Today's *Chronicle of Higher Education* includes an article about the new book that emerged from Professor Pausch's Last Lecture, which thankfully he has (unexpectedly) lived long enough to see published.
Here's the article:
"Now in Book Form, a Professor's 'Last Lecture' Describes How to Live and Die With Grace"
by Jeffrey R. Young
Randy Pausch, a 47-year-old professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University who in 2006 received a diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, has hung on longer than his doctors predicted -- long enough to see the publication of the book version of the inspirational "last lecture" that he delivered at the university and that continues to make him a media sensation.
The book, released this week, turns out to be a how-to guide to living, and to leaving life gracefully. It mixes decidedly practical advice (such as this tip on time management: stand while talking on the phone for work so that you'll be encouraged to make calls shorter) with moving stories about what it's like to go through each day knowing it's one of your last.
It's a thoughtful adaptation of the lecture, which was seen by millions of people on YouTube. Mr. Pausch essentially dictated more stories and advice for the book to his co-author, Jeffrey Zaslow, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Over the past several months, Mr. Pausch talked with Mr. Zaslow via cellphone each day while the professor took long bike rides to try to stay in shape as his body struggled with the effects of chemotherapy.
He talks about his strategies, which show an engineer's love for efficiency, for how to get the most out of his last days with his wife, Jai, and their three young children.
In an e-mail interview this week, Mr. Pausch said one of his favorite parts of the book concerns his relationship with his wife. "In the book, it seemed more appropriate to talk about how Jai and I have handled the many challenges (pre and post cancer) that we've faced as a couple," he wrote. "And I greatly enjoyed sharing those, as they may be helpful to other people facing their own challenges."
In the book, for instance, Mr. Pausch describes a scene that took place during his now-famous last lecture, in which he invited his wife on stage and asked the audience to sing happy birthday to her (he spoke on her birthday). After the song, they embraced as the crowd applauded.
"As we held each other, Jai whispered something in my ear. 'Please don't die.' It sounds like Hollywood dialogue. But that's what she said.
"I just hugged her more tightly."
Here's the article:
"Now in Book Form, a Professor's 'Last Lecture' Describes How to Live and Die With Grace"
by Jeffrey R. Young
Randy Pausch, a 47-year-old professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University who in 2006 received a diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer, has hung on longer than his doctors predicted -- long enough to see the publication of the book version of the inspirational "last lecture" that he delivered at the university and that continues to make him a media sensation.
The book, released this week, turns out to be a how-to guide to living, and to leaving life gracefully. It mixes decidedly practical advice (such as this tip on time management: stand while talking on the phone for work so that you'll be encouraged to make calls shorter) with moving stories about what it's like to go through each day knowing it's one of your last.
It's a thoughtful adaptation of the lecture, which was seen by millions of people on YouTube. Mr. Pausch essentially dictated more stories and advice for the book to his co-author, Jeffrey Zaslow, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Over the past several months, Mr. Pausch talked with Mr. Zaslow via cellphone each day while the professor took long bike rides to try to stay in shape as his body struggled with the effects of chemotherapy.
He talks about his strategies, which show an engineer's love for efficiency, for how to get the most out of his last days with his wife, Jai, and their three young children.
In an e-mail interview this week, Mr. Pausch said one of his favorite parts of the book concerns his relationship with his wife. "In the book, it seemed more appropriate to talk about how Jai and I have handled the many challenges (pre and post cancer) that we've faced as a couple," he wrote. "And I greatly enjoyed sharing those, as they may be helpful to other people facing their own challenges."
In the book, for instance, Mr. Pausch describes a scene that took place during his now-famous last lecture, in which he invited his wife on stage and asked the audience to sing happy birthday to her (he spoke on her birthday). After the song, they embraced as the crowd applauded.
"As we held each other, Jai whispered something in my ear. 'Please don't die.' It sounds like Hollywood dialogue. But that's what she said.
"I just hugged her more tightly."
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