The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Summary

After learning of his terminal cancer diagnosis, a university professor writes his treatise on what makes a life worth living. His message focuses on creating a meaningful life by making your childhood dreams come true, helping others follow their dreams, and overcoming the obstacles that inevitably arise along the way.

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” ~ Randy Pausch

About the Author

The Last Lecture was the final project for Carnegie Mellon University professor of computer science Randy Pausch after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," explored some of his favorite childhood stories and how they influenced the person he eventually grew to be. At the core of his transmission is a message about following your heart and your whims, even when they maybe don’t make sense.

The positive reception of the lecture led to him co-writing the book with Jeffrey Zaslow, which became an instant bestseller when published in April 2008. He died three months later on July 25, 2008.

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