Book Review

Book Title: The Last Lecture
Author: Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow
ISBN: 978 0 340 97773 6
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Why I choose this book?
This book was highly recommended by the Star newspaper. I could not resist from buying after reading the “Introduction”. As a parent myself, I could not imagine how I could spend my short remaining time on earth with my child. The quotation by the author, Randy Pausch that reads “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand” is so apt to us as we deal with our daily challenges.
The book is easy to read and it is presented in a lighthearted manner despite being shadowed by the reality of dying.

What this book is about?
This book is about a speech delivered by a 47-year old university professor who was dying of terminal pancreatic cancer. Professor Randy Paush gave his last lecture which is part of a yearly series at Carnegie Mellon University. It is a tradition where hypothetically faculty members are asked to deliver a final speech to their student before dying. It is a time where both speaker and listeners would reflect upon what matters most in their lives. Ironically, it was indeed Professor Pausch’s last lecture as he was told by his oncologist he had three to six months to live.
His speech was about how he fulfilled his childhood dreams and the lessons learned along the way that helped to shape who he was. The book is full of stories and related with much humour and simplicity. He also addressed his struggles with cancer and the challenges he faced where he solved with creative solutions. He ensured all his loved ones were mentioned in the book and how each of them enriched his life.

Reflections
If I am face to face with the reality of death, could I do what Professor Randy Pausch did? That is to live out the short remaining days on earth with such grit.
The author said “Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less time than you think” is a reminder that life has its expiry and it may be sooner than we expect. We should value each day and not procrastinate in order not to regret on our dying bed.
He has quoted many clichés and the most inspiring is from the Roman philosopher Seneca who said that “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” We should be well prepared for the things we want so badly in order to turn it into reality when the chance comes.
No doubt the book was written for his three young children for whom the professor had recorded all his fatherly advice that he would not be around to give personally. Professor Pausch‘s advice is so universal in its wisdom, those of us who eavesdropped benefitted equally.