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Time Flies
WE'RE ALL GETTING OLDER,
AND BILL COSBY KEEPS GETTING BETTER
America's best-loved humorist, media personality and bestselling author now brings his unique warmth, wisdom and wit to a subject common to aging. From five to fifty and beyond, Bill Cosby takes us on a hilarious romp through the trials and tribulations of growing—and being—older. Funny, highly personal, and with just the right tugs on the heartstrings, Time Flies is Cosby at his best.
AND BILL COSBY KEEPS GETTING BETTER
America's best-loved humorist, media personality and bestselling author now brings his unique warmth, wisdom and wit to a subject common to aging. From five to fifty and beyond, Bill Cosby takes us on a hilarious romp through the trials and tribulations of growing—and being—older. Funny, highly personal, and with just the right tugs on the heartstrings, Time Flies is Cosby at his best.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
13 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Bill Cosby
145Ìýbooks220ÌýfollowersWilliam Henry Cosby Jr. is an American retired comedian, actor, and media personality. Often cited as a trailblazer for African Americans in the entertainment industry, Cosby was a film, television, and stand-up comedy star, with his longest-running live-action role being that of Cliff Huxtable in the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984â€�1992). He also released several stand-up comedy albums and was a popular spokesperson in advertising for decades. Cosby was well known in the United States for his fatherly image and gained a reputation as "America's Dad". Since 2014, dozens of allegations of sexual assault have been made against him.
Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the Hungry I nightclub in San Francisco in 1961, and primarily performed observational comedy in a conversational style. He released numerous standup specials starting with Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! (1963) and starred in the comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself (1983). Cosby still holds the record for winning the most Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, with seven wins. His acting career began with a starring role in the NBC secret-agent show I Spy (1965�1968), which broke new ground for African Americans when he made history by winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first black actor to do so.
Cosby made his film debut starring in Man and Boy (1971) followed by Hickey & Boggs (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let's Do It Again (1975), A Piece of the Action (1977), Leonard Part 6 (1987), and Ghost Dad (1990). He produced and starred in a series of television sitcoms such as The Bill Cosby Show (1969�1971), Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972�1985) and The Cosby Show (1984�1992) as well as its the spin-off A Different World (1987�1993), The Cosby Mysteries (1994�1995), and Cosby (1996�2000). He hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998�2000). During his prolific career he advertised numerous products including the Jell-O ice pop treats Pudding Pop.
Over 60 women have accused Cosby of rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Those allegations gained traction 2014 after a set which made mention of them by fellow comedian Hannibal Buress went viral. Numerous allegations followed with Cosby maintaining his innocence and repeatedly denying the allegations made against him. Despite receiving numerous awards and honorary degrees, several of them were revoked following the allegations. Reruns of The Cosby Show and other programs featuring Cosby were pulled from syndication. In 2018, Cosby was convicted of aggravated sexual assault against Andrea Constand. He was imprisoned until the conviction was vacated in June 2021 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on the basis of Cosby's 5th Amendment and 14th Amendment due process rights having been violated. In 2022, Cosby was found civilly liable for having sexually assaulted Judy Huth when she was 16.
Cosby began his career as a stand-up comic at the Hungry I nightclub in San Francisco in 1961, and primarily performed observational comedy in a conversational style. He released numerous standup specials starting with Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow...Right! (1963) and starred in the comedy film Bill Cosby: Himself (1983). Cosby still holds the record for winning the most Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album, with seven wins. His acting career began with a starring role in the NBC secret-agent show I Spy (1965�1968), which broke new ground for African Americans when he made history by winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Actor in a Drama Series, becoming the first black actor to do so.
Cosby made his film debut starring in Man and Boy (1971) followed by Hickey & Boggs (1972), Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let's Do It Again (1975), A Piece of the Action (1977), Leonard Part 6 (1987), and Ghost Dad (1990). He produced and starred in a series of television sitcoms such as The Bill Cosby Show (1969�1971), Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972�1985) and The Cosby Show (1984�1992) as well as its the spin-off A Different World (1987�1993), The Cosby Mysteries (1994�1995), and Cosby (1996�2000). He hosted Kids Say the Darndest Things (1998�2000). During his prolific career he advertised numerous products including the Jell-O ice pop treats Pudding Pop.
Over 60 women have accused Cosby of rape, drug-facilitated sexual assault, sexual battery, child sexual abuse and sexual harassment. Those allegations gained traction 2014 after a set which made mention of them by fellow comedian Hannibal Buress went viral. Numerous allegations followed with Cosby maintaining his innocence and repeatedly denying the allegations made against him. Despite receiving numerous awards and honorary degrees, several of them were revoked following the allegations. Reruns of The Cosby Show and other programs featuring Cosby were pulled from syndication. In 2018, Cosby was convicted of aggravated sexual assault against Andrea Constand. He was imprisoned until the conviction was vacated in June 2021 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on the basis of Cosby's 5th Amendment and 14th Amendment due process rights having been violated. In 2022, Cosby was found civilly liable for having sexually assaulted Judy Huth when she was 16.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 14, 2017
Scary foreshadowing of Bill Cosby's life. This book was written in 1987, long before any "sex scandals" would rear their ugly head. I picked up this book for some "light reading" and "comic relief", but starting from the first chapter, it was not very funny and oddly sexual. Definitely NOT what you would expect clean-cut Dr. Huxtable to write about. The first chapter was all about his ego, his narcissism and his beautiful muscular youthful body. Waaaay to much detail about his body and his muscles. Then there are way too many references to sex with a "leery old man" vibe. And don't get me started on the chapter about his pubic hair... gross.
Bottom line... it's not a very funny book, and given today's headlines, it's downright sick.
Sorry, Cosby.
Bottom line... it's not a very funny book, and given today's headlines, it's downright sick.
Sorry, Cosby.
March 7, 2013
A few weekends ago, I had seen a movie, titled "Himself", which was solely Bill Cosby doing stand-up in front of a packed theater for almost two hours. I can honestly say after an hour and a half, it was extremely difficult to keep myself from laughing, because my stomach muscles hurt from laughing so much! In that movie, Cosby talked about three things: the dentist, weekends, and parenthood.
This book, published about ten years before DVD's were possible, is all about getting older. A pretty commonplace idea, right? You're getting older reading this; I'm getting older as I'm writing it, but Cosby has a way of making everyday things funny. Not nearly as funny as that standup, but he makes it entertaining.
Being pretty young myself, I can say that I didn't get most of the jokes in this book, but that didn't stop me from enjoying laugh at what the Houston Post (15 years ago) said was "witty in a way that makes one laugh aloud on public transportation."
While I honestly didn't find it that funny, here are some of the parts I enjoyed...
"My feelings are mixed about this [bacterially-enhanced supplement]. I don't mind taking a chance on Lactobacilli Acidophilus and Bulgaricus, even though it sounds like a Balkan disease; but do I really want my intestinal tract to have a normal flora? Do I really want to turn my guts into a garden?" (Cosby 112)
"...you can teach an old dog new tricks. You just don't want to see the dog doing them" (165).
While this book was not as funny as the stand-up DVD (or, reading the other reviews, his first book, "Fatherhood"), it is probably funnier if you're going through the exact processes that he's describing (I'm talking middle-age, people!), which he makes seem so light-hearted and funny. My money, however, would go to the video store for a copy of that DVD. Just my two cents.
This book, published about ten years before DVD's were possible, is all about getting older. A pretty commonplace idea, right? You're getting older reading this; I'm getting older as I'm writing it, but Cosby has a way of making everyday things funny. Not nearly as funny as that standup, but he makes it entertaining.
Being pretty young myself, I can say that I didn't get most of the jokes in this book, but that didn't stop me from enjoying laugh at what the Houston Post (15 years ago) said was "witty in a way that makes one laugh aloud on public transportation."
While I honestly didn't find it that funny, here are some of the parts I enjoyed...
"My feelings are mixed about this [bacterially-enhanced supplement]. I don't mind taking a chance on Lactobacilli Acidophilus and Bulgaricus, even though it sounds like a Balkan disease; but do I really want my intestinal tract to have a normal flora? Do I really want to turn my guts into a garden?" (Cosby 112)
"...you can teach an old dog new tricks. You just don't want to see the dog doing them" (165).
While this book was not as funny as the stand-up DVD (or, reading the other reviews, his first book, "Fatherhood"), it is probably funnier if you're going through the exact processes that he's describing (I'm talking middle-age, people!), which he makes seem so light-hearted and funny. My money, however, would go to the video store for a copy of that DVD. Just my two cents.
November 26, 2014
Oh the irony in reading this book now. I bought it about a week before the first rape accusation this summer and it's been sitting in my "to-read" stack of books on my desk ever since. I finally came to the realization that I didn't have to feel ashamed of reading something Cos wrote because he might have (probably) done some terrible, unforgivable things. His actions don't need to cause me shame. So with that being said, let me just say... the book wasn't that good anyway.
I knew what it was about - aging. That's something that interests me and something I think a lot about so I was interested in reading Cosby's witty and funny take on such a serious subject. Well, there's not a whole lot of funny here aside from the occasional sarcastic joke. The whole book from cover to cover has a really negative vibe. It seems like rather than embracing the inevitable process that is aging, he complains about how awful and demoralizing it is. I understand, first hand, what it's like to have things that you once could do taken away from you, but god man, that's life. Chin up. He also falls face first into the stereotype that older people hate younger generations. He talks a lot about how much better his time of youth was. I'm not even saying I disagree completely, but it was very alienating.
To be fair, there are a few parts that made me chuckle and in the last few pages I found some cool philosophical passages, but aside from that, the book feels disjointed and unorganized as well as angry and weird. At least it was short.
I knew what it was about - aging. That's something that interests me and something I think a lot about so I was interested in reading Cosby's witty and funny take on such a serious subject. Well, there's not a whole lot of funny here aside from the occasional sarcastic joke. The whole book from cover to cover has a really negative vibe. It seems like rather than embracing the inevitable process that is aging, he complains about how awful and demoralizing it is. I understand, first hand, what it's like to have things that you once could do taken away from you, but god man, that's life. Chin up. He also falls face first into the stereotype that older people hate younger generations. He talks a lot about how much better his time of youth was. I'm not even saying I disagree completely, but it was very alienating.
To be fair, there are a few parts that made me chuckle and in the last few pages I found some cool philosophical passages, but aside from that, the book feels disjointed and unorganized as well as angry and weird. At least it was short.
August 8, 2012
Although this was not even close to the humor in Fatherhood I will say that one particular section had me laughing so hard I was crying. My husband came into the room to see what was so funny; he had to read it outloud. Bill's experience with trifocals was tragically comical. You can't help but feel his trepidation toward his new necessary equipment to aid his vision but he also makes fun of himself as usual. He says people who wear trifocals walk with tiny steps to avoid walking off the edge of the cliff. He tells his wife "Dear, this may be the last time you ever hear my voice, unless you come and get me before I'm run over. These trifocals are about to get me killed." His wife's response is just as amusing "You idiot, take off the glasses and come home." I was disappointed in the LONG introduction by Poussaint M.D.. It was terribly depressing and unnecessary. I did NOT get Bill Cosby's book to read the medical definitions of depression and senility. I want to read the facts of life in his humorous light.
March 24, 2021
I read this in the early 2000s, long before I knew what kind of man he truly was.
March 19, 2022
Light and humorous. This is how I would like to describe this book. When I bought this book, I knew nothing about the author. I thought this was a deep and kind of a self-help book. As I went along the chapters, I was hoping that the humorous mocking of the aging process would turn into some deep emotional thought. It didn’t. I was a little bit disappointed about that. But my disappointment was somehow compensated with the most satisfying last chapter. I most certainly love the the part where he declared his love for his wife. It was absolutely hilarious but I can feel the sincerity. This is a great book overall!
This is my most favorite takeaway from this book:
“The saving of the names in your telephone book, like the saving of the finger paintings and the booklets and the bear, is simply a refusal to let go of the past, an attempt to keep alive your sweet yesterdays. Most of us want to save yesterday because we think it was better than today, because memory has a sugarcoater and we never remember pain. (If women could remember pain, we would be a nation of single-child families).�
This is my most favorite takeaway from this book:
“The saving of the names in your telephone book, like the saving of the finger paintings and the booklets and the bear, is simply a refusal to let go of the past, an attempt to keep alive your sweet yesterdays. Most of us want to save yesterday because we think it was better than today, because memory has a sugarcoater and we never remember pain. (If women could remember pain, we would be a nation of single-child families).�
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2014
I recently heard that Cosby is going to be on another TV show and remember how funny he was both on TV and as a stand up comedian. Around the same time, I came acrossed his book Time Flies so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to read it. The book is 25 plus years old so some things are outdated but most of his thoughts about aging are timeless. Those include reminiscing about how he had been a good athlete and could no longer run fast or jump high. Other thoughts include the basics such forgetting where he left his glasses. He has a remarkable gift to tell a story about mundane things and make them funny. This book is a very short and easy book to read and is enjoyable but not one that you should rush to read.
June 3, 2007
, Bill's retrospective on aging, is replete with wit in the classic Cosby style, but he covers the same topic much more entertainingly in his stand-up concert 49. Cosby's humor suffers somewhat without the vocal dimension, since much of his charm is tied up in his timing, sound effects and imitations. (Seeing him in concert is better yet, as his facial expressions add yet another layer to the sophistication of his humor, but such opportunities are rare, and only his Himself video is reliably obtainable, alas.)
December 17, 2014
I read this years ago (twice) and often laughed so hard, I cried! I love Bill Cosby, and the humor he finds in everyday events. He's such an inspiration to others, especially those that find themselves in tough situations. I admire that ability to see the positive and make light of things as a way to deal with the challenges that come our way.
Read this book if you need a good laugh, a stress reliever, or just need something to smile about. You won't be disappointed!
Read this book if you need a good laugh, a stress reliever, or just need something to smile about. You won't be disappointed!
July 30, 2011
As a 22-year old I can relate to the troubles of aging. One day you are king of the playground, the next your are working at Burger King, playing with ground beef.
June 26, 2017
Here's an excerpt that hits home:
All the failures of memory that can plague you, such as losing your car at a mall, or losing your glasses on your forhead, or losing the reason you entered a room, are minor when compared to the most embarrassing trick your mind can play: forgetting what you have been talking about.
After scientists find a cure for the common cold, they will have to move on to a greater medical challenge: why a man my age clearly remembers events of thirty years ago but not what he said in the last thirty seconds.
All the failures of memory that can plague you, such as losing your car at a mall, or losing your glasses on your forhead, or losing the reason you entered a room, are minor when compared to the most embarrassing trick your mind can play: forgetting what you have been talking about.
After scientists find a cure for the common cold, they will have to move on to a greater medical challenge: why a man my age clearly remembers events of thirty years ago but not what he said in the last thirty seconds.
March 5, 2019
Cosby is a great story teller. This book has been on our shelves for years... during which I thought no end of the "American dad" of the Cosby Show. I read it finally today, trying hard to keep his recent sexual abuse convictions at bay. Bittersweet.
This is a fabulous read, very quick, very easy and actually very thought provoking. It helps to be able to make light of yourself, when everything that's happening to you as you grow older is really no laughing matter.
This is a fabulous read, very quick, very easy and actually very thought provoking. It helps to be able to make light of yourself, when everything that's happening to you as you grow older is really no laughing matter.
February 20, 2021
I read /Time Flies/, by Bill Cosby.
Cosby is out of favor at the moment so his book cost me less than US $1.
I think I got my money's worth.
Woody Allen used to be side-splittingly funny (e.g. Getting Even, Side Effects, Without Feathers)
Was Cosby ever funny?
Cosby is out of favor at the moment so his book cost me less than US $1.
I think I got my money's worth.
Woody Allen used to be side-splittingly funny (e.g. Getting Even, Side Effects, Without Feathers)
Was Cosby ever funny?
December 17, 2019
Only the Trifocals part got me laughing out loud
August 14, 2020
Not what I expected not very funny very dry humor
November 5, 2020
I Know, I know,, he is a horrible person,, but he is freaking funny rapist! This book did make me laugh!
March 24, 2024
A good read. Found myself laughing out loud in parts.
August 4, 2024
1988. Not very funny.
February 3, 2025
I like the book so much cause it foresees me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2016
Because of all the things we have come to know about Cosby, I really tried not to like this book, but it is actually very very funny.
August 3, 2015
I had this book on my "to read" list before he was outed by the women he accosted and decided to still read it to see if I could find the "old Bill", whose humour I used to enjoy so much, in this book. Well, I did ... at times. When he talks about getting older and forgetting he's old and trying to do the things he did when he was 20 - I identified. It was funny old Bill. When he talked a wee bit about looking at young women - nothing weird or strange - just that, it felt twisted and dirty somehow. The final chapter, where he talks about the love he has for his wife, felt so disconnected, because of course now we know what really was going on at the time this book was written and these words now don't really ring true. I don't think I will read any more of his books. That was my farewell to the Bill I thought I knew and loved. All in all, for a humourous novel, it turned out to be pretty sad when read.
September 1, 2008
"Immortality is a long shot, I admit," quips Bill Cosby; "but somebody has to be first" (152).
Billy-boy's not the only one rooting for him to be the first immortal human - I'm on his team. But time is getting short, flying if you will. This book was written just 1 year after I was born, but 50 after the birth of the Cos.
shows us that immortality may be a possibility. A possibility, that is, for people who are still alive. If we achieve medical immortality and health, it will be most unfortunate if we do not do so in time to immortalize Bill Cosby.
Of course, Bill Cosby has already immortalized himself in many senses of the word, but he certainly would be a good choice for the first literal immortal.
Billy-boy's not the only one rooting for him to be the first immortal human - I'm on his team. But time is getting short, flying if you will. This book was written just 1 year after I was born, but 50 after the birth of the Cos.
shows us that immortality may be a possibility. A possibility, that is, for people who are still alive. If we achieve medical immortality and health, it will be most unfortunate if we do not do so in time to immortalize Bill Cosby.
Of course, Bill Cosby has already immortalized himself in many senses of the word, but he certainly would be a good choice for the first literal immortal.
November 5, 2014
when I found this book, at the same time I also found a book titled: .
..just enough synchronicities to make me laughed out loud without being kicked out of the supermarket.
Suffice to say, I picked this book instead of that one.
Rather than being preached about 'it hurts when you cut your finger', all I need to hear is: "it will be better".
..just enough synchronicities to make me laughed out loud without being kicked out of the supermarket.
Suffice to say, I picked this book instead of that one.
Rather than being preached about 'it hurts when you cut your finger', all I need to hear is: "it will be better".
August 29, 2013
Time Flies is a laugh out loud collection of anecdotes about aging by a great comedian. Funny, in a strange way, to read about a 50 year old who thinks he's getting old. I'm only five years off that, and I don't feel old. Anyway, among the gags, are some very profound points re aging and attitudes to getting old. The book also has a very long and serious introduction which is in itself a very thought provoking essay.
A quick, fun read with a worthwhile message underpinning it. Highly recommended.
A quick, fun read with a worthwhile message underpinning it. Highly recommended.
July 28, 2011
This book was okay. It seemed a little repetitive at times. I love Cosby's standup, and this book gave glimpse of his humor. I found it helped a lot if I read it and heard his voice in my mind while reading. He gives insight on what it is like to turn 50 years old, and I found that there were a lot of things about getting older that I could relate with. I guess I'm getting up there? Two and a half stars.
July 19, 2007
For whatever reason, I believe it was my dentist that had a copy of this book in his waiting room. After reading a couple of chapters, I bought it myself. Most of the stories about aging didn't really capture my attention when I read this piece at age 10, but I do recollect laughing out loud a few times.
December 9, 2009
This is a book about being 50 and the aging process. True to Bill Cosby form, there's plenty of humor. There were some read-aloud chapters and laugh-out-loud descriptions. Though I am not yet 50, my husband is, and my brother-in-law just tried to deny his way through it, so reading this was timely for me.
July 7, 2014
As far as a Bill Cosby book goes, this one was just 'ok'. I really feel like he threw it together, added a lot of filler (blank pages and extra titles etc). Its funny and a really short read if you are looking for a palate cleanser between two more in depth books. Maybe something for a flight or sitting on the beach.
July 24, 2014
Every one over the age of thirty needs to read this. It's a honest portrayal of how your body will deceive and undermine you as you age. It gave me a good idea of what was coming and I gave it to my dad so he could see and acknowledge that he was up to his ears in it. He did eventually get glasses and his ears cleaned at least.
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December 31, 2014I can't rate this book. I'm a huge Cosby fan. Have been since I was little. But this book is BAD. This book actually took me THE ENTIRE YEAR TO READ. That's how bad it was. I had to keep putting it away, because it was that awful. I'm sorry for everything you are going through, Mr. Cosby. And I'm sorry for a negative review but this book STINKS.
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