Apparently Randy Pauschs friends call him St. Randy.
Thats probably a little over the top.
But Randy Pauch certainly seems to be a
decent and wise kind of a man.
Which is obviously very important -
and something we should all appreciate.
All his words of wisdom are right on
the money.
The book is upbeat in the sense that
he speaks very little about his own problems,
and very much about the good things in life,
and doing the right thing(s) - wisely.
You could have imagined that a professor
would have wanted a legacy of
scholarly insights into human existence,
instead of the "average joe" kind of wisdom
we get here.
But perhaps we are all better of with the
"average joe" kind of stuff.
Like: Remember to thank all the people
who does something for you.
Its important.
Yes indeed!

The Last Lecture is inspirational, uplifting and memorable. It's not about dying, but about how to make the most of life and to concentrate on what's important. After reading this book, I realized each day with my family is truly a gift from above.

As a retired medical school anatomy instructor, orthopaedic surgeon, and accident damage control advocate, I find STIFF well written, interesting, and educational. The author's reporting on the many worthwhile uses of human cadavers for the betterment of mankind is accurate, enlightening, and presented in a way to express apprecition for and not be offensive to the donors. This book should help solicit more people to further consider how their remains could best benefit their survivors.

The world is a better place because of Randy Pausch. I have never read a book that inspired my life and taught me to open my eyes and take the time to enjoy, appreciate, teach my child, and everyone that I come in contact with, what matters in life. How we receive a gift every minute of the day and how we tend to take it all for granted and put off until tomorrow what we want to say or do and maybe our tomorrow will not come.

I have shared this book with many of my co-workers (with the promise that they return the book) and every person had the same impact. Not a single person could put the book down once they started to read it.

This summer my son (going to 10th Grade in High School) will be reading this book for his summer book report. I want to share a discussion with him about "The Last Lecture" and the impact it has on him, at age 14.

To Randy Pausch and family, God Bless you and I am forever a better person because of your devotion to life and willingness to share your life in part with the world.

Remember whenever you see a Dragonfly that .... "The spirit of your loved ones is carried upon their wings".


Respectfully,
Jean

This is a wonderful, quick read with lessons for everyone. At first I was a little concerned that this might be too difficult to read, knowing that the author would soon die from his cancer. However, this book is full of humor, practical ideas and lots of love. I didn't want to put it down. It is one of those books I will keep and pick up again and again.

When I picked up "The Last Lecture" I wanted to understand the psychology and thoughts that gripped a man that is what doctors call "months from death." I must say that although the concept of this book is genuine, the stories that are provided are lackluster and in many cases boring.

I attempted on numerous occasions to identify with him as a person and to withdraw meaning from his experiences, but after a number of his personal experiences, he was made out to be perfect figure. He always has the answers and the intellect to know what is right and that is something I cannot see as true. The things that I will remember in my life will be great, but I will also remember being humbled, failing, and breaking down (not so in this book).

"The Last Lecture" is written to make you feel sorry, this man has so much vitality and is always right (or so it seems), but he is dying. His advice is pretty generic and I could not become friends with the character as he is portrayed in the book. I wish that I could have been but I tried, I really tried...

Very straight forward tips on living a great life.


Joel Simkhai

I was so impressed and inspired that the Last Lecture is required summer reading for both my immediate and extended families. None of the concepts in the book were cosmic, however the words and sentiments shared by the author makes one ponder yet again the important things in life. Sometimes, atleast in my family, we need reminders.

I very rarely find a book that touches me in such a way that I recommend it to all my friends and think that everyone should read it. This is one of those books. Its is written by an outstanding individual and it gives us insights to what made his life great and how to achieve our own dreams. It is also very readable. It is short, clear and at times funny and sad. This is one of the best books I have ever read.

Shared in this book are wonderful wonderful words of wisdom, if internalized can change the course of a life. Thank you for sharing your never give up, positive attitude, for the life that each of us are given.

I sent this as a gift to my friend after I had read the book myself.

I decided she needed her own copy as she lives in the Virgin Islands.

It is an awesome story and a great read.

This book should be required reading for every person over the age of 13. Live life everyday like its your last.

This quick read consists of 61 great mini-lectures, generously sprinkled with autobiographical anecdotes about growing up with many touching and inspirational family memories ["One rule in our house is that you may not ask one-word questions."]. Randy Pausch uses these stories to illustrate life's lessons about parenting, self-esteem, dignity, duty, integrity --and of the importance of dreaming and helping others achieve their dreams.

This book really touched my heart having lost both my Dad and 3rd (yes, 3rd) husband from this dreaded disease. Randy has such courage, insight and humor while writing down his thoughts on life. His thoughts ring out to me since I have had much loss in my life having lost 3 husbands, the first at age 32 back in 1977. I wish that we had had video at that time. Alan would have recorded his feelings, thoughts and wisdom so that his daughters could have learned and known their dad. I highly recommend this book as a keeper and a gift to others who need to see the forest through the trees in living life to its fullest. He touched my heart forever.

A book that must be read by every and single person. A Lesson to be learned!

This had to have been one of the best books I have read. It was not only moving it really made you think about your own life and how you were living it.
I think this would be a great book for every high school boy and girl to read. I wish I had had this book in my younger years. I am 73 years young and I can put some of his words to good use even now. Great book.

I saw Randy talk on Oprah I Loved the way Randy spoke and I was touched by his words and how he's not letting Fear stop him.What a beautifully written book & I can't think of anyone that couldn't benefit from reading this Book or help someone that's in your life who could use your help.
Parents please let your kids "Dream BIG",write on the walls,life is too short not to be doing what you love.
My Mom didn't encourage My Dreams & still tries to tell me how I will "Fail" if I go for my Dreams & I was to scared to go after my Dreams & I will NEVER stand in the way of my boy's Dreams,no matter how silly I might think they are,there Not My Dreams & it's ok Fail as long as you don't let the Wall stop you,find a way over,around,through it,if you want it bad enough you'll figure it out!
I think reading this book 1st,then watch the video after it.I just finished reading it today and I wanna read it again,it's that good I feel.
Randy,Jai"Jay",Dylan,Logan,Chloe,your in my Prayers...

Well this is the kind of book to share. I used it for my students. It is inspiring and wonderful. It can be applied to many situations. However, it seems like the dying professors writing best sellers (Tuesdays with Morrie) is like a new fad. While his insights and sharing is so right on target - what gets me is that he has the privilege to think and live these last days with such integrity and grace. In much of the USA people do not have this privilege. They are too worried about pain and how to pay the bills. They can't be writing best sellers and thinking such profound lofty thoughts. They are just trying to get by and die the best way they can. They are trying to live each moment. Pausch gives us the focus on learning to live while dying, but I think there needs to be some appreciation that he is a person of privilege writing for people of privilege.

A fellow substitute teacher recommended this book to me. She was right on when she said you will become so immersed in this one that you will not be able to put it down. The book is beautifully written with life lessons that were easy to comprehend. Randy's passion about life is contagious and comes from his heart. His jewels of wisdom were inspiring as well as motivating. His thoughts were practical and encouraging, causing me to do some soul searching. Randy reflects warmly on his childhood and his parents and is a man who dearly loves his wife and children. He also came across as genuine knowing he had personality issues that he must work on. He shares his values of being honest, working hard, valuing others and making your life count.

I especially enjoyed his thoughts on what we are teaching future generations by coddling them. He is an advocate of delivering honest feedback and providing constructive criticism in order to promote children being able to realize their full potential. His theories and ideas are compatible with mine, as I face having my first child and want to provide the very best that I can in the way of instruction to foster growth. Several thoughts he shared and lessons he gave have impacted me and have changed the way I will handle things in the future.

I recommend this book to all school teachers as well as those who are facing a terminal illness and need inspiration.

The life of Randy Pausch, as he wants to be remembered by his children and students, has been simplified into this charming and inspirational little book. The book enhances the video of "The Last Lecture", which was clearly stated as being a dying man's wish to leave a legacy, for his young children to know a little about their dad.

The book, however, is not written into a good story. It is not enhanced with emotion or trial to grip a reader into a transformation within themselves. It does not expand much beyond the video. This has nothing to do with Randy, his awareness of life/death, his story or his family. Instead, it is a cute book. The author and editors have not added anything to make it more.

What makes this book worth the price? In my opinion, it shows more of Randy's parents, sister and Jai than the video of the lecture. It gives a little more detail of the man, than the teacher. It's a little more personal though lacks the force of Randy's personality as seen in the video. That this book is "little" in size and content makes it easy for the point-n-click generation to digest and worth the price for that reason.

Adolescents and teens who read this book may be inspired and motivated. The underlying message is, Know Thyself. Randy knew himself, his talents and dreams, at a young age. Then he made the effort and took the time to achieve them. This book is worth the price for parents to invest in themselves and their children.

This book is an interesting story by an interesting man. I cant imagine having a terminal illness with months to live let alone writing a book about it. Randy is a brave and courageous soul and I pray that his family finds peace in his passing . Perhaps if each of us lived each day as our last, not consumed with ourselves but with those we love and cherish, Randys last lecture will have been a success.

Do you have trouble being thankful for the quality of your life? (then read this book); do you feel as though your life is boring and average? (then read this book); have you lost the energy and zest to pursure your dreams and goals? (then read this book)..........the author has terminal cancer, and has written, in essence, a book about how to improve the quality of your life.

Although he tells pieces of his own life, I could could really relate to this book on many levels. You (the reader) will also. Family, work, children, relationships, and dreams all come together in this straight-forward style of storytelling.

A very enjoyable experience- I haven't read a book this meaningful and important in years. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I hate giving this book a 2 star rating but that is what it deserves. I really wanted to like it (maybe becaise I am a cancer survivor) but found it very disappointing. The first 120 pages are devoted to telling the reader how wonderful the author is which really turned me off. The rest of the book is OK but nothing great. Pausch is a scientist, not a philosopher, and his insights are just not that deep or inspiring.

This book is very insightful and inspirational. The author, Randy Paush, is an incredible person. I am amazed by his strength and wisdom. Family is the major strong thread throughout his book. I think the world needs more people like Randy. He will be remembered and loved by millions of people he has never met. I wish his family well and pray for them.

This book takes my breath away. What a special wonderful person Randy Pausch is. Our world will always remember this shinning star.

I view this book as a family heirloom. I'm so eternally thankful this beautiful young man wrote it and wish him a kind time as he travels this path.

A beautifully written book. Randy Pausch is leaving a treasure for his children.
I could not put the book down. It brought tears to my eyes.

Very personal and profound insight into life and the story of one man who is facing death. It reveals some more of the story behind the Last Lecture given at Carnegie Mellon by Randy Pausch. Great book.

What a wonderful book with such insight into life - I'll be sharing it with friends & family.

I am so inspired by Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture", and his insight on living life to the fullest. I am grateful that in his final months of living, he is sharing his jewels of wisdom that he has discovered in his lifetime. And jewels they are! I love how he has fulfilled his childhood dreams and at the same time, supports others to follow their dreams as well - including me. His passion reminds me that life is precious, and when I approach my life as if everything matters, and when I meet each day with integrity, life can be magical. Randy Pausch doesn't take one moment for granted, and his book is a testament to passionate living.

Other books that have inspired me to live my life to its fullest, are Ariel & Shya Kanes' Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation, and How To Create a Magical Relationship. By reading their books and listening to their internet radio show, "Being Here", I have discovered how to live my life in the moment - with consistency. The moment is where magic exists! It is so easy to develop this skill set. Easier than I had ever imagined. Thanks to the Kanes, the magic that Randy Pausch describes in his book is possible for everyone to access immediately.

Best book I've read in a long time. Randy's story is a very moving positive story about end of life.

What an incredible inspiration Mr. Pausch is. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

My 18 y/o son read the book in 1 day and asked me to order 4 more books that he could give to teachers at his high school. He recommended the book to be added to the senior year reading currriculum at his high school.

I would called not as last lecture but first lecture and journey to life.
nice book. i recommend everyone to buy and read it

I thought it to be a terrific experience listening(audio book) to someone's value system and beliefs as they face a terminal illness. The optimistic nature of his discourse is unbelievable.

The Last Lecture will stay with me forever. There are so many life lessons contained in this book. I am sharing it with my two sons. Great gift for anyone.

At first glance I figured this book for one of those touchy feely, inspirational, self-help type books that I usually move past quickly. For whatever reason, I think I was looking to explore outside my comfort zone, I looked at this one. I saw it among the top sellers and wanted to know why it was there.

It is inspirational. It may help you live better. And, it certainly has an emotional undercurrent, but its never bleak or morbid. It is positive and sensible.

The author seemed sincere. Of course he is. Cramming as much quality living in each day is a reality for him. It is a must. Once I learned that the main motivation for his writing this book and the lecture it originated from was leaving something for his kids to learn from I was hooked. Knowing he did all the work on it from his bicycle, talking over a cell phone headset to the co-author who did the actual keyboard tapping, brought all the more legitimacy home to me. He wrote it this way so he wouldn't take time away from his kids.

By the way, I can never say I don't have time to exercise again.

This book is valuable. It is well worth the read. His thoughts are practical and never preachy. If you want something that will stimulate some thinking about living in the present, prioritizing your life, and focusing on what is really important and enriching - without being given a set of rules, this book is for you.

Great book. Randy is a unique person who provides insight to a very difficult situation we all could face.

How could anyone reading this not want to hug their family when finished? What an amazing way to collect his thoughts for his family to reference when he is gone. We could all learn something from Randy's amazing strength and confidence. What an inspiration to all who take the time to read this:)

Amazing book that inspires thought about every aspect of life, what's really important and who we want to be in life. Will be a necessity in teaching my daughter about life. Greatly appreciated!

Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University,
became an Internet sensation after he spoke on the topic
of "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" . . .his
presentation has since been viewed by millions of people and
became the basis for one of the best books I've read
in quite some time, THE LAST LECTURE (see also
Sections 2, 10 and 11)--written with Jeffrey Zaslow.

What made both the talk and book so unique was the
fact that Pausch had been diagnosed with terminal
cancer . . . yet rather than just take a maudlin
approach, he decided to share with his students and others
his thoughts on what living should be all about . . . in
doing so, he also wanted to provide something tangible
for his children to remember him by.

He made me laugh, at times, and I must admit he had
me teary-eyed as I read several pages . . . perhaps
best of all, Pausch got me thinking such as when
he talked about how hard he had it when studying
for his PhD:
* . . . I took something called "the theory qualifier," which I can now
definitively say was the second worst thing in my life after
chemotherapy. When I complained to my mother about how hard and
awful the test was, she leaned over, patted me on the arm and said,
"We know just how you feel, honey. And remember, when your father
was your age, he was fighting the Germans."

Then there's this lesson he learned that got me thinking about what
I need to do when faced with a similar situation:
* "That's a good thing," the assistant told me. "When you're screwing up and
nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you."

That lesson has stuck with me my whole life. When you see yourself doing
something badly and nobody's bothering to tell you anymore, that's a bad
place to be. You may not want to hear it, but your critics are often the ones
telling you they still love you and care about you, and want to make you better.

Lastly, Pausch taught me how to be a better teacher with this passage:
* "Andy, I just gave my students a two-week assignment and they came back
and did stuff that, had I given them an entire semester to complete it, I would
have given them all A's. What do I do?"

Andy thought for a minute and said: "OK. Here's what you do. Go back into
class tomorrow, look them in the eyes and say, 'Guys, that was pretty good,
but I know you can do better.'"

His answer left me stupefied. But I followed his advice and it turned out to be
exactly right. He was telling me I obviously didn't know how high the bar should
be, and I'd only do them a disservice by putting it anywhere.

THE LAST LECTURE is the perfect gift, not only for teachers, but
for anybody wanting to be both inspired and motivated . . . it will
leave you wanting to see (or revisit) his aforementioned talk that can be easily be found by searching the Internet.

Cant comment - book was ordered by mistake subsequently given away unread. Sorry.

This guy is fantastic! What a gift he has shared with the world, a personal gift to people he will never know. He speaks from his heart with a genuine love of people and a desire to share with us all his astonishing awareness of what matters in life.
It is a plea of sorts to humanity to have FUN because life is very short, to give of yourself and to take care of the people around you because that is the most incredible legacy a person can leave. He gives us unusual awareness, brought by a terminal disease, that most people never have until they are also in his position, if at all.
Read this book! And if you enjoy this kind of awareness, about living in this moment with fun and generosity, you will love Ariel and Shya Kanes' extraordinary books,
Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment and How To Create a Magical Relationship. They are beautiful, life inspiring books like 'The Last Lecture', that offer us the chance to experience the heightened awareness Mr. Pausch is describing. Many thanks to these three authors.

THIS BOOK BY RANDY PAUSCH IS ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING BOOKS I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIME. THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN FROM THIS MAN. WELL WRITTEN AND A BOOK YOU WILL MAKE REFERENCE TO AND REREAD ALL OF YOUR LIFE.

I purchased this book for all of my children, four of whom are adults. While there is no roadmap for the journey of life, hearing the wisdom of a man living, while dying, is as close to a guide as is possible. So often we are reminded of the fragility of life, of the need to live each day as if it were our last. What is so inspirational about Randy's book is backed up by evidence he is indeed doing everything he can to not only live his life, but to leave a legacy for his children. May we all be open to receive his gift.
Sherry Chambers

Randy is a man to be admired, not only as a good man, but also as a good husband and father. He has the integrity and honesty that I admire and look for in others. I highly recommend this book.

This was one of the best books I've ever read and I've passed it on to several people who loved it too. This book (and Randy Pausch in particular) has the power to change your life. He puts things in perspective and really helps you see what's important in life. It is funny, upbeat and touching all at the same time. Once you start it you won't be able to put it down. It's an easy and fast read if you don't have a lot of time. It's inspirational and you'll never forget it. I give it 5 stars !

Very pleased with the service. The book was in the condition described, which was excellent. It arrived in just a few days.

This story nearly broke my heart. It was beautifully written. I cannot comprehend the author being able to write such a beautiful a memoir to leave for his child.
Mary Pichette

I hate to disagree with virtually all of America, including Oprah, but I found this book very disappointing. Perhaps it is because I have been fortunate to know other amazing people who approached death with wisdom and humor, but - for whatever reason - I was simply not impressed. (full disclosure - I hated Tuesdays with Morrie, too) Randy Pausch is far more entertaining and inspirational in his "last lecture" than he is here, and that's okay. It is not his job to inspire or entertain me; he clearly has more important things to attend to. I understand that he wrote the book so his children would have this reminder of him later, and I hope they treasure it. I sympathize with him and his family as they deal with his disease, I wish him well, but I still think I wasted money buying his book.