'last Lecture' Author Dies

[rhetoricfemme]

[url="http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/07/25/obit.pausch/index.html"]Randy Pausch, the author of 'The Last Lecture' died this morning.[/url] He was a Carnegie Mellon professor who gave his last lecture about really achieving your childhood dreams.

He's leaving behind his wife and three young children. [url="http://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch/dp/1401323251/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217011818&sr=8-1"]If you ever read his book[/url], you'll know that his reason for giving his Last Lecture and for writing the corresponding book, is his children.

Please pray for Randy and his family.

[Dreamweaver]

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

[prose]

He was such an inspiring man to so many... I hope he rests in peace and enters heaven quickly.

[Archaeology cat]

[CatherineM]

I'm always so sad when a parent dies leaving young children.

[Faith 1st]

[cmotherofpirl]

His book is required freshman reading at CMU now.

[Mercy me]

He was amazing man. My God bless him and his family.

[Justin86]

I've seen this book around. Is it worth my time?

[Brother Adam]

I would at least take the time to listen to his last lecture if not read the book. Professors often give "last lectures" - few actually know it is their final lecture. In a sense, I believe that changes the content of the lecture.

I should add that you can listen to the lecture online for free - I haven't read the book, but I imagine it is pretty much the same thing?

Edited July 26, 2008 by Brother Adam

[Madame Vengier]

Just curious, did he have anything spiritually-oriented to say? Generally, many people feel such things when they know they are dying.

[Treehugger]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1609081' date='Jul 26 2008, 09:09 AM']Just curious, did he have anything spiritually-oriented to say? Generally, many people feel such things when they know they are dying.[/quote]

In Randy's Last Lecture he doesn't really speak with an emphasis on the spiritual. Early on in his talk, he says something along the lines of, "I'm not here to talk about religion, but I did have a bedside conversion- I bought a Mac."
His message is on a very human level though. He talks about knowing goals, having childhood dreams, and then having the perseverence and passion to achieve them. He speaks with courage and with obvious immense love for his family.
I found a free podcast download of the lecture on iTunes. Perhaps, this is still being offered. It is very powerful to watch his presentation. I have not yet read the book, but assume it contains the same overall feel.
Definitely worth your time to check it out. As far as it not being "spiritual reading", it is still a wonderful testimony to what it means to live life to the fullest. Even if it sounds like something we have heard a million times ago...it doesn't hurt to affirm our beliefs and understanding.
peace!

[Madame Vengier]

I just don't understand how a person can be DYING and have not one single introspective thought to share about God. I'm not saying the man's message isn't good. I'm saying I don't understand how a "last lecture" can be so completely devoid of anything of spiritual substance.

[rhetoricfemme]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1609203' date='Jul 26 2008, 11:10 AM']I just don't understand how a person can be DYING and have not one single introspective thought to share about God. I'm not saying the man's message isn't good. I'm saying I don't understand how a "last lecture" can be so completely devoid of anything of spiritual substance.[/quote]

If you read the book, it's wonderfully like what Treehugger said it to be. He does, however, toward the end of book write about a conversation with his minister. He lets the audience know that he is a religious man, but he also understands that not every person is a religious person, and he didn't want to make people feel that the message of his last lecture wasn't for them because it was for Christians only.

His last lecture was about not forgetting your dreams, embracing family and hard work (and not forgetting to play), and treating others with respect.

Maybe the things he spoke about were the things that defined the amazing life God had given him, and that's why he decided to speak about and write about those particular things.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='rhetoricfemme' post='1609209' date='Jul 26 2008, 12:23 PM']If you read the book, it's wonderfully like what Treehugger said it to be. He does, however, toward the end of book write about a conversation with his minister. He lets the audience know that he is a religious man, but he also understands that not every person is a religious person, and he didn't want to make people feel that the message of his last lecture wasn't for them because it was for Christians only.[/quote]

Okay, now I understand. Thanks for that. He was right, of course. Making the message "religious" could alienate some of the very people he wanted to reach.