This is a book you want to buy because everytime you look at it, it will make you smile...

Randy Pausch literally gives his "last lecture" at Carnegie Mellon University. He was a professor of computer science, diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Despite the unfortunate hand fate dealt him, he remained upbeat and thought this lecture would be a chance to leave a message to his young children, as well as his colleagues and students. The topic of the lecture was "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." He spoke about his own dreams and how grateful he was for his family and friends who helped him realize these dreams. Then he spoke about how to enable others to reach their goals and dreams.

One recurring point throughout was dealing with "brick walls" that seem to get in the way of our dreams. There is always a way around the wall ... determination to stay on track, believing in ourselves, and accepting help from others will bring our dreams to life.

Randy's words are inspirational and motivating. His life was a legacy of learning and sharing. ( )

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

There's nothing more bittersweet than reading a story where you know the ending before you start the first page. Everyone knows that on July 25, 2008, Randy Pausch lost his battle with cancer. But fortunately for those of us who never knew the man, he's left behind his legacy in THE LAST LECTURE. The well-known lecture can be viewed on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_Mq...), but with the help of a Wall Street Journal writer, Jeffrey Zaslow, he's taken his famous "last lecture" and written a book on how to live.

If you've watched the actual last lecture (I took the time after reading the book to sit and watch the entire talk), then the book is a perfect companion. If you've not seen the video, you will still be touched by the book. Though the book doesn't quote the lecture verbatim, Mr. Pausch has taken his lecture and expounded with more details and memories.

Having gone to university in Pittsburgh, I am very familiar with Carnegie Mellon University. When I first heard about the book and famous talk upon the death of Mr. Pausch, it was the mention of CMU that first caught my attention. I proceeded to get my hands on the book and read it in one quiet evening.

Mr. Pausch doesn't preach about his cancer, nor philosophize on death. Instead, he tells of his childhood dreams and how others can achieve their dreams. He speaks often of hitting a brick wall. He tells all that if you want something badly enough, then you will find a way around that brick wall. He shares with the reader his rejections by Brown University, Carnegie Mellon University, and even the Disney Imagineers. But he fought for what he wanted, and found a way to achieve his dreams.

He fondly thanks his parents for his wonderful childhood. He thanks his tough college mentor Andy van Dam. He tells about one of his students, whose dream was to work on the next Star Wars films. This coming in the early 1990s when no one anticipated there would be an additional three.

I believe all who pick up this book will be touched in some small way. It might not make you a better person for reading it, but I believe it will make you think. He offers simple suggestions for getting more out of life. It may be the simple truth of how to offer a sincere apology. It may be that you should put others first. Whatever it is, read the book with an open mind and be thankful that you are still alive and have the chance to live each day. ( )

One of the most inspiring books I have read, after "Mans Search for Meaning". Its a game changer in the way you think and act. ( )

Randy Pausch co-authored his autobiography in the brink of certain death, a fact that provides it with urgency and with some genuinely touching moments.

But that's not to say that his advice is all that special for the general public, myself included. It is certainly not original: riddled with cliches and an insistence on how obstacles are there just so we'll try harder to accomplish our goals. It is also individualistic, without a shred of concern for others that doesn't somehow link to one's own benefit. And it is oddly fixated with childhood dreams and with Disney.

I'm uncomfortable criticizing this book, as its circumstances make it endearing, and I'm sure it will be a fine legacy for Pausch's children. But that does not mean that it's particularly insightful, wise, or inspiring for the rest of us. ( )

A touching book! I very much admire Randy. His life and mine have many similar experiences and aspects. Much of his philosophy is not new to me because I already subscribe to much of it if not all of it. None the less, it was wonderful hearing these "ideas of living" through the telling of Randy's life. It is also wonderful to get a jolt to your life now and then and have that clear reflection of how precious life is come to the surface of your being. Randy's story has no doubt nudged us all in a more positive direction. This book is very worth your time, be prepared to shed a tear, laugh a bit and be more then your were before your started. ( )

I've been avoiding this book since it came out. I don't know why, the premise seemed so sad. But it was in the library and I thought, WHY NOT. It was a quick read. The first two-thirds of the book was OK, it started like any other memoir, talked about childhood, marriage, life in general, dying...etc. The last third of the book grabbed my attention. He starts doling out the advice, things he's learned over the year. Things I have learned, but forgot or chose not to follow. Some of the writing is sophmoric, but the good intention was apparent. ( )

Life changing book. A must read for all.

This is a truly inspirational story from prior to the book being written to long after the book was finished. I cried through the whole thing simply at the thought of Randy's wife and children losing him. This is an adult book that high school students will enjoy as well although there will be some parts they just won't be able to relate to because of their stage of life. This will be a book that I refer to as well as read over and over again. ( )

One of the best books by a Comp sci Prof on how to live life fully... ( )

easily read & inspirational ( )

What a wonderful philosophy of life. I had to occasionally close the book to internalize what I was reading. ( )

All I heard was how wonderful this book was.. well I guess I realized after reading this book that I am not into bios. I was making myself finish this one.

This book is about a professor who is dying of cancer. (He has tumors on this liver.) He was wanting to give one last lecture to his students, fellow collegues and something for his children to have in the future.

Even though he gives good points about how to live life to the fullest, I found myself not paying attention when I was reading. He told about his life and how he acheived many of his childhood dreams. He became a Imagineer for Disney, worked for NASA on a project and many other things. ( )

I found this book to be interesting and the author certainly shows a zest for life, but he came across as rather egoistical at times. His children and wife may have been better served by his spending more time with them--but we all march to a different drummer. His lecture has influenced many people. ( )

An inspiring story about having dreams and realizing them before it is too late. Although we all know we do not have the promise of tomorrow, we tend to live as if we do. However, Randy Pausch, at age 46, knows that a few more tomorrows is all he can hope to have -- he certainly doesn’t have the promise of next year. Randy is not in denial of his fate – almost certain death to the dark horse known as pancreatic cancer. Rather he is in search of the best way to leave a mark on the world and in the memories of his three young children (all under the age of five). Although Randy is a well-respected computer science professor and an award-winning researcher, giving lectures has always been a gift and a passion. Now he is torn between spending his precious last few months solely embracing every moment he has left with his family and getting his affairs in order, or taking time away from them to prepare and deliver one final lecture. Fortunately for many, Randy made a decision befitting the motto “The greatest use of life is to do something that lasts beyond it.” In his final lecture, Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, he conveyed a simple but badly needed reminder to live each and every day to its fullest. The emotion-inducing lecture has become a phenomenon since its delivery by Randy Pausch at Carnegie Mellon University in September of 2007.

Randy Pausch is a professor of computer science who is dying from cancer. In his final lecture, he speaks of his life and his philosophy in trying to help others get the most out of life.

It is an easy read and worth the effort. ( )

This book gives you two emotions: it makes you want to live everyday to the fullest, but it breaks your heart knowing he has died.

Strengths: a very uplifting book, easy read
Weakness: the book ends ( )

I loved this book! It is very ispirational. I experienced the death of my father when I was very young. I had tears and smiles throughout the book. I even was lead to watch the hour long youtube video just to see his personality and his wonderful wife live. ( )

I can not tell you how much I loved this book and although its theme is a very serious one I think the whole premise of the book, "how to live your life to the fullest" is great for all adolescents. The strengths would be all the free and great advice he gives you from the lessons he has learned along the way.
The only weakness I can think of for this book would be that the young adults would not have the background or fully understand the importance in some of these lessons because of their lack of experience in life, being so young. ( )

What a great book. I read it around the same time he died so it was especially poignant. I loved his upbeat spirit. We spend too much time worrying about the wrong things in life. Very inspirational. ( )

I thought this was a great book that was very uplifting. It made me examine my life and encouraged me to take advantage of every single minute that I am here. I thought this gave an insight into the life of a dying man that has a great outlook on life. He does everything in his power to use his time remaining on Earth to touch those around him and make an impact. If you are looking for a motivational book that makes you feel that you can make a difference...this is it!

The book had a great purpose that it very much fulfilled. It was very strong in the area of making a connection with the reader with a plot that surrounded the life and times of the author, Randy Pausch.

I did think that this book got a bit technical at times when it came to talking about his profession and tended to lose a bit of my attention, but overall, I think the message made up for the technicality.

Because this is a non-fiction book, there was not much setting or character development. I did feel that I knew the author, but didn't know if it was a result of seeing the lecture televised or also with the help of the pictures in the book. ( )

2. I think this is an excellent book for any aged reader to read.
3. I enjoyed this book. It really made me think of my own life. This book really makes you thankful and makes you want to live your life to the fullest.
4. Strengths- the honesty of the author.
-that it is kind of a self help book, makes people think about thier own life.
Weakness- It is really sad, because we know the ending. ( )

The non-fiction book, The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch was an inspiring read filled with wisdom and humor. I thought the book was an enjoyable and thought provoking read. While reading about the author's own childhood dreams, lessons he's learned in life, and his suggestions on how to live the best life possible my thinking quickly turned inward. The book's strengths are definitely the author's voice, storytelling ability, and wisdom. Randy has a unique delivery on his stories which are filled with humor and lessons he learned in life. Honestly, the book's only weaknesss is its' ability to make you cry and rethink your own life - good and bad. It truly touched my mind and heart! ( )

Beautiful, moving, funny, OUTSTANDING! EVERYONE should read this book! ( )

This is an inspiring book that puts life into perspective. It was a quick and easy read. I enjoyed listening to Randy Pausch's life story. He was such a positive person and lived his life to the fullest. I think a strength of the book was that it was broken down into small sections that made it easy to read. I thought that towards the end the book got a little long for me, but I still enjoyed it. ( )