Deadlines: A Rhapsody on a Theme of Famous and Infamous Last Words

by Phil Cousineau

The Accidental Aphorist is comprised of hundreds of reflections and aphorisms, maxims, pensees, fulminations and regrets, amusements, which have been gleaned from almost forty years of the author's notebooks. The far-ranging themes include the writing life, creativity, love, death, travel, art, soul, mythology and legend, movies, politics, mentorship, and sports. These coruscating passages are the sparks and threads that have led Phil Cousineau to write over 40 books, more than 25 documentary scripts, two dozen televsion scripts, and have inspired hundreds of his popular writing workshops and retreats. Writing with the same admixture of philosophical inquiry, aesthetic curiosity, wacky word-play, quick-witted word portrait, and irreverent humor that is threaded through all of his work, Phil Cousineau has created a modern chrestomathy that reflects his dual passion for learning and teaching . The Accidental A Curiosity Cabinet of Aphorisms, Maxims, Epigrams, Pochades and Pensées, Gnomic Sayings, Laconics, Notebook Jottings, Back Thoughts, and Afterthoughts , is meant to stoke and provoke, jolt and cajole the idling imagination.

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Phil Cousineau is a writer, teacher, editor, independent scholar, documentary filmmaker, travel leader, and storyteller. The author of more than 30 nonfiction books, Cousineau has more than 15 documentary screenwriting credits to his name, including the 1991 Academy Award-nominated Forever Activists. His life-long fascination with art, literature, and the history of culture has taken him on many journeys around the world; one of his bestselling books is The Art of Pilgrimage, inspired by his many years of meaningful travels.

Born in an army hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, Cousineau grew up in Detroit, and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. American mythologist Joseph Campbell was a mentor and major influence; Cousineau wrote the documentary film and companion book about Campbell's life, "The Hero's Journey." The “omnipresent influence of myth in modern life” is a thread that runs through all of his work. He lectures frequently on a wide range of topics--from mythology, film, and writing, to sports, creativity, travel, art, and beauty. Currently he is the host of the much-praised “inner travel” television series, Global Spirit, on Link TV and PBS, and is finishing a book on beauty.

Reviews

[Genna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh man, I dunno. I just wish...

I would be really interested to read a book that lists the famous last words of tons of people. I also like reading poetry. A book of poetry that is almost entirely lists of famous last words of tons of people is... not really poetry. It's lists broken up into poetic lines. Being neither one nor the other, this book ended up in a disappointing no-man's-land and, about halfway through, lost my interest.

There were a couple of shorter more personal poems among the lists, and I liked those! I would like to read more of those! But I didn't want to keep reading lists and so I stopped.

[Dennis Berard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book I've rated amongst all the books i'm listing. I'll also have you know that I had to go to the 4th page of books to find this book and without a cover photo. Do you know what a particular person said just before they died? How about Winston Churchill? What did he say? For those persons that actually saw the heavens or a bright light, what did they share with us in their last moments? How many of you have read this book? This book is by Phil Cousineau.