

|
The Last Lecture (Paperback)
by Randy Pausch
Category:
Motivation, Inspiration, Dream, Success & significance |
Market price: ¥ 140.00
MSL price:
¥ 108.00
[ Shop incentives ]
|
Stock:
In Stock |
|
MSL rating:
Good for Gifts
|
MSL Pointer Review:
A gift of hope and affirmation, this book inspires us that we can face any challenge in this life as long as we welcome our fate with optimism and determination to confront all odds. We can live for the welfare of others. |
If you want us to help you with the right titles you're looking for, or to make reading recommendations based on your needs, please contact our consultants. |
 Detail |
 Author |
 Description |
 Excerpt |
 Reviews |
|
|
Author: Randy Pausch
Publisher: Hyperion New York
Pub. in: November, 2008
ISBN: 1401309658
Pages: 176
Measurements: 6.9 x 5 x 0.8 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BA01653
Other information: ISBN-13: 978-1401309657
|
Rate this product:
|
- Awards & Credential -
One of the Amazon's Best Books of 2008. Ranked #14 bestseller on Amazon.com as of Jan 2, 2009. |
- MSL Picks -
After watching Randy's lecture called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" on YouTube I was blown away by his honesty, clarity and forthrightness in conveying life lessons he has discovered. And soon after I ordered this book which is the written version of that humorous and inspiring lecture.
One of the ideas in his book is what Randy calls "head fake" where you learn an important lesson in an indirect way. I was reminded of my parents sending me out to my many childhood softball, tennis, skiing or golf lessons. At the time thinking I was just learning the skill sets of these sports but really learning so many other skills that have and continue to carry me through my achievements and successes. Those lessons instilled in me a deep impression of responsibility, commitment, knowing I make a difference and the importance of having play time and fun in my life. I so appreciate my parents unwavering commitment to me and my siblings in supporting us in our sporting life lesson adventures.
If you found Randy's book inspiring, I highly recommend checking out any one or all of Ariel and Shya Kane's books, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation, Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment or How To Create a Magical Relationship. Each of the Kane's books have the idea of "Instantaneous Transformation" woven through the stories and ideas presented. Where through Instantaneous Transformation an ordinary mundane life can transform into a brilliant life adventure without work or effort.
Want to know more or curious about living the best life possible? Then go ahead and read either one or all of these incredibly inspiring books that can guide you in achieving your own dream life.
(From quoting Susan Donlon, USA)
Target readers:
Anyone who loves life and wants to get most out of it. A perfect gift to anyone you love.
|
Customers who bought this product also bought:
 |
Chasing Daylight (Paperback)
by Gene O'Kelly
Gripping, sad and ultimately very life affirming, this beautifully written book is a gift to everyone who loves life. |
 |
Tough Choices: A Memoir (Paperback)
by Carly Fiorina
Ego. Boardroom politics. Career dilemma. This is an insightful and revealing biography that will allow you to gain glimpses into the dynamics of executive world. |
 |
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia (Paperback)
by Elizabeth Gilbert
A woman's journey to her soul - a memoir, travel guide, self help, and philosophy book, for anyone that ever wanted to find their own path. |
 |
Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir (Paperback)
by John McCain, Mark Salter
An inspiring American story, this book is a stirring account of perseverance and family values that is ultimately a tribute to the will of humanity to prevail. |
 |
Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light (Hardcover)
by Mother Teresa , Brian Kolodiejchuk
|
 |
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: An Entrepreneur's Odyssey to Educate the World's Children (Paperback)
by John Wood
|
 |
Churchill: A Life (Paperback)
by Martin Gilbert
The definitive biography of one of the greatest statesman and leader of the 20th century. |
|
Randy Pausch is a Professor of Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, and Design at Carnegie Mellon University. From 1988-1997, he taught at the University of Virginia. He is an award-winning teacher and researcher, and has worked with Adobe, Google, Electronic Arts (EA), and Walt Disney Imagineering, and pioneered the Alice project. He lives in Virginia with his wife and three children.
Jeffrey Zaslow, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, attended the last lecture, and wrote the story that helped fuel worldwide interest in it. He lives in suburban Detroit with his wife, Sherry, and daughters Jordan, Alex and Eden.
|
From Publisher
"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." - Randy Pausch
A lot of professors give talks titled "The Last Lecture." Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?
When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave - "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" - wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living.
In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come.
|
Lisa Shea (MSL quote), USA
<2009-01-22 00:00>
Many of us tend to drift through life, watching a lot of TV, wasting time in long lines, dealing with "squeaky doors" but not thinking much about how what we do today helps our long term goals and priorities. It usually takes a serious wake-up call for us to realize how precious life is.
Randy Pausch got such a wake-up call. Although he seemed really healthy on the outside, and was a brilliant professor, doctors found that cancer was attacking his systems. He had only a 5% chance of surviving more than five years. He fought the cancer aggressively, but soon it traveled to other parts of his body and his doctors were giving him 3-6 months of healthy living. This is a man who, after waiting a while for marriage, had a family of three small children. Coincidentally, Randy was also asked by his school to give a "last lecture". These lectures are traditional speeches where a teacher tells the audience what knowledge he'd want to impart if he was going to die soon. Since Randy was in fact going to die soon, it made the meaning that much more powerful to him.
Randy's lecture was videotaped and spread like wildfire on YouTube. This book is in essence a follow up to that talk. It describes the context for the talk, and goes over some of the background details for it, but it also expands and offers much more information about Randy, his life and his philosophy.
The key message here is to live in the present, to enjoy what you have. There are always stumbling blocks in life, brick walls that you run into. Your task is not to complain about them, but to barrel your way through. Show your commitment to your dreams and goals. Don't waste your time watching repeats of TV shows when your life-long dream is to run a bakery. Spend your time researching, planning and heading towards that goal. If you have always wanted to hike in the Grand Canyon, don't dismiss it while you spend your extra hours playing video games. Map out a budget, take on a second job, and save up the money. You would be very surprised at how many goals are actually within reach if you focus on them.
You could say that Randy's message is one we've read before, hundreds of times, in other similar books. Sure, that is probably true. However, each of us responds to different language, to different mental images. It might be that someone read 10 other books on similar topics and didn't "get it" - but when they read this one suddenly it clicks. That's the way our brains are. There is always something new to learn from each person's story if we pay attention. Randy's message is to really enjoy the good things you have, rather than obsessing about the problems. We all have blessings in our lives, if we look honestly at our world.
I really like how Randy talks about the students he's influenced, and how they go on to influence others. That is so key in our world. If we are able to lead by example, and help others get onto a healthy path, that causes ripple effects that can go on for years. It is so worthwhile to take the time to help out others. You never know what small gesture will really affect someone's life.
Is this an "ultimate book"? I wouldn't say that. However, it has valuable information in it, and I definitely would recommend that people at least borrow it from the library and read through it. It's a healthy reminder of what is important in life.
Highly recommended! |
|
|
|
|