calls him to dinner and he refuses to leave the softball field, a young Bill Cosby witnesses a sight that haunts him to this day. If (But not by Rudyard Kipling): If Native Americans knew then what they know now, America would be quite a different place. Too Late For Me But Perhaps Not For You: How Bill Cosby handles a teenage daughter who refuses to clean her room.Cosby's millions of fans will be excited and delighted to pick up this truly brilliant book from a comedic legend.

Goodreads Summary

This novel is hysterical, to sum it up in one word.  It will be hard to write a review without giving anything integral to the hilarity of the novel away.  The reader gets to see a younger Bill Cosby, who is funny even at a young age.  He instills his natural personality into this fairly short nonfiction book. 

Bill Cosby literally anticipates what the other person would say to him, say, in a talk show and manages to provide funny one liners.  The first chapter of the book opens with a conversation between him and who he calls the "perfect talk show guest."  They go back and forth about a simple, silly topic-a town called North in South Carolina...leading to much confusion.  He then moves on to even funnier memories, closing with a story about his grandchildren and the ever elusive Santa Claus.  There are little illustrations scattered throughout the book, right where they will be the funniest.  This book is recommended to teens/young adults/adults alike.

5 Stars