I just finished reading The Last Lecture from Randy Pausch. If you haven't heard of this book I would wonder if you've been hibernating for the last 6 months. This book is written by a Computer Science professor from Carnegie Mellon who delivered his "last lecture" because he was dying of pancreatic cancer. (He has since passed away after giving the lecture and writing the book).
After hearing about the lecture, I went online and watched the entire thing. I'm sure if you google it, it wouldn't be hard to do. It's a really good lecture, but a lot of it is specific to his profession and industry (which it should be since that's who he was talking to). Anyway, the book describes parts of the lecture, but is more about what life's lessons Randy has learned. By the way, I love how he calls himself Randy Pausch instead of Dr. Randy Pausch. For some reason it just makes him that much more real and easy to relate to.
The book is very short and won't take long to read. I think it was really worthwhile. It just brought to focus the really important things in life and made me wonder what I would do with my time if I knew I had 6 months to live. He's very realistic about his prognosis, but also optimistic, which I just loved. Lately it seems I have really needed help focusing my attention on the things that really matter. This book helped me do just that.
I highly recommend it! And for those of you who have read it, what did you like the most?
One of my favorites was when he talked about painting on the walls of his room as a teenager. I think it is so cool that his mom didn't care and Randy was so proud of his work. It reminded me of my cousin Ben's room in Boston. My sister and I went and visited and stayed in his room and it was COVERED with black and white drawings, writings and miscellaneous things from he and his friends. I love the fact that his parents let him be creative and artistic on his own terms.
That's all I'm going to say because I'm trying to shorten my posts! Merry Christmas!
1 comment:
I really loved most of it!! One point that I strongly agreed with was about work ethic and the fact that we coddle kids and people too much these days! I believe that people never really rise to excellence by someone padding the way for them and "making life perfect and sweet"!! Excellence and the ability to get through life comes through hard work, upset,mentors/teachers/ or loved ones who will be honest and push us and endurance!!
The end of the book just made me cry to realize that he was gone - and I reflected, as you did, on how I would live and what I would do if I only had 6 months to live. Good food for thought! I am just so glad that his children will have this treasure- since they won't have their dad!
Keisha
Post a Comment