The Last Lecture

A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave--"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"--wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.
 

Customer Reviews:

the last lecture

This is his life story and lessons he's learned along the way so his children will know the kind of man he was when he dies. The way he relates his lifes story brings you in and keeps you going to the end. He is telling you what you already know as a human being and some of the things we just forget to practice. he also reminds us he is not perfect but that shouldn't stop anyone. We as humans get so busy building our lives we just don't savor or live it until it is too late. He just wants his children to know they can do both.

2008-07-06

Generational read

This is a must read for all generations. Don't hesitate thinking that it is a negative book that will bring you down. Randy's story and lecture will be one of the most inspirational books that you will ever read. It is a fairly quick read that you will review over and over again.

2008-07-04

The Last Lecture

I had watched the video and the book is as good at the video was. It is written just as Randy spoke in the lecture. A very easy read. What an inspirational story. Highly recommend the book to anyone.

2008-07-04

The last lecture

I read this in 2 days, it is really good. He has done an excellent self review of what values are important to have in personal success. The first 128 pages are a summary and explanation of his excellent lecture online plus further insights. The last pages 129-198 are about "how to live your life" and can be reread and enjoyed many times over. Wonderful insights to personal happiness and good parenting. Great book, keeper for the personal bookshelf. KMRN

2008-07-03

Great gift item!

This is a great book. I've purchased four to give as gifts and one for myself. I've highlighted my own. Great story of a man and the way he chooses to face his death.

2008-07-03