When I was 11 years old, my neighbor, Bill Robertson, played for me his LP, Revenge, by Bill Cosby. I laughed until I cried. Until then, I thought I knew who this guy was because I had seen him on the ultra-cool television show, I Spy. Like many children my age, I had to beg my parents to let me stay up and watch this cutting-edge show that aired Wednesday nights at 10:00 pm, way past my bedtime! On that show, he wasn't funny, just cool. Listening to the LP, I discovered this guy, Bill Cosby, was funny. As long as I can remember, I have been drawn to funny like a moth to a flame.

A brand-new biography, Bill Cosby: His Life and Times, was just released by Mark Whitaker. I devoured it in a week. Coming in at 532 pages, I know what you must be thinking, "Don't you work?" Hey, I spend a lot of time on airplanes these days (75 gigs a year). After learning about his life and times, I have even more respect for this American icon. He was, and is, an author, comedian, storyteller/raconteur, actor, philanthropist, movie and television star, and more.

Just why is this man still so popular after all these years? The television industry uses something called a "Q rating" to quantify business decisions. It's a complex formula, but it drives who gets to do what. It's essentially three things: honesty, likeability, and believability.

A reporter once asked Cosby at the height of his TV fame, "What is your secret to success?" Smiling, Cos replied, "I don't know the secret of success; but I do know the secret of failure...trying to please everyone!"

Here is my subjective list of the causes of Bill Cosby's success; submitted for your approval: 

1. His father was an alcoholic. As a result, he vowed never to drink and he never has.
2. As a precocious young boy, he gathered inspiration and ideas from two primary sources: stories his grandfather read to him from the Bible and the Mark Twain novels his mother read to him.
3. He was a sponge for ideas via radio and television as a young man. His mentors were Mark Twain, Jack Benny, Groucho Marx, Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner. Not a bad list of heroes.
4. Cosby was, and still is, a "Clean Observational Comedian" and set the tone for others like Jerry Seinfeld to follow. That led to a number of TV shows.
5. His memory is uncommon. He is able to pull up details from his childhood and describe events and people in unique ways.
6. His ongoing and lifelong use of improvisation makes every show he does unique, funny, unexpected, spontaneous, and fun. Observation and improv became magnificent obsessions for him.
7. He tells long stories, which he calls "Gourmet Meals," and short bits, called "Fast Food," that make you laugh, cry, and think.
8. Bill Cosby genuinely loves people. He is humble, kind, and approachable. Despite his wealth and fame, he stills does over 60 stand-up comedy dates a year. Actually, at 77 years young and half-blind, he sits down now. He has no entourage, travels alone, and wears a sweat shirt that sports a phrase used by his late son, Ennis, "Hello Friend".
9. His philanthropic commitment to children's television, including one season of The Electric Company and its grueling 180-episode schedule, changed television into something noble and educational. He was giving back and paying it forward.
10. The secret of success? "Be true to yourself, your gifts and follow your bliss." He followed his bliss from a young age. He was always looking to "find the funny" in life.

I visited the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Connecticut recently (thanks David Heimer!). I invested in a coffee cup with my favorite quotes from the master. To me, this summarizes Twain's "Fast Food" gifts, his humorous twist on proverbial phrases to make us laugh, think, and act in different ways:

A man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them... When in doubt, tell the truth... Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest... The lack of money is the root of all evil... Familiarity breeds contempt-and children... Clothes make the man; naked people have little or no influence in society... Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to... Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself...  Humor is mankind's greatest blessing... If books are not good company, where will I find it?.. Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

In many ways, Bill Cosby channeled Mark Twain's views, philosophy, ideals, and humorous take on the world. I think I need to download Cosby's old LP, Revenge, onto my iPhone and call Bill Robertson to thank him. I need a good laugh. "Hey, hey, hey!"