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What are readers saying about The Last Lecture?
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-08 09:00:38.
(Language: English)
   
It was a great book,very inspirational his cancer story is so sad but the life that he lived seemed very fun. I totally agree with his crayon thoughts I too carry a crayon with me now. It just made me think of the fact that we all will die one day and we don't know when. He at least had a little while before his death to tell or write his children the things he would want them to know and be a great example to them. we should all live our lives today as though it were our last because really it could be. Its all about decisions. ( I telll my children that several times a day) that is probably what they will remember me for.!! What will the people you love remember you for.?? makes me want to achieve dreams and help people i love achieve thiers as well.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-15 12:37:41.
(Language: English)
This book is basically the writings of a real professor who was diagnosed with an untreatable cancer. He made this book moreso for his own family, but he gives insight to his last so many months he has left to live, as well as little life lessons to success in achieving happiness and whatnot. Even though this book was hard to read when my dad was going through cancer treatments.. it provided keen insight on so many different perspectives for me. To think my dad went through this, to think anyone has to go throught any of this.. But I'm thankful, it was well written. I love the whole look of the book, I found it visually appealing.. as it was obviously intended to be. The emotional journey I went through because of this book is testament to the powerful and gripping nature it can have on a person. I would recommend it, it's a great read, albeit a heart-breaking one..
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-20 11:24:17.
(Language: English)
Randy Pausch has received a lot of attention since his last lecture at CMU last fall. I've watched the first third of the lecture on YouTube, but I need to finish it. The book, I'm afraid, did not inspire as much as reviewers would have you believe. Randy's attitude is courageous, no doubt, and his intentions are sincere. However, the book is full of "Randyisms" for lack of a better word, and frankly, these are mostly common sense. I don't share his affinity for football or Disney, so maybe I am biased. I do think it's admirable that Randy wanted to leave something for his children, but this book could have been a private document for his family. I've found other books related to mortality, wisdom, and living a more authentic and fulfilling life to be much more interesting and insightful. But, you'd be hard pressed to find someone facing a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer who is more positive than Randy. If you're looking for some inspiration, you'll certainly find some in Randy's story.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-12-02 07:35:24.
(Language: English)
The Last Lecture is an inspirational and amazing book by Randy Pausch, a married father of three who is dying from pancreatic cancer. Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less time than you think. - Randy Pausch In September 2007, Randy gave a final lecture to his students at Carnegie Mellon University. A video of the original lecture quickly spread across the internet and has been view over a million times. He has been a guest on Oprah and numerous other talk shows. Pausch wrote his lecture with his three children in mind. Said Pausch: "I think it's great that so many people have benefited from this lecture, but the truth of the matter is that I didn't really even give it to the 400 people at Carnegie Mellon who came. I only wrote this lecture for three people, and when they're older, they'll watch it." On April 8th his book The Last Lecture went on sale.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-11-22 10:30:06.
(Language: Spanish)
Randy Pausch fue profesor de ciencia de la computación en la Carnegie Mellon. Poco tiempo después de recibir la noticia de que padecía un cancer pancreático, uno de los más letales, fue invitado a dar lo que se conoce como una "última lección". Se trata de un tipo de conferencia especial que suelen dar los profesores antes de dejar la universidad. En su caso esta última lección tenía un sentido más literal. La última lección de Randy Pausch se convirtió en uno de los vídeos más vistos en Internet (recomiendo verlo si no lo has hecho ya). En él se dirigía directamente a sus hijos para animarles a cumplir los sueños de su infancia. A raíz del éxito de este vídeo surgió este libro. En él, su escritor (que NO es Randy Pausch), transcribe lo que según él fueron conversaciones que mantuvo con Randy para que se publicaran como complemento a la última lección. Ya solo este dato (repito, el libro no está escrito por Randy) debería ponernos en alerta sobre la utilidad de este libro: sacar los cuartos a la gente que se emocionó con la última lección. Es una lástima, porque el libro realmente no aporta NADA a esa última lección. Más bien parece un compendio de frases fáciles (tipo "los muros están ahí para que averigues cuánto deseas algo") que se presentan en tal cantidad que se olvidan fácilmente. Es como esas frases que la gente cuelga en su muro del Facebook, que dan alivio momentáneo pero que a los tres segundos se olvidan. Es una lectura muy vacía. Le pongo 1.5 estrellas en lugar de una porque sí que hay algo del libro que me gustó mucho. Hay un par de capítulos donde se cuenta la experiencia de Randy con el cancer que son estremecedores. Es lo único que se salva de la quema. Mira el vídeo de la última charla de Randy Pausch en Internet y dedica tu tiempo a leer otros libros.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-31 11:09:18.
(Language: English)
"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand" by Prof Randy Pausch The Last Lecture was written by Prof Randy Pausch, Computer Science Professor from Carnegie Mellon together with Jeffrey Zaslow, a columnist from The Wall Street Journal. Having seen him on TV and his video on the web, I am equally eager to read his book. It is truly inspiring! This book is more than his video-taped last lecture delivered to 400 people from the podium at Carnegie Mellon University and watched by millions more on the web. While his video is more on a professional basis, the book gives me a glimpse of a more personal side of his life, his parents, his wife and his children as well as his childhood's dreams and the lessons he learned along the way. The things he wished to say but unable to do so without getting emotional on stage. It is an awesome and inspiring read and one that I will remember for a long time to come. It is not about death, it is about living. A unique legacy he left behind for his children.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-21 10:30:15.
(Language: English)
The book has the same idea as Tuesdays with Morrie, though not as good nor as strong. But I still like the book. Its direct, its simple, its honest. Randy is self praising, not eaxctly humble, but he admits it. I love the fact that the man write a book. I love his effort in trying to show his kids how much he loves them. The book is light. The book is funny. It gives simple direct example from the dying man himself of things that he wanted to teach others. Of things he wanted others to remember or consider important. One important lesson in my eyes. Can we all not wait before our dying day...to be not stingy of our knowledge, of our experience...?? Because...we cannot take whatever it is that we attain on our living life to the next life. Keeping everything to ourselves would only induce a narrow minded society who does not understand the importance of sharing. On how both the one sharing the knowledge and the one receiving the knowdlege is benefiting in the transfer of knowledge. Nothing that has ever been given sincerely is lost. Its not lost. Never lost. It will only grow. And man....this is the time when growth, no matter how small....is extremely crucial.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-09-11 07:36:44.
(Language: English)
"The Last Lecture" was a reminiscence of Professor Randy Pausch, comprising a series of events that made him become a successful and unique person. In the face of the fact that he was going to die of cancer, he rose to the challenge and perceived his situation from an optimistic perspective as he once declared, "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." He stayed positive and appreciated every day he lived. He tried to spend the rest of his life in a meaningful way – to leave some good memories to his family and tell them how much he loved them. He was grateful to his parents to allow him to fulfil his childhood dreams without interfering but showing support and encouragement. He believed that by dreaming big, one could win big. From his football training, he learned the importance of fundamentals, which formed the basis for the construction of any fancy stuff. He also realized that the presence of critics in life meant that someone still cared and wanted him to become good in the end. From an interesting interpretation of leadership through the role of Captain James Kirk, Commander of the Starship Enterprise in the Star Trek TV series, he demonstrated himself as a keen observer. Although he was smart and carefree, had it not been his father's prompt advice, he might lose his dream lover Jai who became his wife. The saga of his romance with Jai was especially touching. As time was running short to him, he stressed on the importance of good time management in life and hoped that other people could treasure the time they still had. The section on "It's about how to live your life" is made up of many pieces of advice telling people how to live wisely and happily. On the whole, the book is easy to read and understand, serving Professor Pausch's intention of leaving some fond memories to his family and being inspirational to others.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-09 01:45:09.
(Language: English)
Sure, you can watch the different versions of Randy's Last Lecture online, but this book is a fantasticly compact reminder hiding all kinds of gems of wisdom. Even if you're aware of much of what he talks about, reminding yourself of the importance of family, friends, use of time, following your heart, and doing what you really love in life is accomplished through the short but inspiring reads. EVerybody from creatives to executives should find the book inspiring as it helps reminds us what we started reaching for, but forgot. Achieving your childhood dreams indeed. An amazing legacy to leave for his family, friends, and complete strangers. And a nice design as well! As a creative soul, with interest in much of what Randy was able to do in his short, but well lived life (video games, theme park designs, astronautical, animation), I cannot imagine not wanting to keep reaching for the stars (whatever form they are) after reading this.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-27 11:41:26.
(Language: English)
Comment: "Randy Pausch.. I wish I could have met this Imagineer. Alas! I came across the word Imagineer thru this book. Its the people who are masters in creativity, the Disney world things n stuff. This man was a professor, teaching love, art, creativity and above all.. teachig Life to many of his students. This lecture became very popular on the internet which compelled me to touch this book n believe me once u touch it, u vl want to finish it. Thats d spirit of d author to make u read. Counting his days to to death(due to some type of cancer), he had given this lecture. He covered almost all important aspects in Life and the legacy of Love which he was leaving for his children and his wife. I pray for their well-being and also for lakhs of families who have their kins suffering any disease/accident in the world. Amen!"
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Jennifer posted a review at 2009-11-12 09:50:36.
(Language: English)
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com There's nothing more bittersweet than reading a story where you know the ending before you start the first page. Everyone knows that on July 25, 2008, Randy Pausch lost his battle with cancer. But fortunately for those of us who never knew the man, he's left behind his legacy in THE LAST LECTURE. The well-known lecture can be viewed on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo), but with the help of a Wall Street Journal writer, Jeffrey Zaslow, he's taken his famous "last lecture" and written a book on how to live. If you've watched the actual last lecture (I took the time after reading the book to sit and watch the entire talk), then the book is a perfect companion. If you've not seen the video, you will still be touched by the book. Though the book doesn't quote the lecture verbatim, Mr. Pausch has taken his lecture and expounded with more details and memories. Having gone to university in Pittsburgh, I am very familiar with Carnegie Mellon University. When I first heard about the book and famous talk upon the death of Mr. Pausch, it was the mention of CMU that first caught my attention. I proceeded to get my hands on the book and read it in one quiet evening. Mr. Pausch doesn't preach about his cancer, nor philosophize on death. Instead, he tells of his childhood dreams and how others can achieve their dreams. He speaks often of hitting a brick wall. He tells all that if you want something badly enough, then you will find a way around that brick wall. He shares with the reader his rejections by Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, and even the Disney Imagineers. But he fought for what he wanted, and found a way to achieve his dreams. He fondly thanks his parents for his wonderful childhood. He thanks his tough college mentor Andy van Dam. He tells about one of his students, whose dream was to work on the next Star Wars films. This coming in the early 1990s when no one anticipated there would be an additional three. I believe all who pick up this book will be touched in some small way. It might not make you a better person for reading it, but I believe it will make you think. He offers simple suggestions for getting more out of life. It may be the simple truth of how to offer a sincere apology. It may be that you should put others first. Whatever it is, read the book with an open mind and be thankful that you are still alive and have the chance to live each day.
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Emily posted a review at 2008-07-09 01:19:45.
(Language: English)
I don't know about myself sometimes. Far be it from me to blatantly ignore the deep thoughts of a dying man, but while "The Last Lecture" certainly is packed with life lessons and humerous observations and teachings, it seems that the only thing that makes it special is that Dr. Pausch is dying. Which I suppose lends itself a certain importance (I respectfully say) and I was touched by the reasons he published the lecture in the fashion. But when it comes right down to this, these thoughts are still nothing I have not before heard.Even so, they are good. Pausch writes with personality, as I imagine he would speak. His passions are clear and he shows no fear in speaking about what he believes. His points are quick, with no emotional dragging to wear down the reader. He does not sound like a university professor, but someone common, with whom I would be friends. I think this is the main charm of the book.A great treatize life.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-07-25 06:45:51.
(Language: English)
A Carnegie Mellon professor teaching virtual reality who was dying of cancer when writing the book shared his last words of wisdom...You can tell how scientific and analytical a person he is by reading the book...but he's heading to a fatal terminal that cannot be analyzed, can not be saved from science, and can only be addressed as "the destiny". The greatest thing about this book is the greatest thing about this man too...not showing anything emotionally weak even going through hard times, no moaning, no crying, no self-pity at all(although self-pity is very allowed by the reader under this circumstance), but sharing very honestly and sincerely what he's learned throughout his life, how he's made every childhood dream come true.Many things he said might be known or taken for granted by you already, but it's absolutely worthy and enlightening to go through with Professor Pausch again...you will find yourself much refreshed and awared after reading the book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-14 10:55:07.
(Language: English)
This is a quick little book with pragmatic advice. Written by the late Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture reads fast but is, and I hate to say this, unoriginal. This book was written because the author, Randy Pausch was dying of pancreatic cancer and wanted to document his life for his children. He tells stories of how he met his wife, what his childhood was like, and how he was so successful at work. He offers advice but never gets too deep. It feels insensitive of me to say that I didn’t like this book but it honestly didn’t impress me. The story is rather boring and the advice isn’t anything I haven’t heard before. This is a great thing for Pausch to pass on to his children, but not worth marketing to a larger audience. To me, it seemed like a way to make a lot of money fast. Now don’t get me wrong, Pausch seems like a decent fella and I’m sorry he had to suffer through cancer but, in the realm of literature, this book is a flop.
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Denise posted a review at 2008-11-09 09:50:53.
(Language: English)
La última lección es un buen libro. El lenguaje es sencillo, lo que facilita la lectura. Pareciera que todo lo que Randy dice en su libro es obvio o mero sentido común, pero lo cierto es que pasamos casi la totalidad de nuestras vidas sin valorar lo que tenemos, lo que realmente queremos, lo que sentimos. Solemos dar todo por sentado en la vida. Este libro es una invitación a reflexionar respecto a nuestra propia vida y encontra la forma de sacarle jugo. Él, aún sabiendo que va a morir, mantiene una actitud positiva ante la vida, lo que le resta de ella. Es una invitación a entregarse a la vida por entero, sin miedo y disfrutarla de verdad, no padecerla. Y a veces tiene que venir alguien que se encuentra en el umbral de la muerte para recordarnos a muchos de los que estamos sanos que es tiempo de dejar de ser muertos vivientes y atrevernos a vivir. La vida nos está llamando, y si no es ahora, ¿entonces cuando?
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-09-12 01:34:41.
(Language: English)
Read October 13, 2008 Its interesting reading a book written by a man who knows he is dying ~ and knows that this book (and the lecture he gave that inspired this book)is for the children he is leaving behind. As I write this, I had to read this book knowing the author has now passed and I have to wonder if all the things he had left to do for and with his children were accomplished. And how they and his wife are today. It makes this story even more poignant when you take all that into consideration, and I DEFY ANYONE that reads this to have a dry eye at the end. A MUST-READ for everyone (in my opinion) and for a change, a positive look at both life AND death and the love that continues from both. I will forever be changed by this book.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-09-24 02:45:05.
(Language: English)
I've been fascinated by Randy Pausch since I first saw his interview with Diane Sawyer on Dateline, and was understandably saddened when he passed away earlier this year. This book is a must-read for anyone. If you're generally an optimist - I am one - it will give you even more reason to look for the positive things in life and to enjoy every minute of it. If you're generally a pessimist, this book will help you change your perspective to the "half-full". After I finished this book, I realized that I had dog eared about 35 pages to go back to re-read. His stories are amazing - especially the one where he meets William Shatner, how he became a Disney Imagineer, and the family stories he tells. It's a quick read - I read the whole thing on a plane - and will definitely be one of the books I re-read and refer to in the "What would Randy do" sense. Everyone will get something out of this book and should read it soon. He will be missed. Picked it up at the airport lat week. I find him fascinating. He will be missed.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-04-21 08:13:41.
(Language: English)
I absolutely loved this book...every single word. I'm not big on self-help/inspirational books. Generally speaking, I avoid them at all costs. I'd rather eat shards of glass, to be honest. But, after seeing the YouTube video of Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture," I thought I'd give this one a try. I loved it and wish I could send a copy to every single person I know. It has such great advice for life. I think every graduate ought to have a copy. It's filled with every life lesson you hope you can pass along to your children before they leave your home, as well as excellent advice on parenting and life in general. Great book. I wish I could've known Randy Pausch before his passing...I loved pretty much everything he had to say.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-10-30 06:31:33.
(Language: English)
Afflicted with pancreatic cancer that later metastasized to his liver, Randy Pausch offers a supplement to his last lecture given at Carnegie Mellon. Randy lost his battle to the disease but leaves behind a loving wife with three children. I immediately connected with this person as an intellectual in his profession that had a desire to leave a legacy for his children and others who would want to follow in his footsteps. And if there is one theme that one can take away from his lecture, it is that children are being coddled to much and being set up for failure or mediocrity in life. As expected with this type of work, we discover the people who have been the most influential in his life and the events in his life that have shaped him into the person we would come to know through this book. There are the attempts to compose his life’s wisdom into poignant and insightful anecdotes and aphorisms so that he can be of one final service to his fellow man. If you are interested in a life story as an easy read, “The Last Lecture” wouldn’t disappoint you. What I find severely lacking in these types of biographies is the exclusion of how the author came to terms with his terminal condition. “The Last Lecture” addresses this briefly but then moves on to the obligatory life lessons and wisdom and “overcoming all odds” inspirational stories that seem formulaic to this type of work. It’s as if the devastation of initial diagnosis and the changes it creates to his life and family dynamic is a forbidden topic, but I find such topics to be a more interesting story that can teach us much more than the lessons that somebody like Randy would try and impart to us. I believe that a reader wants to sympathize with the struggle and this book does not cover this in any great detail.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-08-06 08:54:59.
(Language: English)
Randy Pausch was a professor in the computer science department of Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). CMU has this culture of arranging a general lecture by professors before the end of their careers. Ironically, in Randy's case it had become really the last lecture. By the time he got his turn to give the lecture, he was terminally ill, with pancreatic cancer and only a few months were left for him. He had 3 children below 5 years of age. He wanted to make this lecture as the legacy that he is leaving for his kids, all that he would want to tell them, when they reach an age, where they can understand all that he wanted to say. The lecture had become a huge success and he made it into a more elaborate book. It is an amazing read. What people like Paulo Coelho, Robin Sharma, Stephen Covey try hard to convey by filling volumes with fiction, Randy conveys in a few pages, with simple examples from his life. A few, * He had a few dreams as a child, and he realized them in subtle ways. En route, he comes across a few brick walls and realizes how important they are, to stop people who don't want something badly and to allow other people to find ways to cross them. He resigns from the post of faculty adviser and turns into a journalist, when he understands, that is what it takes to realize one of his dreams. * His football coach comes to coaching classes with out football and talks about why it is important to learn what 21 people, with out football, do in the ground (11 people a side, 22 together. Only one among them has football, at any given time). He quotes this to nail down the importance of fundamentals. * Many a time, we feel, something is just not fair. But, when that is the way things are, one should just move on. A 45 year old professor in CMU, who is one of the very well known names in virtual reality circles has to suddenly die. That is just not fair. So what ? One can't do much with already dealt cards. Just play well with the left ones. One can see this spirit through out his video lecture. * We may contemplate sometimes, is it worth to worry about something or not. When all you have is 6 months, would you prefer spending 15 minutes of that to reverse a wrong credit card transaction that is worth a few dollars, over spending that time with your infant daughter ? Great question and the answer is obvious. * Now-a-days, we get to see a lot of self impressed elitists living in fool's paradise. It is fun to be a recovering jerk at something, all the time. There is a lot out there, if only, one cares. For the impatient: Video is available on YouTube.
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Erhan posted a review at 2008-07-17 08:14:03.
(Language: English)
A gift from a dying man to the man kind. Written simply, yet eloquently, this book is in the same major league with another dying university professor's: Tuesdays with Morrie (by Mitch Album). As Morrie had famously said, "Once a teacher, always a teacher" is also true for Saint Pausch. Through his book, I could not stop pondering about his hero: his father... Just as Leopold was to Amadeus, Randy's father was to Randy. Question of continuity bothered me: as the presence of his father was perhaps the most significant contributor to Randy's formation, it's saddens me that such a brilliant, vivid, fun loving, innovative, playful father will not be able to see his children grow. While the book is a must read for most, I do not believe Randy's story is over, yet. I wish him the 1/1000000 chance of a miracle for his survival, and hope that he will still be around 30-years after a terminal diagnosis. No matter what the outcome, his example will stick with me for as long as I live...
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-06-01 06:55:58.
(Language: English)
I am grateful to know that there's a teacher/professor out there like Randy, and I wish this book would inspire everyone to treasure life to all want to be good students and teachers in their individual journey. Randy's last lecture is about Childhood dreams; I admire his courage to dream and to take action into fulfilling them. All the anecdotes and episodes he shared at the second half of the book was inspiring and encouraging. I am so touched that he could risk his getting tenure to stand up for his student; he taught his students about teamwork, hard work, right attitude and honesty, rather than solely minding the "technical knowledge"; he taught every readers of this book the courage to treasure our lives and live it meaningfully. Everyone would one day say goodbye to this thing called life, but the world definitely has been a better place with Randy here. Thank you.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-12 12:18:07.
(Language: English)
I really did enjoy this book and I love the upbeat nature of this amazing man and how he and his family dealt with his impending death. Now gone, he has truly left a huge part of himself in history and for his 3 children to still be able to know who their father was. This is an amazing way to keep in touch with those you love long after you are gone. Every person that has the chance to leave this kind of impression should get the chance, maybe not a best seller and such but it would be a very theraputic way to deal with death, especially for young children to see what their parents went though and what they thought of. Amazingly touching, tough to get through without crying, made me smile more than I cried and that is a great feeling to end with.
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Lindsay posted a review at 2008-09-10 07:10:07.
(Language: English)
I would rate this book a 4.5. Randy knew alot about loving and living life the best he could. Instead of taking his money and going crazy with it, blowing all his family's future plans out the window, he meticulously planned for his wife and kids to do well after he left them. It's short of a 5.0 star rating because, even though he got his childhood dreams to come true, most of it was unrealistic to me and my childhood expectations. Maybe I missed the phase as a kid when I was supposed to want to be an astronaut, and my parents didn't believe in bringing me to anything having to do with Disney other than Beauty and the Beast in theatres... This book has a lot of anachronisms so it's easy to finish one of the many short chapters and pick it up later, not having to remember what the last lesson had been. I smiled at the part where his mother said he was a doctor, but not one that helped people when no doctor I've known has touched so many hearts as Randy Pausch. <3 the story of his life.
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Denise posted a review at 2008-11-09 09:48:30.
(Language: English)
La última lección es un buen libro. El lenguaje es sencillo, lo que facilita la lectura. Pareciera que todo lo que Randy dice en su libro es obvio o mero sentido común, pero lo cierto es que pasamos casi la totalidad de nuestras vidas sin valorar lo que tenemos, lo que realmente queremos, lo que sentimos. Solemos dar todo por sentado en la vida. Este libro es una invitación a reflexionar respecto a nuestra propia vida y encontra la forma de sacarle jugo. Él, aún sabiendo que va a morir, mantiene una actitud positiva ante la vida, lo que le resta de ella. Es una invitación a entregarse a la vida por entero, sin miedo y disfrutarla de verdad, no padecerla. Y a veces tiene que venir alguien que se encuentra en el umbral de la muerte para recordarnos a muchos de los que estamos sanos que es tiempo de dejar de ser muertos vivientes y atrevernos a vivir. La vida nos está llamando, y si no es ahora, ¿entonces cuando?
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