Books : The Last Lecture

Rating: - A Lasting Lecture
This wonderful, emotional, thought-provoking, and inspiring book was a very honest look inside the mind and life of a very extraordinary ordinary man, and how he lived with a terminal illness.

In sixty-one short chapters, which seemed more like mini-lectures or brief discussions of Pausch's dreams, life lessons, philosophies, and experiences, I found many useful ideas about parenting, being a husband, and living as a man of value, action, and character. Knowing that I was reading the words of a dying man, I felt compelled to reflect on my own mortality in ways I had not done before. I honestly do not know how I would be, but I truly hope that should I ever be faced with the same terminal illness situation as Randy Pausch, I will respond to it with the same degree of love, grace, courage, and dignity as he did. My main 'take-away' from the book is to focus more earnestly on what I can share with my son every day, because, as Pausch said, "Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think."

Randy Pausch wrote this book, gave a one-of-a-kind lecture, and made a moving video to leave wisdom, memories, and experiences behind for his wife and his very young kids. He has also left behind inspiration for me: If he can do all that he did, knowing he had only months to live, imagine all that I can do throughout my life (however long or short it may be) if I remain conscious every day to the fact that I have small and large opportunities, if I choose to see them, to build a loving, lasting legacy for my son.

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Rating: - Item "The Last Lecture"
This product was shipped promptly and arrived in great condition. Thank you so much. I would recommend this seller to anyone.

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Rating: - good book
I myself lost my father at a very young age he was 47 when he died of heart attack.I thought the book was beautifully written esp the part when he is talking about him feeling sorry for his kids loss,to imagine them growing up without a dad.I believe that God does test his special people.I pray for his family may God give them strength.People say time is a healer but I personally think when you loose a parent or a child ones life is changed forever you miss them everypart of the day.

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Rating: - I really liked this book
This book is a quick read but I really enjoyed it. Rather than trying to analyse the author to pieces like a lot of the 1 star reviewers, I was moved by what Randy was going through. Dealing with one's mortality really puts life in perspective. There are lots of little 'life lessons' that can be taken from this book - as obvious as some of them may be, it doesn't hurt to be reminded!!

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Rating: - Let's separate the content from the circumstances and critique the book accordingly
I'm finding it hard to express myself, so I'll write as plainly as I can.

Emotionally, I was moved by Dr. Pausch's story. I cried at one point. It's always sad when you think about children losing a parent. But I'm afraid I wasn't that.. inspired. Intellectually, I was disappointed- very disappointed with this book. I guess I was expecting something deeper or better written.

Some people (the SUPPORTERS of this book) have mentioned that we must take into account the dire circumstances that the author was under when dictating it. To me, that says it all. That this is not a high quality book, but a book that's "Good enough- CONSIDERING that the author had a terminal illness, was dictating while riding a bike, it's really for his kids..." etc. etc.

So, potential buyers- if you want to know if you will find value in this book, then you must be someone who is REALLY prepared to take all that into account, otherwise I do NOT recommend buying this book at all.

I feel for Dr. Pausch's ordeal and for his family, may they have the strength to see them through this, but I'm trying to be objective and critique the book for what it is, and not mix sentiment with honest feedback that doesn't pull any punches, which is something Dr. Pausch himself condoned.

I feel bad for writing a negative review, but I also felt bad after finishing the book. I really did feel tricked somehow, perhaps into expecting more because of the hype, and then feeling cheated when this book didn't deliver.

The best I can say about the content of this book is that it may serve as a reminder of some cliches you already know. Sometimes it can be good to be reminded of common sense advice I guess, even if that advice is somewhat blandly delivered. Just please don't get offended that I use the term cliche. Dr.Pausch himself believed in them and defended them and didn't deny that he himself used them frequently in his life, and I guess in his book too.