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A lot of professors give talks titled "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.

Average Customer Rating:

"In our end is our beginning;..." Hymn of Promise by Natalie Sleeth.

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How one dies can say a lot about how one lives. Randy Pausch, Professor at Carnegie-Mellon and kid at heart at age 47 is asked to give a last lecture. This is a comparatively new tradition where distinguished academics give a lecture from the point of view that it will be their last. It is an opportunity for the scholar to pontificate on "what really matters". Pausch however was scheduled to deliver his after being told that his pancreatic cancer had metastasized and that he had three to six months of good health remaining. He could have begged off. In some sense, which he recognized, giving the lecture would be a selfish act, taking precious time away from his wife and young children. But he does, focusing not on what it means to die, but what it means to live. The result is a remarkable encounter with our shared humanity. In Randy Pausch's world, childhood dreams that are never let go, often come true. These insights are the perfect gift for his children, as well as ours.

A greeat surprise	Customer Rating:
This book makes one review their priorities in life. It is a book to keep on hand, to consult when things seem to be getting "out of hand" I procrastinated starting the book as I thought it would be morose, but on the contrary it was quite inspiring and often very amusing. I ordered an additional copy to pass around to my family and friends.

This Book is an Incredible Legacy	Customer Rating:
Randy Pausch set to standard for living life to the fullest. When faced with his inevitable demise, he made the most of every moment, and became an eternal voice of encouragement. This book is a blessing.

Highlights the value of time as our most valuable resource	Customer Rating:
Clearly, Prof. Pausch has spent a lot of time to thinking through the meaning of life and in this anecdotal account of the last months of his life he has convincingly expressed the importance of time. Very easy reading with deep meaning and a fitting bequest to his family.

A must read for everyone!

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I enjoyed this book in so many ways and it really makes you think about what is really important in life. I was overwhelmed by Randy's strength and love for his family. This book inspires you and makes you want your children and family to read this book so they will learn the importance of building ones self esteem and encouraging others to go after their dreams. My grandfather use to tell me that you can do anything you want to do as long as you put your mind to it and not let others discourage you. Randy taught his students the same and has left such a wonderful gift to his children with his "Last Lecture".