Ronald L Smith Boeken

Comedian, actor, and writer Bill Cosby is one of the most successful and respected entertainers in America. Yet the Cosby we know today came from a much different place and time than the ideal featured in his 1980s hit series "The Cosby Show," where the main character was a loveable, responsible doctor and family man. Cosby: The Life of a Comedy Legend by Ronald L. Smith, a recognized writer on comedy and comedians, tracks the humble upbringing of the Cos in the Philadelphia projects; explores the inspiration he drew from his family, his teachers, the strong female figures in his life, and the books he read; discusses the hardships he experienced while working several jobs to help support his sisters and brothers after his father deserted the family; and reveals his lean years as a budding comic, his early successes, and the big break that brought him to television. As the only biography of Bill Cosby for the adult market, this book explores his feelings and thoughts in great detail, while masterfully documenting Cosby's trailblazing work as a pioneering black performer who was one of the first to co-star in a drama series, "I Spy." Also discussed is Cosby's dedication to education and his efforts on behalf of children. Included are exclusive interviews with family, friends, Cosby's college coach, his first manager, technical advisors from "The Cosby Show" and other big stars. Smith also includes a complete and up-to-date checklist of Cosby's writings, records, films, and television credits.

How did these creatures manage to survive the extremes of Alaska's environment? How were the Alaskan dinosaurs different from their counterparts elsewhere in the world? How have present-day animals and plants adapted to the harsh winters? Open up Ron Smith's world and learn that the answer is not just in what these creatures are - their size or what color or type of skin covering - but also in what they do. Smith highlights the most interesting of Alaska's residents - the towering grizzly as well as the petite pika, the "coat-changing" ptarmigan and the ever-popular salmon - to reveal nature at its amazing best. This insatiably curious scientist asks questions we'd never think of to discover the wonder of this wild land. How can a ponderously slow-growing evergreen ever hope to survive when it's surrounded by the rapidly growing deciduous trees? Building upon the discoveries of Alaska's extinct dinosaurs and plants and the interrelationship of current species, Smith looks to the future. What are the trends? Which of these specially adapted flora and fauna are likely to survive or even flourish? Past, present, or future, our country's final frontier continues to fascinate. Join Smith on his journey within and around Alaska for a truly unique tour of its incredible inhabitants.