The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch is an autobiography of Pausch's life. It has some assistance from his friend and superior, Jeffrey Zaslow. Pausch starts off his book, right into the issue, which is that of his stages of pancreatic cancer. He is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, as he was supposed to give his "last lecture" for the university, something that a lot of professors do, he never thought that it could very well be his last lecture of life as well. So Pausch decided to make his Last Lecture about his life, and enjoying every single minute of what he has accomplished and how others should do the very same thing. He entitled the lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." This was how he approached his speech and he had it sectioned into different dreams he had as a child and he explained how somehow, someway in his life has accomplished those dreams. Whether indirectly or directly, he did it. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2006 and died just this past July, 2008. He has three children, two young boys and a baby girl, and a wife, Jai. Jai was his backbone throughout everything Randy had to endure. He had also always said that part of the reason he was doing his "last lecture" was so that his kids could see how great of a man he was and just how many people loved him. He really was loved by so many people because he had helped so many out and gave recommendations for his students to make sure they the opportunities that he was given. The book doesn't end the way you would assume, with death, but it ends with a life lesson. The lesson is to enjoy your life and fulfill your dreams. Randy wanted people to love him for the life he lived but not because he was dead or dying.
This book did not have very much detail within his cancer development. He made subtle remarks about how it was progressing and how Jai, his wife, had been there to help him get his chemotherapy and make sure the children did not worry too much about their father. I don't think I would use this book in particular to describe cancer and its biology but maybe the way it affects certain people. I think that cancer affected Randy Pausch in a positive way, if that's even possible. Positive maybe too harsh of a word but it definitely affected him in a good way. He learned to love and appreciate and wanted to share that with the people around him as well as the people he could not reach. So overall, cancer, on an emotional level, this book reaches that aspect but on a biology level, it does lack.
Personally, this book did affect me. I read most of it while I was in Canada. My best friend's grandmother was obsessed with this book and insisted that I read it as well, and that I did. I read mostly in the early morning on the hot rocks that faced the lake. I was so impressed with how beautiful Canada was that sometimes I would just watch the shine of the sun on the waters. I realized that there was a definite connection for why I was reading this very book while on my first out-of-country experience. I was learning my first "life lesson " via Randy Pausch. He was teaching me to be thankful and joyous I have these opportunities. I am thankful and I am thankful it took a book to help me come to that realization. I would recommend this book to every single person over the age of 16 because once you hit that age, your responsibilities only seem to grow. I would have to say this book was an escape for me and I really think that anyone can let it be anything they wish for it to be. Overall, this book hit a special, sensitive spot for me and I am very glad that I have read it.
---Brittany Billings, Student of Andrea Stonebraker

I first heard about this lecture from my wife. A friend had sent her the video link and she sent it to me. I watched this and was so moved by Dr. Randy Pausch's lecture and outlook on life that I had to buy his book. Even though he only had a short time to live during the writing of his lecture and subsequent book, he never gave up on life. There are so many important points in this book that we can all learn from that I have read this book three time now, underlining the points I want my wife and friends to learn. Dr. Randy Pausch was an amazing man and my prayers go out to his family, but his legecy will live on. I strongly recomend parent read this to your children.
And remember
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as of you will die tomorrow.

I thought this book was excellent. This was my selection for my monthly book club and I felt I had given the other members a "gift" by having them read this book. I want to go back with a yellow highlighter and mark some of the parts that I thought were especially important. I recommend this book for all ages of people.

I purchased 3 copies of the Last Lecture. Shipping date was supposed to be the 6th of October. I still have not received these books!!!! So...what do I have to do to ensure I get my purchase. I have already e-mailed the seller...no response. Upset in Pasco Wa.

Randy Pausch was a professor of computer science, human computer interaction, and design at Carnegie Mellon University when he began dying at age 46. In 2006 Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, survived surgery and chemo but in August 2007 the cancer returned. On September 18, 2007, the author gave his "last lecture."

In his last lecture, Pausch provides a laugh-filled session of teaching stories, of pursuing childhood dreams, and of enjoying every moment of your life. That lecture was taped and placed on You Tube, was written up in the Wall Street Journal, and soon Pausch had a book deal worth about $7 million. Pausch co-authored The Last Lecture with Jeffry Zaslow, the Wall Street Journal writer who reported on You Tube video and the impact it made on viewers. After watching Diane Sawyer interview Randy Pausch, I decided that his book was going to be on my must-read list.

In the academic world, a "last lecture" often is given by a popular professor who is retiring or is given by a teacher who wants to impart knowledge to students as if he was going to die soon. For Pausch, his last lecture was given because he truly was going to die soon. In The Last Lecture, Pausch pays close attention to what he believes is most important. The professor, a warm, decent and loving person, writes about his childhood, about the achieving his goals, about the life of a dedicated teacher who loves his wife and kids. The result is a mixture of autographical reflections and homespun tips on managing time, re-thinking priorities, learning to listen to others, and making the most of life.

His final lecture is less about death and more about life.
The lesson the professor wants us to learn is that we can face any challenge in life as long as we face our problems with determination and optimism. Among the lessons are the importances of keeping commitments, of maintaining a sense of humor, of tolerating frustration, of showing gratitude, of setting goals, of working hard, of telling the truth, and of the importance of celebrating the victories of life when we can. In other words, live in the present and enjoy what you have and achieve your dreams rather than continuing to dream endlessly.

I cannot remember most of the lectures I heard in college but I doubt very much that I will soon forget The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

Darin Manis
CEO and Founder
RJ & Makay
www.rjandmakay.com