While I don't disagree with your comment, I'd like to say that I think the point of this book was more for his kids to know who he is. I don't think it was meant as a how-to guide, but as a message saying, "Live your life in a positive way, and strive to make your dreams come true."

My comment will be even less popular. I saw him on Youtube and thought 'he's an American', threw up and clicked away as quickly as possible. It was the positive thing.

If life was meant to be good, God wouldn't give saccharine half wits like Randy Pausch pancreatic cancer when he had young children and 'so much to live for'.

Todd, I couldn't agree with your review more. The further I read the more I wondered what everyone loved about this book. There were some bright moments but overall it just seemed that he wrote about himself. I didn't walk away with much application either other than, "Well, now I know more about Randy." If that was the point, then I'll just return the book to the library and not say another word. Thanks for the honest review.

I'm so pleased to read your review. I was just telling a friend this weekend how I'm finding it very difficult to finish this book. I get through maybe two of his "stories" and I'm all set with his arrogance and "yay for me" tone for the night. But then I feel a little guilty for being annoyed... as if I'm disrespecting the dead. I'm going to have to force myself to finish the last 25 pages tonight and be glad to move on!

I am going to echo the two previous comments on your review. Your summation of the book "yay for me" is absolutely perfect.

I don't think he was a bad guy. His students loved him, so he was a good teacher. And I think the book is a perfect gift for his kids considering, but there is just no reason for the outpouring of love and press it got. It was totally due to marketing.

There are currently billboards up all over my city with him on them...and I find it quite disturbing in a way I can't put words to.

Totally agree with the "yay for me" attitude of this book. As I said in my previous comment, he did not write this book for his kids to remember him by, regardless of what he said. He wrote it so everyone else will remember him.
I also agree with others' thoughts that he most likely wasn't a bad guy, and I am sure he loved his wife and kids. But he could have given them something to remember him by without doing the last lecture, and it probably would have been more meaningful to them.

I absolutely agree, and until the last section I was terribly dissapointed. For some reason that is what finally got me. I realised he was doing it all for his kids and trying to make himself seem like the best possible person for them to remember! As a Mom of 4 I have to say that if something were to happen to me, I hope my kids would remember me fondly and that they would hear great stories about me.

I just bought this book, and I wish I had read this review first. I would have saved my money.

I also agree with the "yay for me" feeling of the book, but I figure if a guy is dying, let him have his last hurrah. What bothered me more is that it started feeling like a big ad for Disney. If I had the patience, I'd love to count how many references there were to the Magic Kingdom. Maybe I'm a Disney conspiracy-theorist in the making.

DUDE THIS GUY DIED FROM A FREAKIN' DISEAZE AND ALL U HAVE TO SAY IS YAY 4 ME! WHAT IF IT WERE U? WOULD U WANT SOMEONE TO WRITE A REVIEW LIKE THIS 4 U? JEEZ GET A LIFE!

I find Randy a breath of fresh air in a very negative world. Sorry you guys didn't catch the breeze. I really don't think Randy cared what the world thought of him. Just what his kids thought of him. I dare anyone of you to live your life with half as much optimism as Randy.

You make me sick Jespy06! He died over a disease and ur bitching about him... you've got some serious issues...

I'm sorry, Marisa. I don't understand your comment. What was it you were trying to say?

You understand it perfectly fine! It's just the believing part you're having trouble with! I don't think you're that stupid!

Eric wrote: "If life was meant to be good, God wouldn't give saccharine half wits like Randy Pausch pancreatic cancer when he had young children and 'so much to live for'."

Wow...that was the most ignorant, off base, and crude statement I have ever read. You obviously have no regard or respect for anyone who can actually enjoy their life. I highly doubt that any detail about his life would render Pausch a half-wit as you so called him. Grow up.

Who is that comment directed to?

Some guy named Eric. HIs comment is above my reply. He called Pausch a half - wit and it pissed me off. Being a professor and a highly successful computer scientist obviously is only achievable by being half-witted in Eric's opinion. It just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't see the harm in loving your own life and wanting to share those feelings with other people.

I agree with you. Did you like this book?

So far i do, i have to read it for my writing class in college. I've read the first 2 chapters and i like it so far.

Marisa:

You are mistaken that I was complaining about the book or making light of the life Dr. Pausch lived. I find his life and book very inspiring.

I did like this book, but I also understand where your coming from Todd. I partly agree with your review and am glad you wrote it. :)

moi bad... hahahaha :)))

I agree. I found him a little "Yay for me." And for the guy who "yelled" because he died from a disease...what does that matter. Everyone is still allowed their own opinions. If the point was to let his children know who he was, fine, write the book for them only. I thought, like others have, that he was self-indulgent and bragging a little. Yeah, he was dying, and perhaps he has a right to at that point. However, don't yell at people for not finding the book inspiring!!!

Shelly wrote: "What bothered me more is that it started feeling like a big ad for Disney. If I had the patience, I'd love to count how many references there were to the Magic Kingdom. Maybe I'm a Disney conspiracy-theorist in the making."

The funny part is, this book is published by The Disney-owned publisher Hyperion, who paid 6.7Million for the rights to publish this. The conspiracy continues... :P

If people didn't like this book, I wonder what kind of books they do like. Comics?

think you missed the whole point of the book

Mike, why don't you check out the books we DO like. They are all better than this self-aggrandizing mess, this media-made book that has little to nothing to offer readers outside of the author's family. Was he a good teacher? Seems so. Was he a nice guy? Yes, except he thought a bit too much of himself. Is it sad he died so young? Yes. Was he a good writer? No. Is the book inspirational? No. Lee Lipsenthal's "Enjoy Every Sandwich" is everything the media indicated this book was and it was well made.

I agree that the tone was a bit too optimistic, and he seemed to paint himself as too good, with his only faults being stuff like not immediately getting into Carnegie Mellon. However, I noticed near the end of the book when he's talking about how he spoke with people that had lost parents in early childhood, that one had said something along the lines of "it's good if the child sees the dead parent as a really good role model that's done lots of important and amazing things." That's obviously not a very good paraphrasing, but you get what I mean. Anyway, combined with the fact that he outright states at the end that he's doing all this for his kids, and it's pretty clear why he lists all the great shit he's ever done. Forgivable, I think, and I still found it to be an interesting, and yes, somewhat inspirational read.

So I think that your review raises important points, though I disagree with how heavily they change the quality of the text.

Although, "vacuous white upper middle class people." Really, dude? There's no need for you to be the coolest guy on Goodreads by pulling out your huge and impressive e-dick, composed of your hatred of upper middle class white people.

like I say him say, none of what he did, the book, the lecture, the tv appearances, were done for 2 people only... his children he was leaving behind.

Could not agree more with your review with one exception. As a participant in academia, Randy Pausch sounds like he was a real jerk prior to his diagnosis. Obviously his response to illness was admirable and uplifting, but it did not imbue him with the secrets of how to live "the good life".

I feel sorry for you Todd,and for all others who give negative reviews for this book for being too 'yaay for me'. If you want to read a self-help book, you should pick up the other countless books available on the book shelf, this is not the book to spoon feed you, step-by-step, like an elementary school teacher. This is a book meant for their children and is not even written by Randy. This was written by Jeffrey based on the phone conversations he had everyday with Randy during his bike rides. I guess are not that type of person who can take inspiration from how others have led their lives and make improvements in your own. Open up your mind and be receptive to new ideas without being too self-indulgent or negative. I bet you don't want to write a book for your children on how shitty your life was if you were to die early. Everyone wants to be a role model for their kids, no matter how they led their lives, and through this book, Randy has achieved what he aimed for.

I read the book and loved it. I don't think he meant it to be a self help book,although if you understood it, it is the basis for the way he navigated his own life. The way the man interacted with the people around him including his family, and the way he reacted to any given situation. The people and their feelings were what mattered to him, not the material things that are easily replaced. I recommend this book!