The Last Lecture

I picked up this book because my son had it assigned as summer reading going into his senior year of HS. I had heard good things about it, but I was not ready for this. This was just amazing and thought-provoking. I fear a kid in HS won't get all the good stuff packed into this that, as a Dad, I picked up.I am amazed at how hard it hit me, and yet how much I enjoyed reading and learning from him. I can see he was an amazing person, and fate was just not on his side. Words just don't do this story justice; you need to read it, and possibly more than once, as you go through life.I hope his family is well. It has been many years now, I know, but with such an amazing Mom and Dad, I am sure his kids are going to be fine. He seems to have found the magic key to leaving them a great message of love.

This book is about a cancer patient knowing he is going to die... They've done all they could for him and basically tell him he just has a few months to live! Rather than giving up and feeling sorry for himself, he decides to live the rest of his life to the fullest.He ALSO decides to give one last lecture (He's a college professor) about life. It's about encouraging people to find their own paths in life and follow their childhood dreams.I think it's a very inspiring book for anyone at any age. It's a MUST READ!

First, I'm not a friend, student, or family of Professor / author Randy Pausch.Having read the 1-star, 2-star, and 3-star reviews, I felt a bit shocked. I liked the book much more than other reviewers who criticize the book for having more ego than depth, and less lessons of "the dream"--- minus a demand for a public journey through "My God, where art thou, my God." I don't think Dr. Pausch's book needs to include his personal beliefs about God (whatever those beliefs are--or are not) for this book to impart some lasting wisdoms.Part of the beauty of the slim treasure, "The Last Lecture", is in its brutal simplicity. Sometimes, people need reminded of the basics: Say please and thank-you; Wash your hands before you eat; Don't be purposefully mean--or rude--to others; Play nice; Dream Big; When you lose your dreams, STOP, refind them, enjoy them, LIVE them. Randy Pausch didn't include all those--I think he skipped the "wash your hands" one (LOL). But, he presents short reminders of very basic, simplistic, meaningful rules of living. In today's world of rudeness, meanness, random murders...(etc)..., I don't think these are meaningless topics to include in a person's "last book".Could it have been more in-depth? Yes, I guess so. Yet, if I was dying, would I have the composure to write ANY words of meaning? What would any of us say if we had the chance to write and publish a book? If you could write 10-pages before you die, what would YOU include?Randy Pausch describes "The Last Lecture" as 53 mini-lectures, and I think that is fitting. The book itself, I believe, would make great reading for our children ...pre-teens, teens, young adults... the people who need reminded to have manners, to dream (a lot), and work hard toward those dreams. I'm also quite impressed by the "Alice" Program (computer programming) which Dr. Pausch created.I thought it touching to hear a man describe writing Thank-you notes, even to the hospital workers who have treated him these last months. Too few of us stop to say thank-you. Randy reminds readers how much more meaningful it feels to receive a written thank-you.I chuckled to read about his sewing endeavors-- and how he worked so hard to win the REALLY BIG stuffed animals at fairs---and more importantly, WHY it felt so important to him to win those.This little book makes a big window into the thinking of a big dreamer (a very positive trait), a man intelligent enough to see bigger than most people ever see, and to allow readers to gain just a little understanding of the rules by which one man lived his journey--his life.I do wish Randy Pausch had explained more about how everyday people can use the "head fake" in everyday situations... how people can positively manipulate to achieve positive outcomes in everyday relationships.I think the Professor has much, much more to teach--this book offers the first lessons. Maybe, he'll be able to write book number two-- I hope. I wish I'd been one of his students.Indulge yourself...indulge your "inner child" and buy the book. Or, buy a copy for a teen you know. It's worth the money.

I liked the reality of life and death! It helped me realize I do not have really serious physical problems I still can move about and I am not bed ridden.

As I opened the shipping box from Amazon.com, I found two preordered copies of Randy Pausch's book, one for my family and one for whoever needs it most within the next few weeks. This could be a friend or business acquaintance who has reached some personal crisis or turning point. I'll know. Randy's message will find the right recipient.This book is a very large gift in its compact, neatly bound actuality. It is a gift of hope and affirmation, a gift of encouragement and courage.Recently I said good-bye to a friend and business colleague who at 58 died of pancreatic cancer. His was a more private passing, but nevertheless he fought the disease until the disease won, and he died with dignity. Two days before his death, he called a mutual friend to wish this friend good luck with minor corrective surgery. Even two days before death my stricken friend was thinking of others' welfare. As I sat in his memorial service with 300 other mourners, watching a slide presentation of his photographs and original art, I also thought about Randy Pausch. The two personalities mixed together because they shared so many of the same qualities: creativity, professionalism, gusto for living, a sense of humor, lifelong dedication to giving back to their communities, and a profound faith in personal power.This is the story of The Last Lecture: that we can face any challenge in this life as long as we welcome our fate with optimism and determination to confront all odds. We can live for the welfare of others. We can live today with our legacies in mind for the future -- after we are also gone.The good professor is his own metaphor. In this final gift, he both teaches and does.Much will be said about this book and its immediate iconic impact on a nation experiencing the doldrums of war, economic turmoil and loss of standing among other nations. Here is the story of one American sharing the wisdom of our universal humanity, our fragility, our mortality, and our capacities to transcend. Here's one of our best and brightest.In the ways of passionate storytellers, Randy Pausch and coauthor Jeffry Zaslow tell us how to achieve the most vital of all human yearnings: realization of childhood dreams. And for adults who believe their dreams have passed them by, this book offers an intuitive methodology to reignite the fires of youthful optimism and fervor.Within this book's narrative are timeless lessons of showing gratitude, setting goals, keeping commitments, tolerating frustration, maintaining a sense of humor in the face of adversity, telling the truth, working hard, celebrating victories when they arrive, and choosing to be a fun-loving Tigger over a sad-sack Eeyore.Life is short, a fact affirmed once again with the passing of Randy Pausch on July 25, 2008. This "last lecture" is no less significant for the young and healthy as it is for the sick and old.Dream big, reach for the stars now...