As a mother of 4 bi racial children, I must say, this is going to be my Parental Bible! As far as I'm concerned my children did come with a manual and THIS BOOK IS IT!
I am so pleased and keep reading it over and over again. I have learned so much and am grateful to the authors for writing such a fine book of parenting. As my children grow I will have this book on hand for them to read and most likely pass it on to them when they become parents, many years from now.

This is an excellent book with wonderful information. As a biracial woman married to a white man and raising a black child, it answered all of my questions and then some... A valuable book that I will treasure forever. Thank you!!!

I thought the book Different and Wonderful was an excellent book. I came across this book at the Philadelphia Free Library,when I was doing a report on Afro-American children development and socialization process. I thought the book had a lot of resourceful information about raising Afro-American children as well as giving resourceful information to Afro-American Parents on how to look at themselves and checking themselves as Afro-American parents.I am not a parent yet, but I will be oneday.I am very glad that I had came across this book because, I know that I will be a better Afro-American parent, when I do decide to raise my Afro-American children. Also, this book has equiped me with stronger child rearig practices on how to deal with all ages of Afro-American children.

Most biographical profiles of African-Americans are to general in their view of the person or superficial in the analysis of that person's contribution to American life. Dick Russell avoids both mistakes by providing you with an in depth portrait of Black men and women whose lives and work impacted upon the cultural milieu of America.

A genius is defined as one who has an exceptional natural capacity of intellect. Black Genius shows you such persons but goes further in documenting the distinctive character or spirit of African-American experience that birthed these individuals. You have men and women representative in the fields of the arts, science and theological realms. Their individual achievements in those fields are a part of a continuous thread of genius passed down from one generation to the next.

You will find people here that are not well known (and their work) except within their own communities or fields. Such examples are Bob Moses, Carl & Allen Shaw, and Elma Lewis. Others are better known but the inner depth of their intellectual qualities are invisible. Albert Murray, Paul Robeson and others are just a few examples.

Black Genius is a fresh look at African-American intellectuals from a different perspective and gives us a greater appreciation for their contributions. I enjoyed the fact that individuals were included that were not well known or hidden in obscurity. These are the people who serve as the continued thread and spirit of African-American life and culture. I highly recommend this text for those wanting to get a greater in depth look at the heart of what makes an African-American Genius.

This book should also be sold out of the inspirational section of bookstores. If read with an open mind (are you listening Kirkus?) one will find all sorts of tidbits that will motivate further study on the subjects being interviewed. As a result of my reading this book I have placed books by Albert Murray, Stanley Crouch and Alvin Ailley on my reading list As a 57 year old African-American I was embarrassed to be reading about people like Romare Bearden, Elma Lewis and Lois Jones for the first time. The Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra died last night. Frank was quoted as saying "he patterned his singing style after Bing Crosby." According to statements made in Black Genius, Bing Crosby patterned his singing style after Louis Armstrong. It's stuff like this that makes this book so interesting. Mr. Russell had a way of bringing out the characters that made them seem human and like folks we'd like to know better. . Reading about Paul Robeson, Jr who went to Technical High School in Springfield, Mass. with my aunts and uncles was quite interesting. I grew up hearing a lot about the Robesons, but Black Genius added to that knowledge. The Talmud says "we don't see things as they are, we see things as we are," therefore I'm happy that I felt good while reading this book. I plan to give it to my friends with a note saying, "you don't have to wait until Black History Month," " Keep the faith baby!" (You'll find the originator of that statement in the book also)

My husband and I raised 3 black daughters in a very white suburb. My youngest is now 20 and a junior in college. This book helped me so much in dealing with racial issues such as hair types and dating. My middle daughter actually did a social work internship at the Yale Univ. Child Study Center and met Dr. Comer. She definitely wanted to take my copy of the book. I told her "No" but I am giving her "Raising Black Children", Drs. Comer & Poussaint's newest book for Christmas. I highly recommend this book.

Every year my students have a choice of choosing a book from the stack of 'Little Bill' books, and this one is always the first one they pick. The moral of this story is one that not only teachers wish to inflict, but parents, as well. It has a great way of introducing THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF story into the classroom. I also enjoyed how it introduced a way to discuss the definition of a "fib". This book was great for my students because we were able to explore in more detail the meaning of true "trust". I recommend this book to every teacher and every parent of elementary aged children.

Bill Cosby is one of those comdians who everyone loves. And this book is a good example why. He takes the reader down the road that he was going through back in the late 80's. He was struggling with getting old, and as his body started to age with him. He shows how he can no longer run in high-school track, and how his hair was starting to grey. His humorus look at getting old isgood for anyone to read. Now, I am in my 20's, so some of his jokes flew over my head, but I'm sure that is 20 years I will understand all to well what he was going through. I still enjoed this book though, and I'm sure you will too.

Great book, Easy and fun to read. Many lessons of life are to be learned in this book...many laughs too.

This is one of the funniest books that you will ever read, guaranteed. America's favorite comic genius brings us another load of laughs. If there is only one book you are going to buy this year, it should be this one. In a way which will make you laugh out loud, Cosby explores the subject of aging in a way only Cosby could manage.

It took me a while to get accustomed to Cosby's writing style. His writing voice is very different from his speaking. I admit, this is my first endeavor into reading Cosby's wit, but I found it quite enjoyable. As I read more, I found it very insightful. I would definitely recommend this book.

I love this book. A must read. Sweet and so real and so true.

Cosby's insights about "the only subject no one has ever been able to study for" are bound to provoke happy tears, constant smiles and delicious laughs on every reader. You won't be able to put this book down and, after you've read it, you'll want all your friends to read it as soon as possible. It's that good.

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.

This book is appealing to all. I had a blast reading this book, and I left it around my bedside. A few days later, I found my son had picked it up, and he was laughing out loud! Cosby makes honest and true observations on life, such as "when fathers have to tell their daughters that Michael Jackson loves all his fans, but he has a special place in his heart for those who eat broccoli." This book is a definate keeper!

I was only fifteen when I read this book. It had me rolling on the floor laughing. Bill Cosby is truly gifted in the art of storytelling. It showed me what parents go through, but it also sympathized with the teenagers. Read it, if you like to laugh!!

This book is actually a question and answer book. It has FAQ and the answers. I foud that many of the questions were right on time. I think I was expecting more of a narrative type of book, that is why I rated it 3 stars. Because I don't think it answered the most important question. How to raise Black Children.

I first read this book in 1992 when my daughter was 2 years old. I have found it to be a very useful tool in answering many of my questions with regards to the changes that she has gone through and the fears she may face as an eight year old. I also have an eleven year old son, who was having a problem controlling his anger. I referred to the book, and learned how to help my son understand the importance of controlled behavior, and alternative ways to express anger. I have also encouraged my son to read certain chapters in the book, to let him know that he is not alone in what he is feeling. I like the fact that this book deals with real life problems, and offers real solutions. My husband and I are parents who do not believe in spanking our children, it was a joy to read that the authors supported our views on the harms of spanking. I give away copies of this book to friends and famalies who ask me how we have been able to raise two, generous, kind and well behaved kids.

As a fellow author of a child's book on death, "ANGELSTACEY/DADDY in HEAVEN", our family just recently became aware of this title. Our 8 year old twins love the Little Bill books. They are also children who lost their mother in childbirth. At this age they have a better understanding of loss/death. We as their parents encourage any questions about their natural mother.

Typically it is our twin daughter who has been the most vocal about death and her natural mother. Having stumbled upon this title with my son, he showed interest in the book. It was a good read for him at a time when he is beginning to question and seek out more answers about death.

Little Bill books are so colorful, full of heart and always a life lesson. They are easy to read and geared to the 4 to 8 aged reader. This is a topic close to my heart and our family and this title addresses it well.

Take it from someone who knows first hand how difficult it is to address this topic with a young child, this is a solid, healthy approach to a subject that needs to be better addressed and this is yet another excellent way to address it.

Drs. Poussaint and Alexander poises thought provoking questions on the rise of African American suicides especially among young males. The authors states, if African Americans endured over three centuries of slavery and Jim Cow laws without succumbing to hopelessness and self negation, why is their a surge in suicides today? Is crime and poverty, (the catalysts of hopelessness) contributing to the demise of young African American males? Is the participation of young African Americans in drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sex, a form suicide, related to unfulled dreams and a feeling of hoplessness? The authors set out to answer these questions in the context of the pervasiveness of racism, which greatly contributes to a "mental health crisis" which is tightening its grip among young African Americans.