The Last Lecture

The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch

Many professors give lectures imagining it is the last one they will ever deliver, sharing what matters most to them. For Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, it was real. In 2007, shortly after learning that he had terminal pancreatic cancer, he gave a lecture titled Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams. A video of the talk spread around the world and inspired millions of people.

In The Last Lecture, written with journalist Jeffrey Zaslow, Pausch expands on the ideas of his lecture and shares the stories and lessons he wanted to leave for his three young children. Rather than dwelling on his illness, the book celebrates life, with humor, optimism and gratitude.

Pausch reflects on the childhood dreams he pursued, such as experiencing zero gravity and working with Disney Imagineers, and on how he helped others achieve their dreams as a teacher and mentor. He offers lessons on overcoming obstacles, which he describes as brick walls that show how badly we want something, as well as on hard work, honesty, gratitude, accepting feedback, apologizing and having fun. He also writes tenderly about his wife and children, and about what it means to live well when time is short.

Short, warm and deeply moving, the book became an international bestseller.

The Last Lecture is an inspiring read for anyone seeking perspective on what matters most in life, and a meaningful gift for graduates, parents and friends. It deals with terminal illness and may be emotional for some readers.