Donning their caps and gowns, diplomas in hand, seniors across the country take their first steps into the "real world."
While some say they're ready for jobs and grad school, the reality is that all of these plans are laced with uncertainty and even fear. At a time of great life changes, grads are in need of two essential things: sound advice and a healthy dose of humor.
Although many would say that there is no one better to give this type of advice than Bill Cosby - the father of comedy and a family of his own - after reading his new book I would have to disagree.
In Congratulations! Now What?, his newest book for college grads and their families, Cosby uses mediocre wit and humor to discuss some of his philosophies about life after college. However, he does offer sound advice to parents of grads who are feeling the effects of an empty nest.
While parts of this book are redeeming because they are reminiscent of humorous Cosby Show skits, successful humor is not universal in this piece.
Cosby commentary about the departure from the surreal college existence is one such successful "Cosby-esque" snippet.
"Whether or not the graduate takes his brain out of neutral, tomorrow will be bright because he will be out on the sunny street, evicted from the dorm room that must be fumigated for the next young scholar," Cosby writes.
While Cosby's writing makes for a good hearty chuckle every now and again, his prose and advice border on cheesy and unoriginal.
The reader is left with thoughts that Cosby should have stayed with stand-up comedy. I was not always certain whether the book should be taken with a grain of salt - especially when Cosby's statements seem a little hypocritical.
In his discussion about grad school, he makes many a sardonic remark about the virtues, or lack thereof (in his opinion), of this form of higher education.
"Of all the ways to avoid real life, from joining a religious order to trying to find the Abominable Snowman, none has been more popular than going to graduate school. Many college graduates take a quick look at the outside, and then, like parolees who miss the penal womb, they go right back inside of the walls," Cosby preaches.
While Cosby concedes that some courses in graduate school "are of use to society," on the whole he thinks that furthering your education should not be top priority. "Dozens of other courses lead directly to a degree that should be called Master of Nothing in Particular."
This seems a little hypocritical of Cosby, seeing as though he is such a huge advocate of higher education. Post-college education plans are important; he should note their merits.
Cosby's segment on job placement is equally useless. In addition to his non-substantive banter about interview conduct, he makes almost condescending comments about proper interview attire.
"You are suddenly thrown into a world where grooming refers to more than horses, where it will be helpful to have a few suits, to have hair that doesn't block your view of the interviewer, and to have a nose that is free from costume jewelry," Cosby writes.
Despite all of his somewhat useless advice, Cosby ends the book with some pertinent points that all grads should carry with them. He says that a college diploma does not signify a departure from those youthful instincts that make you want to have fun all of the time.
Citing that great sage of '70s television, Fat Albert, he states, "Just because you're grown up don't mean you have to be an adult."
College, he assures, was worth the trip and so will the journey into the future. "No matter how long you may be wandering in the wilderness of real life, no matter how sincerely you may be looking for a place to lie down, you did go to college and that was good, for you are now smart enough to know how to duck the bright tomorrow," Cosby concludes.
While Cosby's words of wisdom to college students receive a grade of "C-," his statements to parents lay somewhere in the "A" range. He cites many of his personal experiences, which breed successful humor.
Cosby decided to write this book because he is such a seasoned graduation speaker noted for his wit and humor. "Giving commencement speeches is a hobby of mine; I have a feeling for anesthesiology. Moreover, I like to give young people a chance to hear the important ideas they plan to ignore," Cosby remarks.
This book is, much to my chagrin, a great disappointment. Though it is definitely readable and at points enjoyable, if I were to suggest a book for grads I would still go with the Dr. Seuss masterpiece Oh, the Places You'll Go.
