The Last Lecture
Ratings57
Average rating4.3
I've gifted and bought this book more than any other. It changed my perspective on life.
Truly moving. an amazing (quick) read and I think it would have been majorly influential had I read it in college. Pausch's optimism and resilience in the face of adversity are truly inspiring, and his message of pursuing your dreams and making the most of your time on earth is something that will resonate with everyone.
This book exists in that dissonant state of simultaneously being both easy and difficult to read. It's not easy just because of its length; the natural flow of childhood dreams and identifying with them makes it easy to read. At the same time, this is a book which you know must have been very difficult to write and that makes it difficult to grasp. What is going on in Randy's mind right now as he talks about this in his lecture.
That said, I don't intend to romanticize the lessons from the lecture itself. I don't think that is why you are buying this book. This book is beautiful because this was a story of a person's dreams and his life. It is not the advice itself (and there is very little direct advice) that gives value to this book.
I like to think that the book was written for you, the reader, to find yourself as much as it might have been the vehicle for the writer to find himself. Don't read the book with the intention to find out more about Randy Pausch; read it for yourself.
Such a great and inspiring book. It's even better if you've seen the lecture itself.
I still don't get the review by people who say he's talking about himself and this not having any lessons. Hello, many of the chapter's titles are literally lessons (Dream big, Look for the Best in Everybody). And of course he has to be talking about himself! This is not a freaking general self-help book. He is a dying man wanting to leave his legacy for his kids and others, so why does it have to hurt just mentioning the best parts of it. He's suppose to tell people about his life and not go everywhere collecting evidences for his point like other self-help books.
Look at this book with an open mind. He's mentioned that this is only how he's done it, so why complaining that it's not entirely 100% applying for you. There are many ways to take a lesson.
I love this and have read multiple times. Great life lessons and a reminder to live life to its fullest because you never know how long it will be.
I've read this book only because my brother recommended it but it wasn't my cup of tea.
The style of writing made it very difficult for me to read it.
The author had nice things to say but the way in which he expressed them wasn't appealing to me at all. I felt like Jeffrey Zaslow did a poor job in helping Randy Pausch transmit what he wanted to say in paper.
Like I said, this not the book I would personally choose to read and that is why I gave it the rating I did.