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The Last Lecture

Written by: Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
Narrated by: Erik Singer, Randy Pausch
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Publisher's Summary

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." ( Randy Pausch)

A lot of professors give talks entitled "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.

This recording includes an interview with the author.

©2008 Randy Pausch (P)2008 Hyperion

Featured Article: Quotes About Hard Work to Keep You Motivated and Moving Forward

Anything worth achieving is worth working for. Those goals that we reach when we really strive for them, giving it our all, are the most rewarding. Whether it is taking small steps towards your goals, shooting for a new objective, or simply dreaming those big dreams, hard work is what gets us there. Trusting in yourself and your own abilities will allow you to dig deep, put in the time, and get where you want to be. Everything is achievable with the right mindset.

What listeners say about The Last Lecture

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Interesting and sad story

Like it, didn't love it. It's hard to judge someone on their final days but it seemed like there was not a lot of humility from him that he spoke so highly of regarding his father.

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Very good book

Absolutely loved the book, just found the added music was very annoying/distracting from the story

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It was great

I loved not only the story telling of it but also the advice that he gives throughout to stay in the moment and live life like it’s your last day. It’s very moving and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

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at least once a year I pull this out and listen.

just check it out and you'll enjoy it. a lot of life lessons gleaned from it

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The Last Lecture always a good guide to being human

There are three books that are sacred to me.
The last lecture is one of them. I love this book. Bought it when it first came out, I saw Randy Paush YouTube video. I need to learn more. I did.

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