The Last Lecture

By: Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow

Narrated by: Erik Singer, Randy Pausch

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." ( Randy Pausch)

A lot of professors give talks entitled "The Last Lecture". Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: 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" - wasn't 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 humor, 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.

This recording includes an interview with the author.

©2008 Randy Pausch (P)2008 Hyperion

Got Kids?

"The Last Lecture" is now one of my top favorites and if you have children consider it a must. Even if you do not have children the lessons provided in "The Last Lecture" will provide inspiration to all walks and stages of life.

This Audible Book is about life and is all about living. It is a time capsule that we are privileged to peak into to learn the life lessons that a dying father will send to his very young children.

The book is well done and is structured in a unique method which delivers the messages in a powerful manner.

Messages that may be simple but provide direction and values for living life

Indispensible Life Lessons... too little too late

If only I had experienced a professor with the depth, knowledge AND wisdom of the late Randy Pausch. Professor Paush's lessons are short, generally simple and too the point. He didn't spend too much time as he knew he didn't have time to waste. I feel for his wife, family and children who lost an incredible part of their lives.

Read it... listen to it... you will be better for it.

Wonderful book

Incredible how a dying man could come up with such a wonderful book. Five stars.

Must Read

You will not regret listening to this book. One of my top five books. Life changing.

Important and entertaining talk on personal dying

Where does The Last Lecture rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Right up there

Who was your favorite character and why?

Randy.....it's autobiographical

What about Erik Singer and Randy Pausch ’s performance did you like?

It's been a long time since I listened to it but it came from his heart and he was very intelligent.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Again....it's been a long time since I listened to it but I've recommended it to several people

Any additional comments?

We don't get many opportunities to hear first hand accounts of being terminal, what they really want to say to their children, family and the world.

Live Like You Were Dying

I can't find words to express how much this novel touched me. I kept nodding sentence after sentence, I couldn't agree more on Randy's perspective of life. My favourite quote being:

Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted.
Randy Pausch

No matter the age, everyone should read this novel.

READ THIS BOOK!

Where does The Last Lecture rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

A top listen. (Even though it's so emotional that it was hard to read again)

What other book might you compare The Last Lecture to and why?

None. Once you read the book you'll understand why.

What does Erik Singer and Randy Pausch bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

CMU has the actual Last Lecture on You Tube. Read the book first! It's the only way to be prepared for what you are watching.

Any additional comments?

The book, the video, and everything around this story is very emotional as well as inspirational.

I was brought to tears several times while I listened. Thinking of not only about myself in Randy Pausch's position but rather about how he used it as in opportunity to leave nothing behind.

At the time I listened to this book the first time I was reading several management training books. I stopped listen to them after the first 30 minutes of the Last Lecture. It was eye openning to see Randy's ability to influence people by just good deeds and selfishness.

this Is probably the best book I've ever read.

this is probably the best book I've ever come across. it had touched my life and I will be recommending it to many others

If you enjoyed the last lecture

If you enjoyed the last lecture by Randy, you will love this book. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that wants to learn more from Randy and to anyone that is going through a difficult health situation.

I cried.

What made the experience of listening to The Last Lecture the most enjoyable?

I listened to it while doing a relatively easy free solo up Tenaya peak.

What other book might you compare The Last Lecture to and why?

hmm, not sure.

Which scene was your favorite?

The whole book.

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Life is short.