The Last Lecture

Publisher's Summary

Professor Randy Pausch's moving and inspirational book based on his extraordinary Last Lecture. 'We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.'

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: 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 wasnt 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 humour, 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.

©2008 Randy Pausch (P)2008 Hodder Headline Audiobooks

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Interesting, funny and moving. An instructional biography on his life; appropriately with the strength of his presentation and story waning towards the end.

Fantastic

Touching, moving and full of great advice on life.



It's been four years since I listened to this and it still touches my heart.



Even such a simple story as when his niece and nephew were worried about making a mess in his new car. He demonstrated that it wasn't a big deal by pouring a can of soda on the seat.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Thought provoking but sadly dated

There is so much of value in this book but in the age of #MeToo and #Resist the author sadly comes across as misogynistic, gender biased and woefully old school (and not in a good way).

There are wonderful self help books out there that were written decades ago and yet they are timeless. Unfortunately this is not one of them. It’s full of interesting life lessons but they’re couched in anecdotes that end up making the author sound woefully out dated and subsequently very alienating.

The passage about coding is, quite frankly, cringeworthy. It just made me feel even more strongly that white, middle class men have had power and control for far too long. If the author had lived I genuinely worry whether he would have moved with the times.

A life changing read. thankyou

Fantastic to hear the story of this man. what courage and determination. Great life skills for both adult and child

Just amazing!

I can't believe that I haven't read this book before. Once I started listening to it I couldn't put it down. This is my first review ever as I usually can't be bothered to review anything but this I had to! Such a great man and amazing educator. Good eye opener and just a reminder of what's important in life! it should be compulsory read for everyone! If only all tutors and teachers were like Randy!