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

Great Life Lessons!

This is a keeper! Pausch's way of translating his life lessons will surely relate to everyone on some level. It is a great motivator personally and career-wise. It will make you laugh, cry and think about your own dreams and if you lack dreams it will make you want to create dreams to achieve while you still have time!

Beautiful

Well written, well spoken and very much missed! The only downside is that there's no pictures to connect with, thankfully there's the internet.

This was an AMAZING audio book.

I found this audio book to be very inspiring, I've always been one to not take my friends and family and my days I have I this earth for granted.
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Powerful

This is a powerful listen, the best story that makes you really think that you don't have forever and you need to get ready!

Incredible Man, Message and Book!

I bought this book because it was required reading for my high school freshman son. After listening to it in one car ride; I now know why it is required. I cannot think of a better book for a teenager to read (short and very much to the point). It is packed with many universal takes on everything from honesty, integrity, leadership, relationships, et al-- in all cases the author is spot on. Dying of cancer, he wrote the book as a way to pass down many of his beliefs to his young children, who at the time of his death would be too young to have any meaningful memories of him. Very well done; much inspiration and life lessons can be found here. God Bless, RIP.

wow

it really puts life into perspective. Full of wonderful lessons. this book elucidated the little gifts that are sprinkled all over the world for us to find. we just have to look for them. if you feel jaded or like you've lost the lackluster enthusiasm in life....give this a listen <3

Good lessons

No questions asked, this book has good lessons for life. Even though the author‘s life, Randy Pausch, might not resonate with the average person out there, I think everyone has something to learn from his life story.

Amazing

Totally the best biographical book I have EVER read or heard! This should be a mandatory read for every high school senior.

Read It Again

I don’t often read books more than once. Honestly I could count on one hand how many books I’ve read/listened to more than one time. This is the only book I make sure to read every year. I’ve been reading it since 2011 and this was my first year listening to it. Every year I learn something new about myself through this book. Every year I grow a bit more into who I’m supposed to be because of this book.
I’m turning 29 in 20 days and this book has helped me realize that I’m doing okay following my dreams.
If you are wondering if you should read this, do it. And then, read it again. 🤍

relatable, passionate, helpful

I loved it. I finished in one sitting. I even registered to multiple chapters. I found myself laughing at some points and I wanted to cry at another. I personally love that a VR professor was able to create this. I am so inspired and will continue his legacy to be heard and understood by others.