The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Several weeks ago Arletta bought me the book The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. The title comes from a guest lectureship that Dr. Pausch held at Carnegie Mellon University. Here is the blurb from the website:

On September 18, 2007, computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of an audience of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver a last lecture called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." With slides of his CT scans beaming out to the audience, Randy told his audience about the cancer that is devouring his pancreas and that will claim his life in a matter of months. On the stage that day, Randy was youthful, energetic, handsome, often cheerfully, darkly funny. He seemed invincible. But this was a brief moment, as he himself acknowledged.

Randy's lecture has become a phenomenon, as has the book he wrote based on the same principles, celebrating the dreams we all strive to make realities. Sadly, Randy lost his battle to pancreatic cancer on July 25th, 2008, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all, for generations to come.

This is a must read (or listen to) book. I want to see how I can incorporate this book into some of my classes. It is a work that challenges all of us in our day to day living. Dr. Pausch was a believer, but he does not make that point until the end of the book. That was probably wise. For many people to hear one more story about how God saves the day would have kept them reading any further.