CROWN Farewell, Godspeed: The Greatest Eulogies of Our Time

IT WAS ONLY OK, GOT SOME USEFUL TIPS. NOTHING UNUSUAL

The idea of reading dozens of eulogies back to back may sound depressing, but it's really a celebration of love, hope, praise and -- surprisingly perhaps -- good humor as well.Copeland's first collection of 64 eulogies is like a stroll among the brightest lights of the 20th Century, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Eleanor Roosevelt, Lucille Ball, Irving Berlin, Robert Frost and Dr. Seuss.Most of the people delivering the eulogies are as fascinating as the departed -- folks like Bob Hope, Ossie Davis, Eric Idle, Madonna and Phil Donahue.This book could serve as a two-month, day-by-day inspirational reader. Or, you could go through the book in a small group, reading the chapters in themed sections: visionaries, movie stars, explorers, musicians -- and so on.Frankly, this is a perfect spiritual book for Baby Boomers as our generation ages -- and we need to summon our collective talent to celebrate the best with us all.

As a minister, I've written a few eulogies in the past, but now as my father is in the final stages of ALS, I wanted to be able to deliver a little something more than the typical farewell to the man who has been such an influence on my own life. So I picked up FAREWELL, GODSPEED: THE GREATEST EULOGIES OF OUR TIME, by Cyrus Copeland. While I did find some ideas worthy of my father's eulogy, and certainly found some interesting and at times, touching reading, I found most of these eulogies to be rather mundane and uninspiring. I would certainly not call them the greatest eulogies of our time.This is a collection of eulogies of what we would classify as "famous" people, often delivered by equally "famous" people. The overwhelming majority were of Hollywood elites. Perhaps it is because of this and that most Hollywood elitists are far beyond the classification of "self-absorbed", I found many of the eulogies to ramble on and to be not at all what I was looking for.I did find a few exceptions to the rule however, such as Ronald Reagan's eulogy (more of a tribute, actually) for the Challenger astronauts, or Shirley Welk's words about her father, Lawrence. These were truly fine works and fitting words for the occasions.One thing that did save the book for me and thereby warrant the high rating, is the author's recap and brief synopsis on the life of the subject. On these pages, I did indeed learn some interesting morsels about so many of the subjects.Overall, this was in interesting read, however I caution, if you are, like me, in the process of preparing a eulogy and looking for writing guidance, you won't find it here. You will however, find a few things you may want to emulate.

This may not be the kind of book you would expect to find interesting, but once you pick it up, you'll find it difficult to put down. This is a compilation of 64 eulogies for the famous by the famous or articulate people who knew them best. Many are moving, all are interesting.Divided into sections called Maestros (Bob Fosse, Andy Warhol), Visionaries (Susan B. Anthony, Martin Luther King Jr, Ryan White), Wisecrackers (Gilda Radner, Lucille Ball), Captains of Industry (Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford), Matinee idols (Humphrey Bogart, James Dean), Explorers & High Flyers (Challenger astronauts, Albert Einstein), Tunesmiths & Troubadours (Janis Joplin, Lawrence Welk), Movie Moguls (Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder), Wordsmiths (Mark Twain, Walt Whitman) and Camelot (JFK, JFK Jr and Jackie Onassis), often the eulogist is as interesting as the deceased, and the fascination comes from learning about their relationship -- JFK on Robert Frost, Fidel Castro on Che Guevara, Ossie Davis on Malcolm X, Bob Hope on Jack Benny, Eric Idle on George Harrison, among others). These are words spoken in a time of tremendous grief, and the eloquence of the speakers is memorable.Each selection is several pages long and followed by a short chronology of the deceased.Also, don't miss the beautiful Robinson Jeffers piece that precedes the Table of Contents.This book is fascinating and inspirational, and will compel you to contemplate your own legacy and relationships.Highest recommendation.

The list of deceased celebrities [64 in number] and those who delivered the eulogies is a collection that boggles the mind! The biographical sketches which follow each eulogy are informative beyond anything one would expect and are superbly organized. Examples of lives remembered and those who delivered the eulogies: Neal Simon [Bob Fosse], Gianni Versace [Madonna], Susan B. Anthony [Rev. Anna Howard Shaw], Che Guevara [Fidel Castro], Helen Keller [Senator Lester Hill], Martin Luther King, Jr. [Benjamin E. Mays], Charles Schulz [Cathy Guisewite], Humphrey Bogart [John Huston], Albert Einstein [Ernst Straus], Chet Atkins [Garrison Keillor], Daryl F. Zanuck [Orson Welles], Robert Frost [President John F. Kennedy], Dr. Seuss [Robert L. Bernstein], Mark Twain [Rev. Henry Van Dyke], President John F. Kennedy [Senator Edward M. Kennedy]. And that is fifteen out of 64!!! You will be equally blown away by the other 49! A final comment---the eulogies are surprisingly brief, avoiding boredom or getting bogged down in verbiage. Read two or three a day or get hooked and read all at one sitting [either is a real option].