Lecture. A deplorably boring word that is synonymous with wide yawns, snores and for some- frantic notes. However, Randy Pausch, in his book, ‘The Last Lecture’, truly redefines the word ‘lecture’.
A lot of professors give talks titled ‘The Last Lecture’. Professors are asked to consider their demise and to speak on what matters most to them. When Randy was asked to deliver such a lecture, he knew it literally was his last lecture.
An eminent professor and lecturer at Carnegie Mellon, Pausch was diagnosed with terminal cancer and had to squeeze his life in those few months that God had offered.
Randy had all that a man wishes for. He married a wonderful woman, Jai and they had three kids named Dylan, Logan, and Chloe. However, as R.K. Narayan said ‘The Gods grow too jealous of too much contentment anywhere and they show their displeasure all of a sudden’.
Nevertheless, though the man knew he was going to die, he wanted his lecture to be all about living and achieving one’s childhood dreams and aspirations. Hailing from a middle class family, Randy dreamt big-ALWAYS.
That’s a vital lesson to learn from the optimistic author. He figures out a way to achieve his goals whether it’s experiencing being weightless in NASA’s “Weightless Wonder” or authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia. Randy believes that brick walls make us realize how badly we want something.
Pausch, like his boyhood idol, William Shatner a.k.a Captain Kirk from Star Trek, doesn’t believe in the no -win scenario.
The author believes that people are more important than things- something we’ve forgotten in the mad rush of materialism.
This book encourages one to fight all odds and not ask God “Why me?” when life has hurdles to offer. It empowers one to realize and fulfill the dreams and aspirations of others as well. Oh! The joy of giving and helping people to fulfill their desires and dreams!
Well Randy could be mistaken for a philosopher and his book could also be placed under the “philosophy” section of a bookstore, but the lessons he imparts are phenomenal.
There’s a truth printed in the book which is thought provoking-‘Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted’. So true, we often regard failure with disdain. Do we ever look back and ponder why we failed?
‘The Last Lecture’ is an inspirational book. Each page offers an experience. The book isn’t just a 206 page read, it’s more than that. It comprises of the feelings and dreams of the optimistic and analytical Pausch, only conveyed through words.
Randy endures severe surgeries so that he can live for his kids, a little longer than the few months that life offered him. He feels terrible when his looks into reality, that he will not be there for them when they need a father.
This book isn’t a one time read. I believe it has to be preserved for generations to come.
Towards the end while cruising through Pausch passionate words, one feels an innate sense of respect and awe for the author. I wondered –“Why did God grant such a short lifespan to an optimistic legend like him?”. Then I feel the answer lies here, in my hands. Had this not happened, the world wouldn’t have known a legend like Randy Pausch. Randy left for his heavenly abode on 25th July, 2008. Perhaps God has His own ways of imparting life’s lessons to His children.
- Sejal Maheshwari (16 years)
Please Note: This is a review sent in as an entry to the Chillibreeze Writing Bee Contest for kids. The review has not been edited. The views in this review are the reviewer’s own and not endorsed by Chillibreeze.
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Comments:
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Sejal,
I enjoyed reading your review of Randy Pausch’s ,’The Last Lecture’. Its an inspiring book and is one of my favorite reads.