The Last Lecture

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My Review of Professor Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture

My background includes caring for those those who are facing the end of life. I have been in awe of the human spirit shown by those facing their final life challenge. I was amazed when I read Randy Pausch's inspirational story. He has shown amazing courage and an uncanny spirit in facing and coping with a terminal diagnosis. In the process this Computer Science Professor from Carinege Mellon University has taught millions about living.

The Last Lecture begins story begins soon after receiving a terminal diagnosis with Pancreatic Cancer, Dr. Randy Pausch gave his last lecture, the lecture that many professors dream about giving by never get a chance to do so--the lecture that imparts all of their wisdom.

The Last Lecture he delivered wasn't about Computer Science, his specialty, nor was it about the fact that he was dying. Instead the lecture was about "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." It was all about living. The lecture was all about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe.

The Last Lecture, the Video, has become a phenomenon downloaded more than a million times on the Internet. Dr. Randy Pausch has become an inspiration to everyone who has heard the story. The Last Lecture Book is an amazing tribute to one person's and one family's courage despite challenges and choosing to live each day of his life.

The Passing of an Inspirational Teacher and Spirit 


Updates July 25, 2008: It is with great sadness that I have to report that Dr. Randy Pausch has lost his battle with Cancer. He died July 25, 2008.

In Lieu of Flowers: The family requests that donations on Randy's behalf be directed to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000, El Segundo, CA 90245, or to Carnegie Mellon's Randy Pausch Memorial Fund (www.cmu.edu/giving/pausch), which primarily supports the university's continued work on the Alice project.

More information can be found at the Carnige Mellon Tribute page to the Enduring Legacy.

Dr. Randy Pausch was a living reminder of the courage of the human spirit, what one person can do, what a difference one person can make even when facing overwhelming odds and adversity.

Dr. Kirsti A. Dyer

The Last Lecture in the Amazon Spotlight 

The Last Lecture

Amazon Price: $13.17 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

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.

This is a book that will be shared with those that you love--a gift on learning how to live each day.

Your Comments on the Last Lecture 

Add a comment, write a review or offer your thoughts on "The Last Lecture."

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Love it! So Inspirational.

mark says:

This book really teaches you how to live your life! This is a very inspiring bood. I think everyone should read this book because there is a lot that can be learned from Randy Pausch.

recoveringengineer says:

Great story, great heart, great book. I found it inspiring.

mulberry says:

Yes very inspiring, I have seen video of him lecturing.

boredofeducation says:

I saw the video. Very inspiring!!!

Comfortdoc says:

I have been moved and inspired by The Last Lecture. It is an amazing final lesson from a gifted teacher on life for all of us.

Sorry, not my thing.

 
 
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The Last Lecture Book Website 

Randy's lecture has become a phenomenon, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. And now, in his book based on the now-famous lecture, Randy goes even deeper to inspire us all.
The Last Lecture | Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch--the lecture that captivated the world is now a book to inspires millions.

Time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think.

The Last Lecture Book Sections 

  1. The Last Lecture
  2. Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
  3. Adventures...and Lessons Learned
  4. Enabling the Dreams of Others
  5. It's About How to Live Your Life
  6. Final Remarks

The Lost Chapter of the Last Lecture  

The Lost Chapter: the Bridge
A special online bonus available at the Last Lecture website, the lost chapter that Randy ended up cutting from the book.

Press Release for the Last Lecture Book 

Doctors gave Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch three to six more months of "good health" when they diagnosed him with pancreatic cancer last August.

A month later, Pausch delivered a heartfelt public talk full of inspirational life lessons and wisdom in front of a packed crowd of CMU students, colleagues, and friends. The lecture he gave-"Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"-wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of reconsidering their own ambitions, of finding new ways to look at other people's flaws, talents and feelings, and of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have--and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). He offered prescriptions for dealing with life's most debilitating roadblocks, and celebrated mentors and protégés with an open heart.

The school shot video of Pausch's lecture-and soon the footage began spreading across the internet popping up in tens of thousands of web sites. (The talk, which has been viewed by more than 6 million people on the internet, can now be seen at www.TheLastLecture.com.) Pausch was soon receiving emails from all over the world. People took it upon themselves to translate his lecture into other languages (Italian, German, Chinese, Arabic and more) and to post their versions online. A university in India held a screening of the lecture. Hundreds of students attended, told their friends
how powerful it was, and hundreds more demanded a second screening a week later. Many Americans compared his talk to Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man" speech.

Pausch now shares his insights in a new book, offering straightforward wisdom on matters of love, gratitude, loyalty, seizing each moment, and surmounting the challenges he calls "brick walls."

Source: Hyperion Books. The Last Lecture.

The Last Lecture

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More Reviews of the Last Lecture 

Review: "The Last Lecture: A Love Story For Your Life'
A review of the Last Lecture from AllYourTV.com
Book Review: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
A review of the Last Lecture from Technology Dark Side.
Book reviews: The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch
Some people read Last Lecture by Randy Pausch to hear his message about achieving your childhood dreams. A review by Sandra Douglas for the Healthy Living & Wellness section of Helium
Bookreporter.com - THE LAST LECTURE
A review of the Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, with Jeffrey Zaslow from the Bookreporter.com.
Book Launch Cafe: The Last Lecture
A review of the Last Lecture from Book Launch Cafe.
The Last Lecture: Carnegie Mellon Prof Tackles Life and Love
Carnegie Mellon Computer Science Professor Randy Pausch's book, The Last Lecture, was released last week, just over six months from when he gave his heavily YouTube viewed lecture. From Wired Science, Wired.com

The Last Lecture on CD Amazon Spotlight 

The Last Lecture CD

Amazon Price: $17.12 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

The audio version of Randy Pausches' Last Lecture Book lets you to listen to his inspiring view of life and of living.

The Latest News on The Last Lecture Book 

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The Last Lecture Large Print in the Amazon Spotlight 

The Last Lecture (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series)

Amazon Price: $23.72 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

Read the Last Lecture in Large Print version.

Topping the Amazon List for Motivational Books 

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Different Versions of The Last Lecture on Amazon 

The Last Lecture

The hardback version.

Amazon Price: $13.17 (as of 07/06/2009) Buy Now

The Last Lecture (Thorndike Press Large Print Nonfiction Series)

The large print version.

Amazon Price: $23.72 (as of 07/06/2009) Buy Now

Dr. Randy Pausch on Wikipedia 

Randolph Frederick "Randy" Pausch (October 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) was an American professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pausch learned that he had pancreatic cancer, a terminal illness, in September of 2006. He gave an upbeat lecture entitled "The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon, which became a popular YouTube video and led to other media appearances. He then co-authored a book called The Last Lecture on the same theme, which became a New York Times best-seller. Pausch died of complications from pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008.

A SquidWho Lens on Dr. Randy Pausch 

Dr. Randy Pausch - SuperHero 

Dr. Randy Pausch was one of the featured "SuperHeros" in the Squidoo SuperHero Challenge, making lenses about the people who have inspired me or changed the way I look at the world.

He truly was a SuperHero.

Dr. Randy Pausch's Official Site 

For More information about the Last Lecture

Randy Pausch's Web Site
Dr. Randy Pausch's Web Site at Carnegie Mellon University.
Randy Pausch's Update page
Dr. Randy Pausch's Day-to-Day Update Page at Carnegie Mellon University.

If I don't seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you...

The Official Last Lecture Video by Dr. Randy Pausch on YouTube 

The Official Last Lecture Video from Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch's inspirational Last Lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams."

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. For more, visit http://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.

Runtime: 16:27
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Dr. Randy Pausch's Last Lecture 

Randy Pausch Last Lecture - Carnegie Mellon University
View Randy Pausch's Last Lecture at the Carnegie Mellon University Website.
Professor Randy Pausch's Last Lecture - On Oprah
In September 2007, a university professor who is dying of cancer gave a final lecture to his students that has since been downloaded more than a million times on the Internet.

Order the Video of the Last Lecture 

Randy Pausch DVD
Order the DVD of Dr. Randy Pausch's lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," delivered on September 18, 2007 at Carnegie Mellon University.

We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

Professor Randy Pausch

Which is Your Favorite The Last Lecture? 

The Last Lecture started as a live lecture. It has now been turned into a new inspirational book by the same title.

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Learning to Program with Alice on Amazon  

Another Book in which Dr. Randy Rausch a contributing author.

Learning to Program with Alice, Brief Edition

Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now

This book takes an innovative approach to fundamental programming concepts using 3D animation.

It is written for anyone interested in programming using the Alice environment.

In a while my family is going to be pushed off of a cliff...and that's not fair. I won't be there to catch them.

I can sit and be sad about it, or I can work on building the nets.

Professor Randy Pausch Honorary Fund 

Because of the overwhelming show of support for faculty member Randy Pausch and his work, the university has established the Randy Pausch Honorary Fund to help honor his legacy.

The Pausch Fund will enable the university to continue and complete Randy's work, including his most important academic project: the Alice 3D authoring system.
Professor Randy Pausch Honorary Fund - Carnegie Mellon University
Information on the Professor Randy Pausch Honorary Fund.

Information on Pancreatic Cancer Research 

The Lustgarten Foundation
Pancreatic Cancer Research, Pancreatic Cancer Treatment, Help & Information from The Lustgarten Foundation. The mission of The Lustgarten Foundation is to advance the scientific and medical research related to the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is the first national patient advocacy organization for the pancreatic cancer community. PanCAN works to focus national attention on the need to find a cure for pancreatic cancer.

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Cancer book club discussion of The Last Lecture, When Someone You Love Has Cancer, and The Adventures of Cancer Bitch.
SUNLIT UPLANDS: Dr. Randy Pausch and "The Last Lecture"
Dr. Randy Pausch is remembered for a lecture he gave at Carnegie Mellon University, which has become known as "The Last Lecture." Dr. Pausch died a year ago, but his passing and his great, final lecture are reminders to us that one's ...
YouTube - Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams
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A Related Lens - Who Wants to Live Forever? 

Reader Feedback on The Last Lecture 

Have you gotten your copy of the book yet?

MsMorrison wrote...

I have read randy pausch's lens and
I was moved by it. I'm sure this guy is always remembered. His courage has inspired so many people.

ReplyPosted July 30, 2008

Benefitting Cancer Research 

If you buy any of the books or products recommended on this page, a donation is automatically made to Prevent Cancer Foundation (formerly Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation), working to prevent cancer through research, education and community outreach to all populations, including children and the underserved.