Fatherhood [Large Print]

I wanted to get my husband a copy of the full version of Fatherhood for Father's Day. I ended up getting the mini for his birthday as well. He loves it!

From witty to thought-provoking, this little book has all the quotes daddies need to make them feel good about their new role :) Would make a great stocking stuffer or an addition to a Father's Day gift. Excellent for new dads.

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.

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!

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.