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| The Last Lecture | 
 enlarge | Authors: Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
Publisher: Hyperion
Category: Book
List Price: $21.95
Buy New: $10.79
You Save: $11.16 (51%)
New (89) Used (35) Collectible (9) from $9.85
Avg. Customer Rating:  800 reviews
Sales Rank: 25
Format: Roughcut
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 1401323251
Dewey Decimal Number: 004.092
EAN: 9781401323257
ASIN: 1401323251
Publication Date: April 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 i expected to love it, but............ May 24, 2008
35 out of 41 found this review helpful
What do you do when you simply don't like a book, when you want so much to love it? Especially when written by a man dying of cancer?
I was so excited to read The Last Lecture when it was published, but instead of finding inspiration, I was deeply disappointed and sometimes downright irritated.
A primary reason that Randy Pausch wrote this book of exceedingly short vignettes and essays was to leave a legacy of memories to his three small children, a loving and noble goal. I suppose having it published makes that all the more real.
Early on, Pausch confesses to being self-absorbed and arrogant, a warning that the reader should heed. The Last Lecture isn't as much a book of inspiration, but an unabashed chronicle of Pausch's successes and greatness in life. We're to be inspired to follow our childhood dreams by way of his own: becoming an Imagineer for Walt Disney or an astronaut by flying in a zero g-force simulator. But it just doesn't ring true or realistic for more common people with more modest dreams. Instead, the book bogs down into "I-me" stories, over and over again.
I'm not saying that the book is worthless, nor that it shouldn't be read. But take it for what it is -- a self-centered accounting of a life to be left for posterity -- rather than inspiration to follow your childhood dreams, a theme that is but a small portion of an already slim book, although it's touted as the main thrust of the book. There isn't much universal substance here, even when you look for it, but perhaps that's to be forgiven for a young man facing imminent untimely death at the prime of his life and career. But I will say this in closing: if there had been no "last lecture" at Carnegie Mellon or if someone with less chops than Dr Pausch had written it, the book would probably never have been published.
Simple and sweet July 24, 2008
35 out of 53 found this review helpful
I tried very hard to like this little book. I instinctively appreciate Randy and feel sorrow for his plight. He gives the impression as being very much an honorable guy, a good father and the college professor I never had but always wanted. Nonetheless, the book seems to be written for the simple of mind. Perhaps a life with college students had given Randy a fondness for straightforward homilies. There was nothing in the book that is either fresh or profound. The insights presented are Hollywood superficial.
The book's constant regressing to Disney, Star Wars, and Star Trek may be attractive to the college student. However, finding weighty insights from the ethos of a Jedi is an effort in futility. The book does give some comprehensible perceptions of the popular academic culture. Through analysis the book shows that the superficial and fallacies of concept of the Hollywood culture can be misconstrued as being full of deep and profound meaning. That being said, there are those that need such metaphors for a life's anchor and for those this book is ideally suited.
I hope nothing but the best for Randy and his family. If the reader is looking for a light book that reads like a screen play and isn't too mentally tasking than this is the book for them. If on the other hand the desire is for a profound and penetrating analysis of life's lessons and the meaning of existence than the reader will be disappointed.
 Inspiring! April 10, 2008
33 out of 42 found this review helpful
Just as inspiring as his famous "Last Lecture" and with some very interesting and moving additional material. Zaslow has done a great job retaining Pausch's voice in the writing without making it seem like you're reading a transcript of a telephone conversation. If you liked the video, you'll love the book. If you haven't seen the video, you'll love the book.
 Pausch writes for the Privileged June 17, 2008
30 out of 92 found this review helpful
Well this is the kind of book to share. I used it for my students. It is inspiring and wonderful. It can be applied to many situations. However, it seems like the dying professors writing best sellers (Tuesdays with Morrie) is like a new fad. While his insights and sharing is so right on target - what gets me is that he has the privilege to think and live these last days with such integrity and grace. In much of the USA people do not have this privilege. They are too worried about pain and how to pay the bills. They can't be writing best sellers and thinking such profound lofty thoughts. They are just trying to get by and die the best way they can. They are trying to live each moment. Pausch gives us the focus on learning to live while dying, but I think there needs to be some appreciation that he is a person of privilege writing for people of privilege.
One of a Kind April 10, 2008
29 out of 34 found this review helpful
When I first heard from Randy that he had pancreatic cancer, I knew that cancer picked the wrong guy to mess with.
The Last Lecture has Randy's timeless insight on living and loving life, though he is also an incredible advocate for pancreatic cancer research. May all the attention being given to the book lead to tremendous support for eradicating this horrible cancer that has a 95% mortality rate within 5 years.
Read this book and watch Randy's lecture on YouTube. As cliche as it sounds, you will never see the world the same way again.
In The Last Lecture, Randy discusses Alice [...], which is a free virtual reality program that makes it really easy to create 3D movies and stories, while learning computer programming. It's great for kids, and adults who are kids at heart. Just like the Last Lecture has helped Randy share with millions of people his philosophy on life, Randy has already helped countless students through providing Alice as a free, fun, challenging, educational program.
I draw these comparisons to pancreatic cancer advocacy and Alice because they exemplify the kind of person that Randy is, and the challenges and legacies he leaves for us. And, since Randy says to "always tell the truth", I believe there is no better way for the world to honor the man than to support these things to which he gives so much.
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