If you’ve enjoyed the quotes posted on our Last Word page by ContractStore’s Giles Dixon, you might like to know he’s selected the best for publication in a new book – Bons Mots.
Collected primarily from contemporary sources, of the 250 names whose thoughts, words of wisdom and/or wit are included, the vast majority can be found on Wikipedia, most were born in the 20th century, and many are still living. In addition are some figures from the past including Aristotle, Rousseau, Napoleon and Disraeli.
This handy collection fits into a pocket and would make a ideal gift for almost anyone, as well as an aide memoire for a speaker or someone wanting a few quick quotes to liven up a meeting.
The collection includes words and thoughts from – to name but a few – heads of state: Queen Elizabeth ll, Obama, Macron, Pope Francis; from business: Warren Buffett, Michael O’Leary, Steve Jobs; on the environment: Chris Packham, Maathai Wangari and Charles Darwin.
Writers include Christopher Hitchens, Edna O’Brien, Yuval Noah Harari; artists Antony Gormley, Luc Tuymans and Banksy; journalists writing for the Financial Times and The Guardian are also quoted, as are Donald Rumsfeld, Mandy Rice-Davies and Barry Humphries.
Published by Wordzworth, Bons Mots is priced at £7.99 and available from booksellers including Blackwells, Amazon and Waterstones
• “Bons mots”, French, literally means ‘good words’, but is best translated as ‘clever or witty remarks’ according to the Oxford English Dictionary.