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 enlarge | Author: Randy Pausch
Creator: Erik Singer
Publisher: Hyperion Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $21.95
Buy New: $10.97
You Save: $10.98 (50%)
New (38) Used (19) from $10.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  793 reviews
Sales Rank: 1119
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.9 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 1401391443
Dewey Decimal Number: 004.092
EAN: 9781401391447
ASIN: 1401391443
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Let's separate the content from the circumstances and critique the book accordingly October 20, 2008
7 out of 12 found this review helpful
I'm finding it hard to express myself, so I'll write as plainly as I can.
Emotionally, I was moved by Dr. Pausch's story. I cried at one point. It's always sad when you think about children losing a parent. But I'm afraid I wasn't that.. inspired. Intellectually, I was disappointed- very disappointed with this book. I guess I was expecting something deeper or better written.
Some people (the SUPPORTERS of this book) have mentioned that we must take into account the dire circumstances that the author was under when dictating it. To me, that says it all. That this is not a high quality book, but a book that's "Good enough- CONSIDERING that the author had a terminal illness, was dictating while riding a bike, it's really for his kids..." etc. etc.
So, potential buyers- if you want to know if you will find value in this book, then you must be someone who is REALLY prepared to take all that into account, otherwise I do NOT recommend buying this book at all.
I feel for Dr. Pausch's ordeal and for his family, may they have the strength to see them through this, but I'm trying to be objective and critique the book for what it is, and not mix sentiment with honest feedback that doesn't pull any punches, which is something Dr. Pausch himself condoned.
I feel bad for writing a negative review, but I also felt bad after finishing the book. I really did feel tricked somehow, perhaps into expecting more because of the hype, and then feeling cheated when this book didn't deliver.
The best I can say about the content of this book is that it may serve as a reminder of some cliches you already know. Sometimes it can be good to be reminded of common sense advice I guess, even if that advice is somewhat blandly delivered. Just please don't get offended that I use the term cliche. Dr.Pausch himself believed in them and defended them and didn't deny that he himself used them frequently in his life, and I guess in his book too.
 A GREAT MEMOIR THAT REALLY HITS HOME October 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A QUICK READ THAT WILL MAKE YOU APPRECIATE HOW SHORT LIFE REALLY IS, THEN THIS BOOK BY ALL MEANS IS FOR YOU.
Insight Worthwhile! October 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I admit: I'm young. Your generation may have been the introduction of the microwave, where life's essentials (food) are now provided at a faster pace, but my generation is the Youtube generation: we get something we don't need (entertainment) literally at our fingertips anytime we want. Anytime. On anything. I am spoiled. I am rotten. And I can't help but be programmed to be ADD (I mean come one, music video frames don't last longer than 1.25 seconds...our brains are change to switch gears since birth!). So why would I waste time on some old computer teachers "wisdom" when I can youtube magic tricks?
Because he's dieing. Or he was when he wrote the book. I happened to finish the book two days before his death in July. I was on a couch, in a hostel, in China, realizing that this mans wisdom is gems even a wandering generation (both physically and mentally) can stop, appreciate, and apply to life.
The short review is this: I loved the book. Bought it. Would buy it again. I recommend it to all my friends. It' raw, reasonable, and not hard to read.
The long version (or to say with charm, "the articulated review filled with heart, opinion, and honest-to-God truth):
I admit: I'm a sucker for self-improvement.
Any new book I read on how to better my life be it through prayer or through reading someone's body language, I fall in love. Granted, I don't read many books cover to cover, so as in love as I may be, over the next few weeks the ideologies of the book eventually fade out. Never again to be used or applied to life.
Not so with Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture."
I read this book while traveling the world, strangely enough. I'm a young man with ambitions common amongst the youth: I plan to change the world in my own small way. I went on humanitarian efforts, sight-saw(?), and did the whole wandering after dropping-out-of-college/deciding-what-to-do-next thing. Originally purchased in Jakarta, Indonesia, it took me three countries to finish it. And not because it's bland or easily forgettable, but because there is so much to c h e w on. Randy Pausch reminds my generation of the common phrases my baby-boomer dad never taught me: "Dance with the one who brung you" (Loyalty in something I can comprehend! I mean, I can totally visualize being stiffed on the dance floor at prom. This simple phrase, I'm sure was common amongst the baby-boomers, was never taught to me, and yet in one sentence it provides powerful insight I can relate to!) Randy speaks of his accomplishments in life, continuing to use examples I can "totally relate to." He develops this virtual reality... thing that empowers students to not only create their own virtual worlds but to share them with the rest of Carnegie-Mellons campus while also connecting the two very different worlds of computer-science and drama (he explains in the book the reason and the significance). Mr. Pausch expands on us accomplishing our goals into helping others succeed in theirs, an idea I will never forget. And I forget a lot. Youtube, remember? 5 minutes of fun then *poof* onto something else? No? Okay. Anyway,
The book is an easy read worthy of insight to remember and the tears you may shed. I recommended it to friends along the way and they absolutely loved it. One friend plans on buying her own copy to annotate her thoughts into.
I highly recommend this book. And coming from a 20 year old dude from the "youtube generation," where I can just go on the site to see his lecture, I must say Randy Pausch's book expands, builds, and impassions (implant passion???) his lengthy internet-hit video into a masterpiece of humble wisdom worthy of nothing less than complete digestion.
A for the Professor.
Life Lessons Brought to Life October 16, 2008
A wonderful book to read. It is very sad at times throughout, but so many of the things that DR. Pausch talks about represents everyday life. I strongly recomend reading this book wether you are a teacher, student, business person or anyone inbetween.
Truly Inspirational October 16, 2008
This is a great little book with tremendous power to inspire. Randy Pauch knew what was valuable in his life. He convinces his readers to do some introspection before it is too late.
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