Book Review - Randy Pausch "The Last Lecture"

I don't know how many of you have heard Randy's story but he has become quite the celebrity lately. He is a tenured professor of computer science in Carnegie Mellon and he has recently given a lecture on how to live your life which made its way to YouTube. What makes him such an expert on the subject? He's dying of pancreatic cancer and has less than 6 months to live.

Of course one cannot claim to be the expert of living just because he's dying. Randy has also fulfilled most of his childhood dreams. He has floated in zero gravity, won plenty of giant stuffed animals, became a Disney imagineer, authored an entry in the World Book encyclopedia, and being (at least very close to) Captain Kirk. And with Diane Sawyer's help he has (sorta) played in the NFL "Brick walls are there to show you how much you want it." Randy says. "They are there to keep the other people out."

As a tradition, professors in universities are asked to do a lecture as if it was the only lecture they have left to do in their life entitled "The Last Lecture". What would you teach people if that is the only chance you have? Randy took this opportunity to leave a message to his kids, 6 years old Dylan, 3 years old Logan and 18 months old Chloe. His lecture is on pointers on living a fulfilling life, a life without regrets. "Would you rather be Tigger or Eeyore?"

With all the other values installed on him by his free-loving and charitable parents and his nurturing family and friends, Randy told lessons he has learned throughout his life to his children, so as they grow up they would understand what kind of a man their father was and the good intent he had for all of them and the fortunate people who happened to be touched by his words.

"Make your childhood dreams come true and enable the dreams of others."