latest read - the last lecture

I grabbed this book off the shelf when I saw it - no second thoughts.

It took me just one sitting to get through this book.

It is as engaging and captivating as when I first saw him on youtube giving his last lecture.

Being a lecturer myself, there are so many things that he said concerning educating students which includes sometimes giving them a trashing and also letting them explore and make mistakes, really strike a chord in me. There is only so much that we should give to students especially at university/college level.

This is a book I will read again and again. Outstanding and may he rest in peace.

Dr Randy Pausch

Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams by Professor Dr Randy Pausch

[Edit: I should have put a little introduction on who this person is.

So, here is what I got from ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/PersonOfWeek/story?id=3633945

Sept 21, 2007

Randy Pausch, a 46-year-old computer-science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, has terminal cancer and expects to live for just a few more months.

This week, he said goodbye to his students and the Pittsburgh college with one last lecture called "How to Live Your Childhood Dreams," on his life's journey and the lessons he's learned.

The Wall Street Journal called it "the lecture of a lifetime" and those who have seen it have more than agreed.

A beloved professor at Carnegie Mellon, Pausch got a standing ovation from the 400-member audience before he even opened his mouth. ]

I watched this talk over Oprah yesterday and it brought tears to my eyes.

It is only 10 minutes long.

This is in fact not a talk on how to achieve your dreams but rather on how to lead your life.

A lot of what he said touched me.


The brick walls that are in our way, are there for a reason.
They are there not to keep us out.
They are there to give us a way to show how much we want it.


ALWAYS HAVE FUN!


Tell the truth.


Apologize sincerely
- I am sorry.
- It was my fault.
- How can I make it right?


No one is pure evil.
If you wait long enough, they will show you their good side.
You can't make them do it in a hurry but you can be patient.


Show gratitude - simple thing and powerful thing.


If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself.
The dreams will come to you.
If you live properly, the dreams will come to you.



If you have the time, watch the full lecture - 76 minutes long.