Randy Pausch died this morning of complications from pancreatic cancer, he was 47 years old. Like most people outside of the CMU/Virtual Reality sphere, I did not know of Randy Pausch until after he gave his Last Lecture. I was one of the millions that followed a link and watched the video of the Last Lecture. I can honestly say that I think that a great man has passed.
If you have not had a chance to view the video of his Last Lecture or read the book, please go and view it or read it today. His message is not about dying but about living life to it’s fullest.
My heart goes out to Jai Pausch and her children.
Live well.
The Last Lecture: Randy Pausch
Randy Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University until recently, he left his position due to health reasons. There is a custom at Carnegie Mellon of giving a last lecture. This book is a transcript of his last lecture called “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” delivered on September 18, 1007. Randy Pausch’s last lecture is not about his condition or that this will be his very last lecture, it’s about his journey through life and the amazing things that he has accomplished. He is looking to inspire others to go for the gold, because you really never know what will happen.
The video of Randy Paucsh’s last lecture has been an internet sensation since its airing. I think that it is so popular not because he is dying but because he is an extraordinary man. The lecture is not a good bye, but a celebration of all that he has accomplished and what it means to realize your dream.
I have recommended this lecture to many people and I hope that many more will view it. This is an excellent lecture and I am sorry that it was his last. I think that the people that were in Randy’s life are very fortunate to have known him, and I feel privileged to have been able to view a small part of his work. I hope that you get a chance to view the video of his last lecture or read it in the book.
Last Lecture on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo
Randy Pausch’s home page at Carnegie Mellon: http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/
Randy Pausch’s home page: http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/Randy/oldRandyPage.html
The Last Lecture Home Page: http://www.thelastlecture.com/
The Last Lecture book on Amazon
July 26, 2008 at 3:22 am
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