Am unsure as to which genre this book will fit in. Probably most would say that this will be an inspirational book. I don’t want to use that word because it might be misleading.
This is not your typical Steven covey, Robin Sharma type book suggesting ways to live life better. This has a much more simple, real life, no gyan content, yet it moves you like no other book can.
The last lecture is the story of a man named Randy Pausch. He is not a management guru or a spiritual guide. He is just college professor who teaches(or rather used to teach) computer science at Carnegie Melon university.
Carnegie Melon university has a tradition where they ask their teachers to present a special lecture. They have to conduct a class assuming that this is their last lecture. So they need to consider that, if they were never to teach a class anymore, what knowledge / wisdom they would like to impart to their students.
In the author’s case this really WAS his last lecture.
Randy Pausch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was told that he would not survive. On September 18, 2007, he chose the Carnegie Mellon University hall as a platform to deliver The last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams.”
In front of an overcrowded room, he delivered what turned out to be an exceptionally emotional and inspiring speech about how he has lived his life and achieved several personal goals.
He had not won any Olympic gold medal or become the president or anything that spectacular, but still he had always dreamt big and gave everything in life his 100%. Quite simple. Perhaps that is why his story is so relatable and easily inspiring. His achievements are not big in any scale, but reading the way he gets to them is a delight.
Quoting from the official website of author: “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, so 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 surely continue to inspire many, for generations to come.
The video of his lecture was recorded and put on youtube, and eventually became a sensation.
The book was later released and as expected became a best seller.
If you don’t have the time to read the book, do yourself a favour and watch the video at least https://youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
Happy Reading!