The Last Lecture [Paperback] Pausch, Randy and Zaslow, Jeffrey

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch is a deeply moving book that offers a mix of life advice, personal stories, and reflections on achieving dreams. While it’s inspiring and full of heartfelt moments, some parts may feel repetitive or overly sentimental for certain readers. That said, the book’s core message about making the most of life and leaving a legacy is powerful and relatable. It’s a great read for those looking for a motivational and emotional journey, though it might not resonate with everyone in the same way.

A Very good work. Real story, Practical lessons. Tells a lot about the wisdom, intelligence, realism, liveliness, sensitivity and a never give up attitude of the author. And how simply He puts it forward as a plain truth in the form of some wonderful short stories and experiences. His care for the family is something to note down. The manner in which he has performed the task of making a gist of the life he has lived, and that too under extreme medical conditions, is extraordinary, and I am sure it will revive in the readers their own memories and childhood dreams, especially when it is about the factors that used to drive us within, towards achieving what we want, without fear of loss, just like when we were children. And that was really cool. Overall a well example set by a dying person who never lost hope and made sure to pass on his teachings in a manner, the best he could as well as setting an example to never stop living his life to the fullest even when surrounded by so much problems. I recommend For all age groups.

“ 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?”This was the question that Randy had, when he was asked to give the Last Lecture. Like other professors, he didn’t had to imagine it as his last, because it was his last as he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Those who doesn’t know, Randy Pausch was a Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In August, 2006 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. During this time he was approached to give ‘The Last Lecture’.Randy wanted his children to know who their father was. He wanted to pass on all the wisdom he collected from his father and his own experiences. Being a professor, he felt this is the only way he can leave a print, for his children, by giving a lecture. The lecture he gave was full of optimism, hope, inspiration and humor. He tried to give the lecture full of snippets of stories and experiences from his own life, providing moral and inspiration. He had that charm to add humor to even a very serious topic. Some of the advises may make you feel that, he was from upper middle class family and he always got the support from his family and friends around. He was a person who had a very clear picture of what he expected and learned from life and what he was willing to share with the world. He always lived by the principles he believed and shared in the hope that others would benefit from it.Many books dealing with terminal illness become famous because of gaining sympathy from readers. But this book is different. It’s not about dying or the emotional roller coaster the family undergoes when one member of the family has terminal illness. This book is about living. After knowing about his cancer, Randy didn’t brood about it, instead faced moment very optimistically. He was thankful to God that he had got some time to prepare about what he wants to leave as a legacy.The book is full of inspirational quotes and inspiring stories. He talked about honesty, integrity, gratitude and the things that are dear to him. He lectured about the joy of life and how much he appreciated life, even with so little time left. He mentioned about living the childhood dream, how to achieve the childhood dream and how to enable the dream of many others.Being a Computer Science lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University, he set up a virtual reality lab, where he taught ‘Building Virtual Worlds’. In 1998, along with Don Marinelli, he set up the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), to focus on educational goals and creative development in students. Randy also started Alice. Alice is a free download, innovative software tool that allows students who have never programmed before to easily create animations for telling stories, creating interactive games etc,.You might not agree with all of Randy’s lessons, but you will be left with choosing to live with fun and optimism.“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand’.” There’s a decision we all have to make, and it seems perfectly captured in the Winnie-the-Pooh characters created by A.A.Milne. Each of us must decide: Am I a fun-loving Tigger or am I a sad-sack Eeyore?”After reading the book, i watched the video of his last lecture. I would suggest everyone to watch this video.” The brick walls are there for a reason. They’re not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.”

What an extraordinary book…

Great read to understand life decisions.

When I first clicked on "The Last Lecture" on Amazon, the rave reviews and high ratings made me think I was in for a life-changing read. The book, famous for its backstory as much as its content, promised deep insights into what makes each of us unique and how to contribute to the world.But as I read, I realized something crucial: the book was less about universal lessons and more about Randy Pausch's personal journey. It's a journey filled with genuine emotion, reflecting on life, dreams, and the power of perseverance. Pausch's tales, from tackling life's hurdles to chasing childhood dreams, were inspiring but felt more anecdotal than actionable.This shift in perspective reminded me of a vital life lesson, similar to what Housel often emphasizes: what we expect from a situation isn't always what we get, and that's okay. The book's real treasure lies in its authenticity, not in the step-by-step guide I was hoping for.In the end, knowing about Pausch's passing in 2008 and his wife's own struggles added a layer of depth to the story. "The Last Lecture" is a poignant memoir, perhaps not a practical handbook. It teaches us about resilience and determination in the face of life's greatest challenges. It's a reminder that sometimes, the value in a story is not in the lessons we can directly apply but in the perspectives we gain

Osm👍

This was a great book. So many lessons to be learned. Life is too short, have fun and enjoy yourself.

Te ayuda a recordar lo que realmente importa en la vida.Fragmentos que te motivan y te abren los ojos.Una lectura muy agradable y amena.Totalmente recomendable.

A must read for everyone who is struggling with life (regardless of whether or now said problems are serious) - the book describes in a beautiful, funny and arguably most importantly, very positive way what would otherwise would have been a nightmare journey.As a patient of Dr House once said, it’s not only where we are going but about how we get there.Really recommend that book, easily top 10 of all time in my list.

This ‘last lecture’ is a very uplifting and happy way that Randy Pausch deals with his terminal cancer. Despite his young age and the sorrow of leaving his wife and small children before long, his book provides a great deal of comfort and sensible advice for us all.A great book to inspire us all to be ‘Tiggers’

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture ist eine bewegende und inspirierende Reise, die den Leser auf eine tiefgründige Reflexion über das Leben und die Werte führt. Das Buch entstand aus Pausch's gleichnamigem Vortrag, den er an der Carnegie Mellon University hielt, nachdem er die Diagnose einer unheilbaren Krebserkrankung erhalten hatte.Die Klarheit und Ehrlichkeit, mit der Pausch über sein Leben und seine bevorstehende Herausforderung spricht, berühren den Leser auf einer persönlichen Ebene. Die Struktur des Buches folgt den wichtigen Lebenslektionen, die Pausch teilen möchte, angefangen bei seinen Kindheitsträumen bis hin zu den erworbenen Erkenntnissen im Erwachsenenalter.Ein herausragender Aspekt des Buches ist Pausch's Fähigkeit, selbst inmitten der größten Herausforderungen Optimismus zu bewahren. Seine Haltung und seine Ratschläge sind nicht nur auf sein eigenes Schicksal beschränkt, sondern bieten universelle Weisheiten, die für jeden Leser relevant sind.Besonders beeindruckend ist die Art und Weise, wie Pausch komplexe Themen auf eine leicht verständliche und humorvolle Weise präsentiert. Die Mischung aus persönlichen Anekdoten, klugen Einsichten und einer Prise Humor verleiht dem Buch Leichtigkeit, ohne dabei die Ernsthaftigkeit der Botschaft zu verlieren.Last Lecture ist kein Buch über das Sterben. Es ist eine Feier des Lebens, eine Aufforderung, bewusster zu leben und die eigenen Träume zu verfolgen. Die Lektionen, die Randy Pausch hinterlässt, sind zeitlos und erinnern den Leser daran, die Werte des Lebens zu schätzen.Insgesamt ist Last Lecture eine bemerkenswerte Leseerfahrung, die den Leser dazu inspiriert, das eigene Leben mit mehr Achtsamkeit und Dankbarkeit zu betrachten. Pausch's Erbe wird nicht nur in seinen akademischen Beiträgen weiterleben, sondern auch in den Herzen der Leser, die durch seine Worte berührt wurden.Anmerkung: Im Internet ist die Last Lecture im Original noch frei verfügbar. Das Video ist ebenfalls sehr zu empfehlen.