But the closest the book comes to finding any kind of fault in this portrait of a wise, clever, generous, loving, vulnerable, hard-working, serious, innovative and brilliant comic genius is that Whitaker once or twice refers to Cosby's "roving eye". A roving eye! Who talks like that anymore? What century was this book written? As well, Whitaker winks at Cosby's "playboy ways". God almighty.
The rest of the book covers Cosby's career highs and lows, his family life, his wealth, his thoughts on black America. It's kind of interesting and I really liked the section on how he created The Cosby Show, when he radicalised the entire concept of the sitcom; Cosby deconstructed the word and emphasised the "situation" in front of the "comedy". Genius, really. It was a reinvention which had a profound influence on classics such as Seinfeld and The Office.
But somehow all of it seemed to be kind of like totally missing the point. It felt strange and almost transgressive to read a thoughtful account of the many various merits of Cosby, once the wealthiest entertainer in America. He's become a non-person and to view him as anything other than a predator is unacceptable. It's like sitting down with someone and saying, "Kevin Spacey's a good actor."
I read the book and then I read the internet and found that Cosby: His Life and Times very quickly became that most dreaded word of the 21st century: "toxic". It was published in September 2014. In November, New York Times columnist David Carr criticised Whitaker for failing to even mention the allegations made against Cosby. Whitaker took to Twitter, and wrote: "David you are right. I was wrong to not deal with the sexual assault charges against Cosby and pursue them more aggressively."
He sent a second tweet: "Am following new developments and will address them at the appropriate time. If true the stories are shocking and horrible. Am following new developments and will address them at the appropriate time. If true, the stories are shocking and horrible." The appropriate time never came around. Whitaker distanced himself from his own book. Seinfeld and David Letterman followed suit and demanded to have their hymns of praise dropped from all publicity material. The publishers cancelled plans to issue the book as a paperback. They allowed Cosby: His Life and Times to go out of print. You'll only find it in places like library sale bins.
As for Cosby, he continues to maintain his innocence. His principal accuser, Andrea Constand, said Cosby had drugged and molested her at his home in 2004. Cosby said the encounter was consensual. His lawyers are appealing the conviction. He has the support of 3.48 million followers on Twitter, where he describes himself as "a political prisoner". He follows six accounts, including Sesame Street and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who played Theo on The Cosby Show. Cosby is 82 years old. He walks with a cane. He claims he is legally blind, due to a degenerative eye condition called keratoconus; he can no longer read.
