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The Last Lecture

4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 · rating details · 117,880 ratings · 11,009 reviews

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."
— Randy Pausch

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 c

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Hardcover, 206 pages

Published April 8th 2008 by Hyperion (first published 2008)

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Jul 27, 2008 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone, just don't read it too quickly

Recommended to Andrew by: YouTube

Shelves: one-book-per-week-08-09

I sat down to write my review of “The Last Lecture” on Friday July 25th. Before I started to write, I decided to check Randy Pausch's website for any updates on his condition. He had died that morning at the age of 47. The book, and the lecture itself, now take on new meaning.

For those who aren't aware, Randy Pausch was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The university has a tradition of inviting professors to give a lecture where they pretend that it is their last chanc...more I sat down to write my review of “The Last Lecture” on Friday July 25th. Before I started to write, I decided to check Randy Pausch's website for any updates on his condition. He had died that morning at the age of 47. The book, and the lecture itself, now take on new meaning.

For those who aren't aware, Randy Pausch was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. The university has a tradition of inviting professors to give a lecture where they pretend that it is their last chance ever to talk to their students. What would you say? What wisdom would you impart? What are your lessons in life? For Randy, this was not a hypothetical question. Barely a minute into the lecture he introduced “the elephant in the room”: advanced pancreatic cancer that would kill him in a matter of months. With this revelation out of the way, he gave a talk about achieving your childhood dreams and enabling the dreams of others. The lecture was so full of optimism, clarity, hope, humour, and sincerity that the YouTube video went viral and a few months later it was published as a book. “The Last Lecture” contains everything that Randy covered in the lecture, plus some other anecdotes and pearls of wisdom from his life and experience.

Like the lecture, the book is earnest and straightforward. Randy tells a story then gives us the moral in case we missed it. He fills his stories with humour, occasionally laugh out loud. What comes across most strongly is his deep love for his wife and children who he knew he would be leaving behind. It's hard to read this book and not have a good impression of the author. He seems like a great guy, someone that you would love to have as a mentor or friend. I think this is reason that the lecture was such a success; his personality makes a watcher puts more stock in his words. This still comes across in the book, although not as strongly as in the lecture. In fact, without seeing him on video and hearing him speak the words, reading the book can almost get a bit tiring. I recall thinking on a number of occasions: “Ok, we know that you're a really smart guy who works really hard and never gives up, you don't need to keep telling me”.

Some of the advice in the book, especially that which goes beyond what he said in the lecture, can be a bit tough to swallow. For example, his advice to always carry 200$ in cash in your wallet; does he think that only the upper middle class are going to read this book? Similarly, he often speaks of the great mentors, friends, and supporters that he has had through his life; not everyone goes to a university where the professors have such extensive connections to facilitate their student's careers. Finally, his advice to never give up (“Brick walls are not there to keep us out, they are there so we can show how much we want something”) sometimes comes across as as sense of entitlement. He never says to expect something for nothing, but does imply that anything you want to achieve is possible if only you work hard enough at it. Advice like this sometimes crosses the line into sappiness and glurge. Fortunately these moments are fairly rare, and as long as you don't read the book in a single sitting (which is quite possible) then you probably won't feel too overwhelmed.

Interestingly, shortly after I watched the last lecture on YouTube a student of mine asked me a similar question to the topic of the last lecture. What do I consider my most important lesson in life so far? It is quite a difficult question to answer. I'm sure that I don't have the life experience to give a good enough answer, but it's quite possible that this student was bright enough to recognize that and learn something from the incompleteness of my relatively uninformed response. I hope that someday I can have the kind of perspective that Randy shows in the lecture and the book. We need people like Randy, who have a clear picture of what they have learned in life and who are willing to share it. Regardless of whether you or I agree completely with his advice, what shines through is that this was a man who lived his life according to principles that he believed in, and that he thought others would benefit from hearing. His life, lecture, book, and his death remind me of a quote from Dr. Howard Thurman: "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive”. Even as he lived the last few months of his life, I know that Randy was truly alive.(less)

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Aug 12, 2009 Books Ring Mah Bell rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of American Idol

Recommended to Books Ring Mah Bell by: The whole world

Shelves: memo-auto-bio, poop

While this man has a 5-star attitude, I can only give the book two.

yeah, everyone is raving about this guy...
Five star attitude... the author gets diagnosed with terminal cancer. He refers to this as "an engineering problem" (understated and true) has 3-6 months to live, tops. Has 3 small children (ages 6 and under)who will never know him. he was scheduled to give a "last lecture", ya know, how to live your life as if you were dying... (irony) and he writes it in such a way that it's a celebra...more

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Jun 12, 2008 Todd rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: vacuous white upper middle class people

My review of this book will not be popular, but I must be honest. I'm halfway through this book, and although I appreciate a positive voice, it's really not that interesting or helpful. If I could sum up this book in three words, they would be "yay for me". The author tells us how great his childhood was, then that he accomplished all his childhood dreams, got the girl of his dreams...etc etc etc. It's really not a book how to better your own life, as much as it him telling us how great his life...more

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Jun 23, 2009 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cara by: Mom

Shelves: non-fiction, books-i-own, to-re-read

THIS BOOK BLEW ME AWAY!!! Yeah I really won't be able to give a coherent review.

Suffice to say that this is human beings at their best. You might not agree with all of Randy's lessons, but he tells you from the get go that this is what he thinks and he did it all for his kids.

Towards the end I cried because there really isn't another word to describe the whole thing but genuine. The book was published when he was still alive, but I read it when he had already passed away so it was even more hear...more

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May 28, 2008 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was first "introduced" to Mr. Pausch while watching the Oprah show in the fall. My father in law was in the hospital at the time, fighting melanoma that had metastacized to his lungs. Simply stated, I stopped folding clothes and cried so hard during that show. Soon after, the emails began to circulate with links to the last lecture on utube and I watched every link I got and cried even more. I read all the internet articles and was touched every time. When I saw the book was coming out, I jump...more I was first "introduced" to Mr. Pausch while watching the Oprah show in the fall. My father in law was in the hospital at the time, fighting melanoma that had metastacized to his lungs. Simply stated, I stopped folding clothes and cried so hard during that show. Soon after, the emails began to circulate with links to the last lecture on utube and I watched every link I got and cried even more. I read all the internet articles and was touched every time. When I saw the book was coming out, I jumped on board and knew I had to read it. I never knew how emotional this book would be for me. The day (August 15, 2007) Randy Pausch got the devistating news that his cancer had spread and there was nothing the doctors could do anymore, is the same day that we arrived at MD Anderson with my father in law, knowing things were not right. I came across this in the book and had to put it down for days. This was just hitting too close to home for me. I finally was able to pick it back up and continue. This book and Mr. Pausch's stories are so touching and true that we can all find something in there that will help us want to be a better person. We can all find some bit of wisdom that can be carried into our lives. I cried so many times reading this, but I laughed several times too! Anyone who has had their life touched by cancer will benefit from the optimism Mr. Pausch has, but it will be a very difficult read just because of the seriousness of the issues at hand. Just the sheer optimism in such a negative world is very uplifting.

I ran across several quotes from the book that I felt were so important that I needed to use my trusty post it notes to mark them for future reference. Here they are:
Pg. 51- "The brick walls are there for a reason. They're not there to keep us out. The brink walls are there to give us a chance to how how badly we want something." Mr. Pausch refers to the brick walls so many times, but it is so true!
pg.111- "Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think." This has been a major realization in my life this past year. We thought we had so much time with my father in law. And we lost him so quickly. Take the time to do the things you want and never put them off.
pg. 119- "Luck is indeed where preparation meets opportunity." This goes back to my old Girl Scout motto "Be prepared."
pg.148- "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." Glad to know I've gotten something! And now it makes sense.
pg.156- "A lot of people want a shortcut. I find the best shortcut is the long way, which is basically two words: work hard." Wow! If we could all stop taking the shortcuts and work a little harder, could imagine what might happen?!?!
pg.159- "All you have is what you bring with you" This is the chapter title and it sure says a lot.(less)

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Jan 30, 2009 Beth F. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Beth F. by: Katie

Shelves: nonfiction, biography-and-memoir, 2009, it-made-me-cry, i-reviewed-this-bad-boy, tnbbc-winter-2008

I think this was one of those books where knowing the criticisms before starting it ultimately upped my enjoyment factor.

Randy Pausch, the author, was one of those people who became wildly popular in 2008 thanks to the internet. He was a popular professor at Carnegie Mellon and was invited to give a “last lecture”, a tradition of sorts where a professor is urged to give a specially prepared lecture as though it were the last s/he were to ever give. And so they are encouraged to break down all t...more

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Apr 07, 2008 Mark rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, non-fiction

I'm appending this with the review I wrote for my paper: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08097/...

I read this because I am doing continuing coverage on the author, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who is dying of pancreatic cancer and who gave a last lecture that has been viewed on the Web by more than 6 million folks.

For what it is -- essentially an expanded version of the lecture about his life story and his advice on how to live a fulfilling life which can all be read in a sitting -- it...more I'm appending this with the review I wrote for my paper: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08097/...

I read this because I am doing continuing coverage on the author, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who is dying of pancreatic cancer and who gave a last lecture that has been viewed on the Web by more than 6 million folks.

For what it is -- essentially an expanded version of the lecture about his life story and his advice on how to live a fulfilling life which can all be read in a sitting -- it is very good.

It's highly readable, in part because of Randy's own communication savvy and personality, but also undoubtedly because of the crafting it got from Wall Street Journal columnist Jeffrey Zaslow.

Most of the things I highlighted were items I didn't already know from the lecture, but in any case, here are just a couple tidbits.

As a professor, Randy would put his students in teams and everyone would give feedback to the other team members on how well they were doing, particularly in their ability to work well with the group. He recalled one student who, when told he was in the bottom quartile on the feedbacks, was sure that he was near the top of the quartile, which meant he really wasn't that far from being 50-50 on people skills. That's when Randy said the kid was at the very bottom. This answer shocked the student, but Randy said "I used to be just like you. I admit it. I'm a recovering jerk. And that's what gives me the moral authority to tell you that you can be a recovering jerk, too."

In a segment on the importance of hand-writing thank you notes, this otherwise completely high-tech guy recalled one instance where an applicant to his master's program in entertainment technology didn't quite have the grades or accomplishments to make it in, until he found a thank you note she had written, not to any of the program leaders, but to a support person who had helped her make arrangements for an on-campus visit. It turned the tide for her. "She came to the Entertainment Technology Center, got her master's degree and is now a Disney Imagineer," he said, which is his idea of the ideal job.

It's not all homilies and advice. When describing the strength and love of his wife, Jai, who will be left to raise their three preschool-age children, he talked about how his cancer diagnosis had given him the time to have vital, open conversations with her that wouldn't have been possible if he had died suddenly. He talked about how well she was coping and how she was doing it without the attention and even adulation he has been receiving. And then he revealed that when he gave his last lecture and surprised her with a birthday cake, and she came on stage to kiss and hold him, what she whispered in his ear was: "Please don't die."

That made the book as real and powerful to me as anything else.

So even if you're not normally drawn to self improvement books or memoirs, try this one: It will give you a lot to think about on what your life's priorities are and what you might say to the people you love if you had to leave them behind. It will probably make you want to kiss your kids or your partner and call your parents, too. (less)

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Mar 26, 2012 Lindsay Coppens rated it 2 of 5 stars

It's hard to criticize a dying man. I think this is a great book for his wife, family, children, and friends to read, and although it has some good life lessons that are not revolutionary but do need repeating from time to time, this book is not well written. At points while I was reading I found myself actually disliking Pausch and his way of presenting himself, but then I realized that this would perhaps make me a horrible person. Maybe I am. I very much prefer Tuesdays With Morrie for a simil...more

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Jun 10, 2008 Mickey rated it 1 of 5 stars

I couldn't bring myself to finish this book. Perhaps the author's buildup to the ultimate last lecture raised my expectations too high, but I found myself working hard to try to maintain interest as I plowed through a series of anecdotes and trite observations. I suspect I would have enjoyed the book more if he had simply written about his work at the university, but I did not feel a connection to the author, despite his obvious courage in the face of a terminal illness.
I suppose a reader can't...more

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Apr 30, 2008 Leslie Jem rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: super meek high school graduate

Shelves: memoir-essay

It may be that I am particularly sensitive to certain topics, but I didn't enjoy this book. I realize that the author is trying to cram all that he has found to be important in life in 200 pages, which is automatically going to make it seem preachy. Maybe it's that I didn't like what he was preaching. He spent too much time encouraging people to scale brick walls on the paths to their dreams. Then he started describing other people as brick walls and he lost me. Sometimes no means no, and bounda...more

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Oct 14, 2008 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a great book with a lot of poignant insights. The best part about it, I feel, is that it led me to think about my own life and the things I value and have experienced. And most of all, it gives inspiration to live life more fully.

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Jul 19, 2008 Tifnie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Recommended to Tifnie by: Juli Platzer

Shelves: non-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 15, 2012 Fotooh Jarkas rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, 2012, self-help

"so many will get the chance to say goodbye,BUT It's never too late to think of the value of your life " Randy was trying to tell us that , and he did it in a great way !

It was more than a lecture ! and it's not fair to write a review about this great work .. Actually it was an every day's lecture ..
I was completely in , I cried with him and laughed with him, I was amazed by his courage, faith and pride , I liked how he decided to help his wife in raising the kids after his death .
he was a gre...more

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Aug 04, 2008 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars

I arrived late to the parade -- sadly, the first I ever heard of Randy Pausch was when his obit ran on CNN.com late last month. The bulk of the story centered around the "last lecture" that made him famous well beyond the halls of the universities where he taught and in the scientific realm.

A few nights later, a guy who took the seat next to me on the train home was reading the book Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow put out based off his lecture. I gave it a few glances out of the corner of my eye and d...more I arrived late to the parade -- sadly, the first I ever heard of Randy Pausch was when his obit ran on CNN.com late last month. The bulk of the story centered around the "last lecture" that made him famous well beyond the halls of the universities where he taught and in the scientific realm.

A few nights later, a guy who took the seat next to me on the train home was reading the book Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow put out based off his lecture. I gave it a few glances out of the corner of my eye and decided it was probably something I needed to read.

This book could easily be read straight through, although I do most of my reading on the train and in increments. That served me well with The Last Lecture because it gave me time to pause and think over all the little life lessons and pearls of wisdom contained in Pausch's story. Short chapters also helped and provided for moments to stop and pause, which I needed not only to let what I read sink in but also at times just to keep composure, as I don't carry a box of tissues with me on the train and there were points (especially in the final segment of the book, appropriately titled "Final Remarks") when I was perilously close to needing them.

Pausch recounts learning of his terminal illness, the time leading up to the lecture and the lecture itself, which he named "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" and expounds upon in the book. Everyone is likely to take something a little different from this book -- which is why everyone at some point should try to read it -- but the biggest thing I took was the brick wall concept.

The brick wall might represent a situation in life or even a relationship with another person, but Pausch makes it clear: "Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something."

Although the advice given is very simple at times -- kind of in the "everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten" vein -- it's nonetheless given with sincerity and the wisdom that comes with putting every bit of living possible into 47 short years. I'm actually kind of glad I read the book when I did ... Pausch undoubtedly inspired many people during his life, I got to be near the top of the list of people who will be inspired by his words after he died.

(less)

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Apr 27, 2011 Ryan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pausch, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer when he gave his "last lecture," organizes his message around childhood dreams. Sometimes, we struggle to reach our dreams, and when we do struggle, we hit what Pausch refers to as the "brick wall." He outlines ways of getting around the brick wall, and reminds his audience that it's only there so that people who really want it can climb over it.

So don't give up, and here are some tips to help you along the way...

Not much sense in reviewing a s...more

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Aug 29, 2008 Khalid rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: already-read, audio-books

I enjoyed watching his last lecture, which was extremely touching, but reading this book was even more touching. I actually teared up numerous times while reading it.

As far as I'm concerned, this guy is a hero. He was happy, and yet he achieved so much. He was diagnosed with cancer, and instead of just letting it put him down, it was a motive for him to leave this last lecture, a lasting legacy.

I do recommend that everyone read this book.

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Dec 31, 2012 K.D. Oliveros rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs, non-fiction, essays, inspirational

I am writing this review with barely 4 hours to go before 2013. I picked this book up to inspire me to face another year. I learned about this book when I took our company-mandated safety leadership training last month. Our corporate safety manager talked highly of this as he related Randy Pausch's very personal experience with what one person's ultimate objective in life, i.e., what should really matter to each of us in the training room.

For those who are not familiar with this 2008 bestselling...more I am writing this review with barely 4 hours to go before 2013. I picked this book up to inspire me to face another year. I learned about this book when I took our company-mandated safety leadership training last month. Our corporate safety manager talked highly of this as he related Randy Pausch's very personal experience with what one person's ultimate objective in life, i.e., what should really matter to each of us in the training room.

For those who are not familiar with this 2008 bestselling book, Randy Pausch (1960-2008) was an American computer science professor who died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 47. At the time of his death, he left his three small children aged 6, 4 and 1. He learned about his condition in Sept 2006 so he was able to use his last 22 months to prepare. The highlight of this preparation was his last lecture delivered in the university where he used to teach, Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. That last lecture is basically what this book is all about.

The book is divided into 6 parts: (1) the last lecture; (2) his six childhood dreams that he basically achieved prior to his lecture; (3) various anecdotes that taught him life lessons; (4) how he inspired others to achieve their dreams; (5) his list of advices for better living and (6) his final messages to his family - 3 kids and wife Jai.

Overall, the book had that inspiring effect on me but it was far from mind-blowing. I think I've read too many similarly situated characters in both fiction and non-fiction works that I found Pausch's situation less heart-wrenching. Fact: people die everyday and Pausch's condition was a lot better than the people who had to die here in the Philippines. Why Pausch was even able to buy a brand new house and lot for the family he was leaving behind few month's before his eventual death. Very few of us in a third-world country would be able to do that. So, this is not to criticize Pausch and his better life situations were not his fault, it's just that I found it harder to empathize with him. There are a lot of worse situations around here in our country.

His writing is also less moving that those written by non-writers during the last years of their lives. I even found the memoir The Time of My Life (3 stars) jointly written by Patrick Swayze (1952-2009) and his wife Lisa Niemi detailing Swayze's fight against the same kind of cancer more engaging and interesting. For one, The Last Lecture at times seems too self-absorbed as Pausch talks about himself, himself, himself. This only stopped in Part 4 but very briefly. I am not judging Pausch but looks like he was telling the truth that he was self-centered and took highly of himself, e.g., finishing other people's sentences, when he was still young and healthy. That's why that part where he was supposed to tell how he was able to inspire others was short and somewhat less affecting.

I thought that it would have been better if Pausch hired a seasoned writer to assist him in writing the book. The idea of the book was a surefire hit but he sounded mostly preachy and self-absorbed. His better life situations than most of us have alienating instead of engaging effect at least for me. If I could leave those luxuries to my family and achieve that celebrity status, I would have been happy to trade places with Pausch and die with smile on my face anytime.

Overall, I liked this book still because of some important reminders that I was able to pick up:

(1) Live simple life - don't buy things to impress others

(2) Never make a decision until you have to.

(3) Even if in a position of strength, whether at work or in relationships, you have to play fair. Just because you're in a driver's seat, doesn't mean you have to run people over.

(4) Parents should make their love known to their children. They don't need to be alive to do this.

(5) If your car has a dent, you don't have to have it removed. It could be a statement of who you are. Not everything needs to be fixed.

(6) Don't finish someone's sentences. And talking louder or faster doesn't make your idea any better.

(7) If you wait long enough, people will surprise and impress you.

(8) Not what they do, not what they say.

(9) Whether you think you can or can't, you're right.

(10) A lot of people want a shortcut. I find the best shortcut is the long way, which is basically two words: work hard.

(11) Proper apologies have three parts:
A) What I did was wrong
B) I feel badly that I hurt you
C) How do I make this better?

If there is one lesson that I consider the best advice I got from Randy Pausch, this should be it: (12) If I could give three words of advice, they would be "tell the truth." If I got three more words, I'd add: "All the time."

Happy New Year everyone! I wish you more books, books, books!(less)

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May 13, 2008 Max Stone rated it 4 of 5 stars

Really I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars.

I very much like that fact that it is a book basically about being positive and being effective and is by an author exactly unlike the author of the Secret.

I would suffer immensely if I had to read a book (the Secret) about how I should visualize something and then it will happen and that this is a great secret only known to abraham lincoln and some famous ancients, revealed now for the first time to a broader audience. I model that as basically taki...more Really I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars.

I very much like that fact that it is a book basically about being positive and being effective and is by an author exactly unlike the author of the Secret.

I would suffer immensely if I had to read a book (the Secret) about how I should visualize something and then it will happen and that this is a great secret only known to abraham lincoln and some famous ancients, revealed now for the first time to a broader audience. I model that as basically taking some true observation (that being positive about things and trying to achieve them makes success more likely) and wrapping all sorts of untrue stuff around that observation. but I guess I should refrain from further slagging a book I haven't read. Back to the Last Lecture...

I very much prefer to read some of the same thoughts (plus additional ones) from a computer scientist who is constantly doing utility calculations in his head. for better or for worse, that is exactly the person I am liable to trust advice from.

a lot of the advice is kinda generic (although still true, and still somewhat helpful to put it back on top of the brain stick), like "people like it when you write thank-you letters" and "if you really want to do something, try really hard to accomplish it and don't give up easily."

The part that struck a chord most with me was that he thought people dramatically underestimated the value of being able to accurately assess themselves, and hence didn't train people for it (e.g. over-praising kids on everything so they can't tell what is actually good work or not), didn't habitually provide people enough feedback so they had more data to improve themselves with, etc. I thought that was good advice.

Also the author was just a charismatic guy and it was a fun read. And the part about leaving his wife/kids behind when he died and trying to give them some of himself though this book was well done in the book and very sad (the situation that is; what he was doing through the book and the lecture was good). (less)

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May 29, 2008 Cassie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

This is probably the tiniest book I've ever read - I mean literally it's only slightly longer than my hand and contains little over 200 pages. When I first saw it, I was surprised and asked my mom, "that's it?" to which she responded, "yeah, he wrote the book because people were asking for it, he wanted to spend more time with his family, not writing a book." Of course after hearing that I was like duH! If you have absolutely no clue who Randy Pausch is or have never heard his "last lecture" do...more

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Jun 10, 2008 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really have mixed feelings about this book. It was a great lecture and legacy for him to leave for his children. As a reader I was a bit put off by the 'tone' of the book. What I mean by 'tone' is, I felt like he was telling me how great he was, which was perfect for a legacy and lecture to his children and those that knew him, it just turned me off of the book.

He had great points and I agree with him on a lot of his advice. I think I would give the book a 3.5 if I could. Personally, it was a...more

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Feb 19, 2009 Scot rated it 2 of 5 stars

I will probably burn in hell--well, okay, suffer a few extra millenia in purgatory, maybe--for only giving this book two stars. It's one of the top gift books of 2008, if you didn't yet view "The Last Lecture" on YouTube you probably heard about it via Oprah or friends or co-workers: a talented computer science prof at Carnegie Mellon with three adorable little toddlers and a loving wife learns he has pancreatic cancer and about six months to live, so he gives a farewell lecture to his students,...more I will probably burn in hell--well, okay, suffer a few extra millenia in purgatory, maybe--for only giving this book two stars. It's one of the top gift books of 2008, if you didn't yet view "The Last Lecture" on YouTube you probably heard about it via Oprah or friends or co-workers: a talented computer science prof at Carnegie Mellon with three adorable little toddlers and a loving wife learns he has pancreatic cancer and about six months to live, so he gives a farewell lecture to his students, his university, and the world, to give us some life guidance before he passes away.

He's a smart man with a beautiful family and a great job. And now he must deal with death--the Grim Reaper we must all ultimately confront. But he chooses to be upbeat, and empowering, using positive energy to help us all be better folks. Why then do I not like this book??

There's something about the way he does it that strikes me as being knowingly and calculated self-focused on his part, even while he claims he is trying to only reach and help others. I know I should cut him some slack--my God, the man was dying, he is dead now as I write!--but the whole set up of the lecture, and then the book that reworks a lot of the lecture, is to make us feel incredible pity even as he tells us not to. He tells us in the beginning of the lecture it won't be about his wife and kids and how much he loves them--but of course that's exactly where he ends, so we are totally consumed in sympathy and crying our eyes out at the end (if we have any compassion at all).

As a cathartic reading for families and caregivers dealing with terminal illness, this book could probably be an effective salve, but as a homily of wisdom for the ages (or common sense to live by, take your pick as it works as both) this book offers many of the same platitudes one would find in any wise sermon or self-help essay. A lot of these pearls of wisdom are offered here, again and again, within a framework of "see how great I was" or "see how great my family was" or "see how successful I have always been." He does share that in college he was thought of by many as a self-centered jerk, that some had acccused him of the sin of arrogance. I suspect that as much as he tries to adopt the voice of an Everyman and claim we could and should all adopt his maxims of wisdom, I see some of that old arrogance that he probably still retains as he tells anecdote after anecdote where he turns out the star.

I can tell he was a very good teacher who truly cared about his students. You can easily see how much he loves his kids, and he keeps re-iterating this whole "Last Lecture" and then the follow-up book marketing campaign were really supposed to be gifts to them. Perhaps if he had been a bit more honest about how much personal pleasure he got out of all this limelight and attention at the end, that indeed a good part of this was to make himself be the center of attention one last forceful time, I would have felt even more respect than I already have. But if you've seen the video, I really don't think you need to read the book. And if you do decide to read it anyway, consume it in small bites--don't read it straight through in one sitting, as I did. The advice (which is often quite sensible and praiseworthy) will probably go down easier, and remain with you longer.(less)

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Feb 27, 2009 Suzanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction, spiritual

I saw The Last Lecture on PBS and have seen Randy interviewed on television. He was a telegenic multicaret diamond whose looks, voice, mannerisms and personality sparkle from the screen.
This book is based on his famous "Last Lecture" but it is just a book. A book written using his words, and his photographs, but alas, not possessing the jazzy energy of the man himself. How could it?
I think the book should be sold with a DVD of the actual lecture. (although it is free on YouTube) Randy set a...more

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Dec 05, 2008 tee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed

A little bit cocky, irritating and smug; but an easy read. I was a little confused as to how mediocre the book actually was considering the hype that it got. I do admire Pausch's attitude, I could definitely be a heck of a lot more like Tigger, and a shite load less like Eeyore ... but I also find the Tigger types annoying, I always want to slap them. I felt like this whilst reading the book, I admired his bouncy attitude, but it also felt completely unreal and so detached.

I felt as if he prese...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Sam Ang rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: motivation

Shelves: motivation, non-fiction

The full review is available through the following link:
http://bookunderthesun.blogspot.com/2...

As is mentioned on the flap of the book, professors in universities are often asked to present a lecture called "The Last Lecture". They are told to imagine that death is near and this talk will be their last one before leaving the world of the living. What wisdom will they impart?

In the case of Randy Pausch, he did not have to imagine, for he was just diagnosed with terminal cancer - pancreatic cance...more

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Jan 16, 2011 Josh Hanke rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book isn't a life changer, but it was amazingly fun and quick to read. Unabashedly, I even shed a couple of tears in the final few chapters. One reason why I enjoyed this book so much is that Randy and I have an extremely similar way of viewing things (what is or isn't important, what's efficient, turning issues into black and white, etc.). He remains optimistically and realistically balanced about his battle with pancreatic cancer while maintaining an tremendous amount of vitality and wit....more

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Jan 16, 2010 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Valerie by: Cara, Mom, Dad

Shelves: books-i-own, male-protagonist

I know I'm late in the game in reading this book. I kept putting it off but I told myself I was going to read it this year for sure and I'm glad I did.

Pausch uses everyday problems and gives them a whole new meaning. If your not into cliches then the book may get annoying. He says things like 'people are more important than things,' and 'don't sweat the small stuff,' etc. However I am pretty okay with cliches (he loves them by the way).

I think you can take what you want out of this book. Some...more

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Jan 18, 2009 William T. rated it 1 of 5 stars

No doubt Randy Pausch was a nice guy. But this book is smarmy, self-indulgent crap--which is ok given the circumstances under which he gave this lecture. But it is not worth reading.

This is typical 1980's individualistic, unreflective advise on how to succeed in life. Alas, Professor Pausch does not realize that he was born white, male, middle income, in exactly the time in the 20th century where he could avoid confronting WWI, WWII, the depression, Korea, Vietnam, urban riots of the 1960's, the...more

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Dec 01, 2008 mike rated it 1 of 5 stars

Here is the last lecture of professor Randy Pausch, a terminally ill cancer patient and married father of three young children.

This book, which expands upon the actual lecture viewable on YouTube, is essentially a love letter to his wife & kids. One would need a heart of stone to be unmoved by Mr. Pausch's plight and his earnest desire to express his love for his family. But the "last lecture" (and the book by the same title) is/was a public event. And illness by itself, though it might con...more

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Oct 20, 2008 Craig rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: overrated-turds, autobios-and-bios

At the risk of sounding like a cold-hearted jerk let me preface this by saying how profoundly touched I was when I heard about Randy Pausch's plight. This rating and what I say about his book in no way reflects on the man. No one should ever be dealt the hand that he was. He was in the prime of his life and career when he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer at the age of 46. From that point forward he dedicated what remained of his time to his family and with the task of writing life l...more At the risk of sounding like a cold-hearted jerk let me preface this by saying how profoundly touched I was when I heard about Randy Pausch's plight. This rating and what I say about his book in no way reflects on the man. No one should ever be dealt the hand that he was. He was in the prime of his life and career when he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer at the age of 46. From that point forward he dedicated what remained of his time to his family and with the task of writing life lessons for his kids, lessons that they could remember him by for the rest of their lives. By all accounts he was a talented and dedicated teacher, a loving husband, and a strong role model for his kids. This is gut-wrenching stuff and it's hard to imagine the kind of power and strength it takes to go forward so firmly and without a trace of self-pity.

The output of Pausch's tragic journey was his now famous Carnegie Mellon lecture (available on YouTube and elsewhere) and this slim volume, published shortly before his untimely death in July 2008. In both the book and the lecture he points out his personal life lessons and explains how he was able to live life to the fullest by following his bliss and ticking items off his Life List (developed in childhood).

Pausch boils the theme down to "what wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?". By the end of the book and lecture, however, I was left wondering who the real day-to-day Randy Pausch was. Far be it for me to doubt someone's sincerity or commitment to family but his testimony of the importance of "home and hearth" in the book seemed somewhat contrary to the reality as he showcases in one comment in the book. People would ask him how he came to be successful -- his answer was to call him at work at 10:00 pm on a Friday night and he'd tell you. Was the knowledge that he had cancer a full angelic transformation for him or did he always live by the values he preaches in the book? Is this book an atonement or a summary of a life well lived?

And what was the reason for its stellar popularity, it's near-constant presence on daytime talk shows, the Internet phenomenon of the lecture? I'm not sure. I personally think that the tragedy of the man's situation and the empathy one cannot help feeling were really what fueled the success. People could see them and think privately, "How awful!" or even more cynically, "I'm glad that's not me!". It is an exercise in Napoleon Hill self-affirmation. To claim that there were any original inspirational insights within its pages I think is a real stretch. The true lesson to derive is not to win the most stuffed animals at the Fair or to travel to space but the one of bravery and strength that Pausch demonstrated the last courageous months of his tragically short life.
(less)

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Jan 28, 2009 Teri rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is written in typical inspirational book format; personal experience followed by general life application. At first I couldn't figure out why it seemed so familiar, but then I realized that all inspirational books eventually reach the same conclusions. Be kind, be happy, serve others, love your family, reach for your dreams, these truths are universal whether you are dying of cancer or just pondering life. That said, Scott commented that I quoted to him more of this book than any other...more

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About Randy Pausch

I am flattered and embarassed by all the recent attention to my "Last Lecture." I am told that, including abridged versions, over six million people have viewed the lecture online. The lecture really was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful. But rest assured; I'm hardly unique. Send your kids to Carnegie Mellon and the other professors here will teach them valuable...more I am flattered and embarassed by all the recent attention to my "Last Lecture." I am told that, including abridged versions, over six million people have viewed the lecture online. The lecture really was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful. But rest assured; I'm hardly unique. Send your kids to Carnegie Mellon and the other professors here will teach them valuable life lessons long after I'm gone. -- Randy

Randy Pausch was a Professor of Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States and a best-selling author, who achieved worldwide fame for his "The Last Lecture" speech on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon University.

In August 2006, Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He pursued a very aggressive cancer treatment that included Whipple procedure surgery and experimental chemotherapy; however, in August 2007, he was told the cancer had metastasized to his liver and spleen, which meant it was terminal. He then started palliative chemotherapy, intended to extend his life as long as possible. At that time, doctors estimated he would remain healthy for another three to six months. On May 2, 2008, a PET scan showed that his cancer had spread to his lungs, some lymph nodes in his chest and that he had some metastases in his peritoneum and retroperitoneum.

On June 26, 2008, Pausch indicated that he was considering stopping further chemotherapy because of the potential adverse side effects. He was, however, considering some immuno-therapy-based approaches.

On July 24, 2008, on behalf of Pausch, his friend (anonymous) posted a message on Pausch's webpage indicating cancer progression further than what was expected from recent PET scans and Pausch becoming more sick than ever. It was announced that his family had sent him into a hospice program — palliative care to those at the end of life.

On July 25, 2008, Diane Sawyer announced on Good Morning America that Pausch had died earlier that morning.(less)

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“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” — 1,103 people liked it

“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” — 1,075 people liked it

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