Once and Future Myths: The Power of Ancient Stories in Modern Times

Rating:
Summary: Highly rated by a friend, but it puts me to sleep...
Review: A friend just raved about this book, so I finally broke down and bought it. Maybe I'm not philosophical enough. I tend to live in the here and now and don't dwell on what ifs. But I found this book to be rather boring and slow reading. On the other hand, it's a great way to nod off easily at night. A couple of pages of this and it's zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz city. I'm sure the pointy-headed, New Agey crowd will disagree with my assesment (and, well, I am working on a Ph.D. so I'm no moron), but this thick book could have used some editing, some spicing up, and about half as many pages. Dull, dull, dull...

Rating:
Summary: Once and Future Cousineau
Review: People who say that a book was "not what I expected" are unfair. After all, an author can hardly be faulted for other people's expectations. In this case, however, the expectations were raised by the author himself. I began by reading chapter 2, an outstanding, thought-provoking chapter on the myths of time. I bought the book on the strength of this chapter, and ended up sorely disappointed. The rest of the book is far less compelling, and often is annoyingly self-focused. Cousineau's recitals of all the important people he has met and known in the great places he has visited work neither as a good memoir nor as a good book on myth (although, in fairness, there are a number of worthwhile passages and a few excellent ones).

Rating:
Summary: Are you living a myth or a life?
Review: This book changed my life. The chapter on Sisyphus alone (a metaphor for the creative struggle) was worth the price of admission. Phil Cousineau weaves endearing personal stories throughout the sharp scholarship as a means to ease us into feeling comfortable with the many complex (yet surprising) ideas about myth (classical, world, modern, popular) he shares with us. It's not about him though, it's really about finding our own stories, our own personal myths. And figuring out what is truly meaningful for us no matter where we are in our lives. Through stories about relationships, travel, sports, music, time, and countless other ways and associations, he clues us in to what deeper issues lie under the surface of things. It's not a breezy read; Cousineau has an amazing way of linking diverse subjects and finding correspondences amongst odd topics that may meander but are always delightful. A world-traveler, tortured writer, devoted father, sports fan, and humble wise man rolled up in one, Cousineau inspires us to reach for more. Highly recommended.