The Amazon's service was perfectly good, on time. I was a bit dissapointed with the quality of the book. The sheets were cut in an untidy way. In Argentina there are Spanish editions with better quality and same price. The fact is that I wanted the original English version.

This book made me reflect on my own life - where I've been and what lies ahead. Professor Randy lived life as it is meant to be lived.

The Last Lecture

I purchased 3 of these books. One for myself and 2 to pay it forward. Very inspirational, as I expected it to be after seeing Randy on You Tube. A must read for all!!

This book made me reflect on my own life - where I've been and what lies ahead. Professor Randy lived life as it is meant to be lived.

The Amazon's service was perfectly good, on time. I was a bit dissapointed with the quality of the book. The sheets were cut in an untidy way. In Argentina there are Spanish editions with better quality and same price. The fact is that I wanted the original English version.

very interesting and easy to read. really moving and emotional. a lot of practical advice and the overall story is very inspirational

The Last Lecture

I purchased 3 of these books. One for myself and 2 to pay it forward. Very inspirational, as I expected it to be after seeing Randy on You Tube. A must read for all!!

EVERYONE can learn from this book!

What an amazing man and what an amazing set of lessons to take to heart.

READ THIS BOOK!

This book was so inspiring to me, Randy, was quite a wise and intellegent man... Even in his hour of need, he thought of his Family, and to spread the word of GOD , do not lie, believe in yourself and what intellegence you might have can help someone in need...

I truly admie this man, and all that he has written... you see my beloved Sister also died from Pancreatic Cancer..., and with Randy's help in Faith, I believe my Sister is in Heaven...

I thank you Randy and your beautiful Family for your precious Guidence... May GOD Bless you all... ( Ms ) April L. Paquin.

I bought this book for my two daughters, my grandson and myself. I had seen Mr. Pausch on TV and was so inspired by his positive message. I wanted to share it with my family so that they might take a more positive look at a rough situation. My two daughters absolutely loved the story and couldn't put it down. I myself have yet to read it.

Ordinarily, this review would be about a book on computer science... instead, it is about the memoir of a computer scientist. Moreover, it deals with a philosophical observation made by Marshall McLuhan in "Understanding Media", in 1964. In his text, McLuhan coined the phrase "the medium is the message," contending that in addition to the content carried by the medium, the medium itself affects society. This volume and how it got to be published and became a national bestseller
exemplifies this McLuhan concept. However, before getting to the review, it is essential to connect a few dots.

It began in September 2007 when the author, professor Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon University, presented his lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", to a group of 400 attendees. There were no empty seats. Pausch presented an entertaining and detailed description of his life and personal aspirations and announced he was dying of cancer and this was to be his "last lecture." At one point, as he began the lecture, the author quickly dropped to the auditorium floor and did a few one-hand push-ups reminiscent of actor Jack Palance's performance to demonstrate his physical prowess at the 1992 Academy Awards show. Palance had just won an Oscar for his role in "City Slickers." The University videotaped the lecture and it quickly appeared on such international media outlets as YouTube, Google Video, the ABC network on April 2008, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) in July 2008, and on others. Thus, the Pausch lecture became available immediately throughout the civilized world and was viewed by millions of viewers!

McLuhan had, in fact, predicted 44 years before that the medium and the message would become intertwined. The lecture was quickly converted into print format, with the help of writer Jeffrey Zaslow, and was published in early 2008.

The book is recommended reading by a general audience and is quite inspirational but I prefer to focus on a deeper meaning to the sequence of events. Let's begin with Isaac Newton (1642-1727), the scientist who discovered the law of universal gravitation; developed Newtonian mechanics and laws of motion; invented calculus, the reflecting telescope, and a few other things. Newton lived a very self-confined, solitary existence, with few personal relationships, and died alone as a controversial futurist who also dabbled in alchemy. That was his message... there was no medium to proclaim these great contributions until long after his death. An international body later created the "newton" as a unit of force related to the joule.

Fast-forward 150 years to Nikola Tesla (1856-1943). He was identified as the developer of alternating current, the induction motor, the rotating magnetic field; as the "man who invented the 20th century," and by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1943 as the "inventor of radio," by upholding his 1900 patent #645,576 on the "System of Transmission of Electrical Energy." He lived a life filled with controversy and litigation and died alone and destitute in room 3327 of the New Yorker hotel in New York City in 1943. That was his message... there was no medium to proclaim these great contributions until long after his death. An international body later created the "tesla" as the unit of magnetic flux density.

Fast-forward about 75 years to 2008. Traditionally, in Hollywood, a book is published first and, if it is a success, it can be followed by a screen play and the film. But, as McLuhan inferred, since "the medium is the message," the video of professor Pausch's lecture came first, followed immediately by global exposure and a printed hard copy called a book. The message and the medium became so intertwined as to be inseparable!

Professor Pausch passed away in late July, 2008, and this review was written the following month.

There has been wide critical acclaim for his book, with which I concur. It is an ordinary memoir, produced in an extraordinary way, that deals essentially with the humanistic aspect of a computer scientist's short but productive life.

At the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City's Chapultepec Park, there is a mural at the portal that reads, in translation:

Alone, therefore I go like the flowers which will perish;
Nothing remains of my name, nothing of my fame here on earth;
At least flowers; at least songs.

The dots have been connected.

Leonard C. Silvern
Systems Engineering Laboratories
Clarkdale, AZ

I absolutely wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. I didn't know the man, but I know the type. Randy comes of a super ego maniac that loves being stroked. This is a celebration of his life, but not for his kids as much as for him. If his kids were so important to him why didn't he spend every waking minute with them. ANY good parent would dedicate all the little time left on earth to their kids. I'm sorry, I feel bad cause the man died, but this book isn't more than fluff.

I absolutely wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. I didn't know the man, but I know the type. Randy comes of a super ego maniac that loves being stroked. This is a celebration of his life, but not for his kids as much as for him. If his kids were so important to him why didn't he spend every waking minute with them. ANY good parent would dedicate all the little time left on earth to their kids. I'm sorry, I feel bad cause the man died, but this book isn't more than fluff.

This book is simply excellent. I did not see the you tube of the lecture but saw the Dianne Sawyer interview which prompted me to buy it. It amazes me how Randy was able to do this knowing it was the last thing he would do.

I purchased this book as my wife was just finishing chemo for Ovarian Cancer so maybe it was a little more important to us, but it has lessons for everyone from every walk of life.

I would like to personally thank Randy for this book if I could. Maybe someday I will get the chance. I hope when it is my time, I can be even a little bit the person that Randy was.

Please read this book.

The book I received was in excellent condition! Can't believe it was considered "used". I received my purchase very promptly and would recommend this "company" to anyone who is thinking about purchasing an item from them.

I bought this for my 77 year old mother. She is a Christian and still enjoyed the positive message of dealing with life in the face of death.

This is a very inspiring book by a man who, at the time his wrote this, was dying of pancreatic cancer. He has since passed away, and leaves a legacy for all who read his words.

He has some wonderful suggestions for how to live life to its fulest, even when you know your are dying at a very young age.

His words will leave a lasting impression on all who read it.

Everyone should read this priceless book. It is so inspirational and moving. What an amazing man; what precious advice; what momentous knowledge to gain from reading the life of such a remarkable and vivacious man. We can all learn so much from his words of wisdom and the noble life that he lived. Many thanks to his wife, family and friends for supporting him while, at the last days of his life, he put together this brilliant book.

It was a gift. My girlfiend was so happy with it she's read it twice.

This book was amazing. Randy Pausch makes you look at life through the eyes of "what really matters". He gives you the optimissim to chase your dreams and to not settle for the status quo. I'm not an avid reader, but I really enjoyed this book.

This book is simply excellent. I did not see the you tube of the lecture but saw the Dianne Sawyer interview which prompted me to buy it. It amazes me how Randy was able to do this knowing it was the last thing he would do.

I purchased this book as my wife was just finishing chemo for Ovarian Cancer so maybe it was a little more important to us, but it has lessons for everyone from every walk of life.

I would like to personally thank Randy for this book if I could. Maybe someday I will get the chance. I hope when it is my time, I can be even a little bit the person that Randy was.

Please read this book.

It was a gift. My girlfiend was so happy with it she's read it twice.

The book I received was in excellent condition! Can't believe it was considered "used". I received my purchase very promptly and would recommend this "company" to anyone who is thinking about purchasing an item from them.

I bought this for my 77 year old mother. She is a Christian and still enjoyed the positive message of dealing with life in the face of death.

This is a very inspiring book by a man who, at the time his wrote this, was dying of pancreatic cancer. He has since passed away, and leaves a legacy for all who read his words.

He has some wonderful suggestions for how to live life to its fulest, even when you know your are dying at a very young age.

His words will leave a lasting impression on all who read it.

I first saw Pausch's lecture on Oprah last fall, then again, on the day he died. His presentation is so moving, and much of that shows through in the book.

If you did not see the lecture, I recommend viewing part or all of it, available on Amazon or on his pages.

The book is a fine adjunct to his lecture, but I am not certain if someone who did NOT see his lecture - Did anyone NOT see it???? would find it as inspiring.

Pausch wanted the lecture to be available after his death, and it is easily searchable.

This book is a keeper, a fine memory of a man who dedicated his life to living.

And his death.

Everyone should read this priceless book. It is so inspirational and moving. What an amazing man; what precious advice; what momentous knowledge to gain from reading the life of such a remarkable and vivacious man. We can all learn so much from his words of wisdom and the noble life that he lived. Many thanks to his wife, family and friends for supporting him while, at the last days of his life, he put together this brilliant book.

I thought that the book would be the written version of the actual last lecture.

This book was amazing. Randy Pausch makes you look at life through the eyes of "what really matters". He gives you the optimissim to chase your dreams and to not settle for the status quo. I'm not an avid reader, but I really enjoyed this book.

this was a fabulous book based on truth and harship. If you like true stories and honorable wisdom and advice you love this book and incorporate into your own life as i did.

Bought copies for all members of my staff plus a friend who had lost some perspective on life. It is a moving, entertaining and inspiring read. It is a shame we sometimes have be looking death in the face to appreciate life...

What an inspiring book for everyone to read. The author, Randy Pausch, is a type of person that we all want to be. This book is one that I will let others read but it will always return to my bookcase.

Randy Pausch had life dialed in and real. He is most definately right, the inside of a new car is not worth a human beings feelings.

this was a fabulous book based on truth and harship. If you like true stories and honorable wisdom and advice you love this book and incorporate into your own life as i did.

Bought copies for all members of my staff plus a friend who had lost some perspective on life. It is a moving, entertaining and inspiring read. It is a shame we sometimes have be looking death in the face to appreciate life...

What an inspiring book for everyone to read. The author, Randy Pausch, is a type of person that we all want to be. This book is one that I will let others read but it will always return to my bookcase.

Here's his big secret, totally FREE of charge: Give any brainy well educated man opiates and you get yourself a rambling pseudo-genius. This just happens to be the formula for the cult television series devoted to this very subject: HOUSE. He's no smarter than the rest of the doctors, he just has the entire hospital bamboozled with his druggie diagnosis. As my father told me when I was a kid "Son, if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bulls**t."

I loved reading this book and will treasure it. I will share with my friends and family.

After reading this book, it made the simple things in life have much more meaning. After recently losing my Dad and realizing that life is not promised, I have a whole new outlook and I try hard to incorporate that in my daily life by not sweating the small stuff and having appreciation for everyone and everything. Greatness!

I thought the book was very good. The author writes in an easy to understand manner. He writes with a positive attitude and is upbeat about life. I think the focus of the book is to help inspire individuals to try to see the good and positive aspects of life instead of focusing on the negative. In my opinion, I do not think that people can be 100% positive all of the time, however, I think the book helps people to try to look at the positive in one's life, rather than to consistently focus on the negative. I think this book can help inspire anybody and everybody.

The book was delivered within a few days and was in excellent condition. I am extremely pleased with the service I received.

Amazon sent me this book in New condition for a great price. This book has really changed my life and I would recommend it to anyone who feels they are not living their life to their maximum potential.

I can not rate this review because I have not received my book. It states that the book will ship on the 27-28 Aug, but there isn't a tracking number to track product.

I had seen this video on you tube, and after I heard of Randy's passing, I just had to order the book. I cried all the way through it. Wonderful book. Wonderful man. Such a strong family.

God Bless!

This is a great book not only if you're dealing with terminal illness yourself but also in getting a good perspective for understanding (as best as one can, not being there) someone who does.

What a wonderful book. It saddens me he lost his battle but what inspiration he left us all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Placed order 7/30/08. Today's date 9/2/08 and still HAVE NOT received the book even though my credit card account has been charged for it. Books n stuff has not responded to any of my emails. Don't do business with them.
I had to rate them to get this to go through. They deserve NO stars.

I loved reading this book and will treasure it. I will share with my friends and family.

I can not rate this review because I have not received my book. It states that the book will ship on the 27-28 Aug, but there isn't a tracking number to track product.

After reading this book, it made the simple things in life have much more meaning. After recently losing my Dad and realizing that life is not promised, I have a whole new outlook and I try hard to incorporate that in my daily life by not sweating the small stuff and having appreciation for everyone and everything. Greatness!