I was deeply saddened to learn that Carnegie Mellon computer science professor, Randy Pausch, passed away last Friday at the age of 47 from pancreatic cancer.
Pausch became famous for his inspirational Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams (see video below) delivered in September 2007.
Many professors give talks titled “The Last Lecture” in which they are asked to imagine that this would indeed be their ‘last lecture’ and to convey the most important things they’ve learned during their lives.
Professor Pausch didn’t have to imagine the scenario. He was one month into a cancer diagnosis that gave him only 3 – 6 months to live… and yet his lecture wasn’t the least bit sad, depressing or about dying. It was about making the most of every second you’ve got while on the planet. According to friends’ and family accounts on a Primetime tribute to him last night – bless him, that’s exactly what Randy Pausch did.
A video of the lecture was posted to YouTube and as of today has been seen by 5,312,956 viewers. His book, published in April 2008 under the same name, instantly became a #1 bestseller and has been translated into at least 30 languages.
His book, The Last Lecture
A book allows me to cover many, many more stories from my life and the attendant lessons I hope my kids can take from them. Also, much of my lecture at Carnegie Mellon focused on the professional side of my life–my students, colleagues and career. The book is a far more personal look at my childhood dreams and all the lessons I’ve learned. Putting words on paper, I’ve found, was a better way for me to share all the yearnings I have regarding my wife, children and other loved ones. I knew I couldn’t have gone into those subjects on stage without getting emotional.”
If you haven’t seen the video – I highly recommend that you watch it. Or if you have seen it, watch it again. It might be the most inspirational message and sage advice you ever encounter about living your best life. In 76 minutes, he talks about honesty, the value of brick walls, love, work, laughter and so much more. He shares his message with intelligence, humor and deep-seated conviction. At very least, watching ‘The Last Lecture’ will brighten your day but it could also very well change your life for the better.
Thank you, Randy!
I had watched this video before. It is quite remarkable…Very touching…And inspirational and sad – all at the same time.
Thank you for sharing this. I agree that what I learned from Randy Pausch was life changing, and I found myself thinking of him often after the first time I saw him on Oprah. I didn’t realize till he passed away that he had also written a book. I requested it from the public library and I’m in line after 87 other people to read it! People like Randy Pausch and Christopher Reeve, who are able to remain positive in the midst of devastating circumstances are tremendously inspirational. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – that is to have succeeded.”
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived – that is to have succeeded.”
I enjoyed your comment, Valerie.
I caught Randy on PBS a year or so ago. I found his video lecture on YouTube. Professor Pausch was a remarkable man. His passing saddens me.
As Dale Carnegie said, “I shall pass this way but once; any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
(I believe William Penn originally penned this.)
Thank you, Randy.