THE LAST LECTURE- Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow : Book review

  This is one of those genres I don't particularly read....Biographies.They do teach you a lot...But this book has changed my opinion on the genre rather on my life..

RANDY PAUSCH... the last lecture is a book full of one-liners and teachings, any random page would end up teaching you more about Randy , his ideology and a wonderful take on life.Some of his one-liners penetrate directly through your heart

Randy Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University,  a computer wiz, a know it all personality.

He was later diagnosed with pancreatic cancer... the doctors clearly stated that his chances of demise were larger than the contrary...he had ten tumors in his pancreas and there was no medical help that could rescue him through it...

The thing that I like the most about this book is the optimism that Randy had.

Randy had a proper balance of optimism and practicality.

After encountering his diagnosis on the tumors he had it became clear in his mind that he had a little  time left to spare

 His urge to be alive and see his 3 kids grow and be with the love of his life Jai (Randy's wife) is clearly seen throughout the book.

Randy shares his life lessons in the form of stories from his football coach, his friend from the Disney, his"Dutch uncle".

The Last Lecture really being Randy's last one was more than just a presentation for him, this was the last time he would dictate a lecture his last time to address his students...the last time he could make an impact and under the ruse of giving his last lecture he bottled up his life that would one day wash up at the beach or his children as they were really young when he was diagnosed with cancer they would have blur memories of their father

He says if he was a musician he would create a song for them...but he was a professor what could they do the best!!

He wrote a book, recorded the actual last lecture which was given at Carnegie Mellon University, he wrote them letters and recorded his last moments with them, captured them in the camera. As memories of their wonderful father 

The book focuses on an idea 

"Really achieving your childhood dreams"

Randy talks about his childhood, his parenting which is the best  parenting I have read about till now.One such incident clearly indicated the rich parenting through which he was brought up

He wasn't allowed to ask one-word questions to his parents like why??

they knew a better way: Open the encyclopedia. Open the dictionary. Open your mind,  his parents said

His mother was a teacher and his father served as a doctor in the army during the second world war which explains Randy's disciplined lifestyle. 

The Last Lecture quotes certain lines that stick with you;

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” It sounds a bit cliche but, isn't it true?

And it's Randy he loves cliches. 

Randy dreams of many things like working with Disney and being a player at the NFL (he wasn't ) but the training taught him quite a lot

Coach Jim Graham, was really an old school coach.

On the first day of training, he arrived without a football. (yes! he did!!)

A student asked him ( his answer really made me think through it!) 

He answered , "How many players are there in a football team?"

The student answered "11"

And "How many teams?"

"2" They all answered.

"How many people have football at once" Jim asked

"1 person" they answered

And "Then what about the rest 21!!"

"Yes, we are gonna focus on what you are going to do if the football isn't with you"

FUNDAMENTALS they are, we need to focus on our fundamentals first.

He also dreams of floating in the space...

He did but after 40 years of dreaming it to which he says

"But I did manage to get on that plane, almost four decades after floating became one of my life goals. It just proves that if you can find an opening, you can probably find a way to float through it. "

He talks about people who taught him many things intentionally or diffusely in the second chapter...it is the most interesting part of the book... Adventures and life lessons.

He also states that it is also equally important to fulfill the dreams of other people as well, He was a professor and grabbed every chance possible to turn their dreams into reality...he did succeed in most of them

The importance of experience is explained in so simple words

He says" Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. The person who failed often knows how to avoid future failures. The person who knows only success can be more oblivious to all the pitfalls."

This book makes us understand that small things in life matter a lot and has a greater impact once we are gone.

He talks about several things like writing a gratitude note to people you are grateful for, time management is profoundly explained in the book, the importance of a heartfelt apology and many such things.

Jai plays a very important role in his life she is a strong thoughtful lady...who loves her husband and wants him to live and spend most of his time with her and their children...

But she makes sure that she allows Randy to live his last crucial moments the way he wants...without wasting time on the trivialities of life.

I am totally amazed after reading this book, how can a book be so simply written and still penetrate through your heart and stay there forever.

This blog might have gone a little too long..but some hundred words can't define the experience of this book.. I still hope I did justice to this wonderfully written book,this person and his life, which is so inspiring. 

This blog comes right from my heart...

This book has stayed with me in the darkest times and has helped me procure a new sense of life.

"The trouble is, you think you have time"- Buddha.

This is mostly the essence of the last lecture.

All I would like to say is that live your life in such a way that even if you die tomorrow, you have no regrets.

This is one of those books that made me cry, feel sorry and also laugh at same time (because of Randy's wit!) . He is one of the most loving people this planet has encountered...I feel sorry for the loss of his family and his wife. If Randy was amongst us today I would have loved to attend one of his lectures.

You can also listen to the actual last lecture on YouTube, I'll leave a link below 

You can have your own book through the link below

GET YOURS HERE: