“If I were a painter, I would have painted for them. If I were a musician, I would have composed music. But I am a lecturer. So I lectured.” The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch touched me in a way no other book ever has, and I doubt one ever will. It’s one of those rare books that shakes you to your core, urging you to re-evaluate what it means to live a meaningful life. There were tears and tissues along with laughs and smiles, but the biggest thing I found as I finished this book was an insatiable amount of hope for my future and a determination to get there. 

Professor Randy Pausch found out he had ten tumors in his liver and even fewer months left to live. Instead of sitting around and waiting for Death to take him, he wrote and delivered a lecture about life, obstacles, and perseverance to Carnegie Mellon. The Last Lecture puts his words on paper, but it also holds more of his life stories and lessons; making the book so much more impactful. 

This was not like any book I have ever read (and I know I say that a lot, but I mean it). I have never read a nonfiction book for my own enjoyment. However, the fact that I was reading real life situations made it deeper—more heartfelt. It wasn’t just a story made up for effect. I was reading about a real person with a real sickness. I was reading about true purpose and authentic passion.

From the beginning, Pausch explained that his biography, while it was meant to inspire those who decided to read it, was solely for his children. The reader learns that he had three young children at the time of his diagnosis in 2008: Dylan, Logan, and Chloe. His book was a way for them to hear his words after his death and to guide them when they were older, as they were too young to understand then. 

Mistakenly, I thought this was the perfect book to sit down and read at our local Starbucks since the book itself is only 206 pages long. I was in the mood to feel inspired, so naturally, I thought I could read its entirety in only a couple hours—no harm done. I would like to make a formal apology to all of the other customers that were around to witness the utter mess I became. My cheeks were stained with tears, my eyes were puffy and red, and if you were passing by, you probably could have heard an emotional sob or two… Meaningless to say, I was able to finish the book in only a couple of hours, but it was definitely not harmless.

Despite the fact that my heart was pulled from every string, it was worth the emotional journey. The book was composed of six sections: ”The Last Lecture”, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”, “Enabling the Dreams of Others”, “It’s About How to Live Your Life”, and “Final Remarks”. Each section held the perfect blend of humor, wisdom, and deep emotional insight to create a beautifully written work of art. 

I often tell people that “time flies” when I read books. I’ll open a book, and when I close it, I realize it’s hours later than I expected. This book perfectly captured what I tell everyone. It felt like no time had passed as I read word after word. Each chapter was short and sweet, so before I knew it, I was already done it. I truly believe that a touchstone to a great book is its ability to bring you into it, wrap you in its importance, and teach you the lessons its pages have to offer you. The Last Lecture did that and more. 

The pages held such important themes that any person, old or young, could not only sympathize with Pausch but understand him too. He talked about determination during hardship, love during loss, and happiness during pain. Despite the fact that he was dying while he wrote the book, Randy Pausch was full of joy and acceptance. He wasn’t okay with dying, but he had accepted that it was an inevitable destination. So he decided to make the most of his journey there. He spent time with his kids, went on vacations with his wife, and saw all of his best friends. It really put into perspective the important things in life. The reader was able to learn of his character and become connected to who he was without even truly knowing him. I learned of his love for his wife and children, his belief that life is more than materialistic things, and so much more. By the end of the book, it was like I had lost a close friend. 

I loved every story from his life that was included. The amount of accomplishments that Pausch achieved was absolutely incredible. It really inspired me to put in the hard work necessary to achieve my dreams. Through his words, I was able to contemplate my own life while reading about his. 

There were many recurring ideas that contributed to the fluidity and transparency of the biography; namely: the invisible wall and the head fake. These two ideas, while I won’t spoil their significance, popped up throughout the entire book and wove everything together. Oftentimes, I would think I knew what Pausch was trying to convey to me, but then he would bring up one of these recurring themes and teach me something completely unexpected. 

After reading this book, I am so grateful that I get to have it in my own collection for the rest of my life. The Last Lecture is literature that I can’t help but recommend to other people in hopes that their hearts can be indelibly marked.

Randy Pausch, while not with us anymore, left something behind that cannot wither away or die. Something that is beyond sickness. Beyond time. He left his reflections on life, the pursuit of his dreams, and most importantly, his love.