The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow

Breaking Down the Brick Wallsby jHamBolton

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February 09, 2010: Randy Pausch is a man anyone would recognize as "a renaissance man". He's a man that never really lost his way because he's had sight unintentionally set on adulthood since he was a kid. He didn't become lost like most of us do as we get older and get side tracked into careers like a lawyer, engineer, or some other cliché job nowadays. He dreamed big when he was young, and more of his dreams came true in his short lifetime than most with a "full" life because he just never let go of those dreams.

His scientific mind and extremely optimistic point of view is what helped get Pausch through the rest of his remaining life after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He is a very accomplished teacher, Imagineer, loving husband, and father of 3 to name just a few of his completed dreams. The story goes on to talk about how truly important childhood dreams really are and how they link to becoming a better human being.

Now I would like to think that a normal persons reaction to being diagnosed with a terminal illness would be a extremely over-the-top pity party. That is exactly how Pausch did not react. I definitely love Pausch's positive attitude throughout the his illness and the composing of the book and his last lecture. The book is extremely inspirational and it really makes you think about ways to handle your own life. Pausch is careful not to preach though, because to a critical mind he could definitely come across as that way. Instead, he really challenges you to be who you want to be and form your own values; he obviously brings up his own opinions, but it's meant for more "food for your thought" kind of translation and provides people with a general guidance to tapping into your knowledge and deciding what values and experiences speak through and about you.

Nothing really negative to say about the book except the writing style I suppose. Now while Pausch conquered much in his life, and English Major was not among his feats. The writing style is rather jumpy. In one instance he may be talking about his family and kids, then jump to driving a convertible blasting the soundtrack to "The Lion King", then jump to intentionally pouring soda in the back seat of a car, then jump to being overcharged at a supermarket. All of which are extremely relevant to the overall theme, but until you finish the book, it seems rather choppy.

If you're down for a good-feel read even with the main character dying, well, this book is for you. Pausch does an amazing job speaking to the general public about how dying...really isn't that bad. Because at least you have time to remember all the life you've had, the good and the bad, and you still get to look forward to what time you have left. To get the full effect of Randy Pausch's life, you can't just watch the lecture. While the actual lecture about Pausch's life, values, and experiences, the book The Last Lecture is a more in depth look at the crafting behind the lecture and his thought process. And both were intended for only his kids to begin with, but thousands of people have now been touched by Pausch's emotionally jerking yet inspiring story.

The easiest read to compare The Last Lecture to is Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morrie simply because they both deal with a happy-go-lucky dying man with a lot to say before they finally go. The message in both speaks to the potential in all of us to lead a great life.

What Would You Do?by ShlynnBolt2010

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February 09, 2010: Lack of time is a common complaint among the majority, but what if your last days where laid before you? For Randy Pausch, a loving father, a compassionate husband, and a devote professor at Carnegie Mellon, this was the reality when he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. What would you tell your children? Your wife? Your students? Randy Pausch found himself asking these questions while simultaneously being asked to give, ironically, his "Last Lecture: " Sharing his wisdom on life, as if tomorrow was his last.

It is unfeasible to read Pausch's words without pondering one's own being. Quoting the book itself, "the lecture . wasn't about dying. It was about living." You sit there reading about a man preparing to die, only wishing that you could die in as much tranquility that he is. The book truly reaches the reader when he talks about his hardships, but compensates with his overcoming the said obstacles. Pausch uses his life stories to relate to his audience whether doing it consciously or not. The book is not about Randy Pausch, the man with cancer, but rather the Randy Pausch who dreamed of becoming Captain Kirk, experiencing weightlessness, playing in the NFL, authoring an article in the World Book encyclopedia, becoming a Disney Imagineer, and (not "or"), winning as many giant stuffed animals at the amusement park as humanly possible. The stories are unimaginably relevant to any one person who picks the book up. We all have dreams we hope to one day achieve and Pausch inspires readers to go after their dreams as if there is really no tomorrow.

I personally got the most joy out of reading this book because Randy Pausch inspired without guilt or regret. There are those self-help books that provide guilt-ridden inspiration. The type of motivation that makes you want to have change in the future, but only because the book is telling you that what you are doing is wrong. The Last Lecture provides hope in everyday life, and a larger emphasis on the small things, rather than a revolutionary game plan.

I really want to say that this book is a "one-size-fits-all," but in all reality, (and it is revealed in the book also,) that the lecture was a gift for Randy Pausch's children, a legacy more or less, to leave behind when he is gone. But I do feel that if you make the conscious decision to buy this book, borrow it from the library or friend, you will enjoy. Mere curiosity is all that is necessary to enjoy this book. Sure you opened the pages to eaves-drop on a dying-man's last months, but once you finish you learn something about yourself and gain a deeper appreciation for precious moments.