The Last Lecture

By: Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow

Narrated by: Erik Singer, Randy Pausch

Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

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

A lot of professors give talks entitled "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 chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?

When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave - "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" - wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.

In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.

This recording includes an interview with the author.

©2008 Randy Pausch (P)2008 Hyperion

Not a Downer Book

Where does The Last Lecture rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was not a maudlin story about a dying man; rather it was an admirable, uplifting expose of Randy Pausch’s last few months on earth. Almost exclusively he dedicated his amusing commentary to recognizing what’s important in our lives… family, honor, and having a purpose for being. He definitely left an impact on me and I'll never forget him.

An inspiring book!

Worth listening to and helps to focus on what's important. If you look for some real life inspiration, this book is for you.

Awesome Book life lessons we should all live by but the narrotator did not do a good job of reading

The The man that was reading the book, his voice was not the best for this particular book. The way that he read it was not the way that Randy wrote it. Example: when everybody is singing happy birthday he just talks happy birthday! Happy birthday! Wrong choice of reader but the book itself is outstanding. The writing is amazing. The story is inspiring. A must read!

It’s like the author was sitting next to me

I couldn’t have been more intrigued listening to Randy’s story. Excellent way to fill a lot of miles on the road!

Perspective

I turn to this book when craving stability and perspective in my life. A balance between grounding and inspiring

Very inspiring

If you are sort of a nerd and need some advice about living, it is hard to beat what someone dying of pancreatic cancer and three young children and a loving wife has to say. A powerful statement without getting too maudlin about the cards he was dealt.

My go to reference when things get tough

Practical lessons with lasting impact. This is one book every dreamer and all of us (for that matter) should read at least once in our life. I will never get tired of re-reading the lessons this book has taught me.

great read

Such a great book and definitely recommended, especially for someone in their late teens and early 20s to help learn some life lessons young!

Incredible story

Rest in peace, Randy! Increadible story. Old as a world wisdom. Makes you think about events around you. So touching! Must read for everyone.

An injured lion has to roar

Powerful book, powerful message, powerful man. As a father of two myself, I connected with Randy’s desire to pass on his teachings to his children. Thank you for allowing your work to be shared with the world.