Book Review: the Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

The Last Lecture is typically an opportunity for a tenured professor to ride into the sunset of his or her professional career and into retirement. In the case of computer science professor Randy Pausch, his terminal cancer diagnosis came at his life's prime. The book takes you through the professor's epic journey to create this lecture and its delivery. He shares with the reader his life's dreams and how the diagnosis made him come to realize that, but for seeing his own children grow into adulthood, he had achieved many of his dreams through the love of his partner and wife, the birth of his children, his friendships, and his career.

Randy Pausch lived long enough to give his "last lecture" at Carnegie Mellon and it really was his last. The lecture he gave, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", however was not about dying. It was about living. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment. He could speak from the heart when he said, "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think". It was a true period at the end of his sentence, a life lived well but unfairly cut short.

Randy Pausch received acclaim in the very late stages of his life, appearing with Diane Sawyer and others as his days came to a close. His last lecture was a phenomenon and was delivered deliberately and to great acclaim.

The book will touch any reader deeply, as many can imagine saying good bye to a young family, a much-loved spouse, and a beloved career and vocation. Pausch realized that he was somewhat fortunate to know of his pending demise and to have time to prepare his family, in particular. The telling of his final days with his children and the tapes he made to leave behind are particularly heart-wrenching. The book will be one you will want to share with others in your family and with friends for many years.