On 18 September 2007 computer science professor Randy Pausch stepped in front of 400 people at Carnegie Mellon University to deliver his last lecture. At 46, Randy had been told the month before that he had pancreatic cancer and had only months to live. Top academics are asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then give a hypothetical 'final talk'. For Randy Pausch the idea wasn't hypothetical. His talk lovingly, humorously and defiantly revealed the most important things Randy had learnt throughout his life, the wisdom that he had gathered and the message he wanted to leave his children. During the lecture, Pausch was upbeat, alternating between wisecracks, offering inspirational life lessons, and performing push-ups on stage. At the end of the lecture they gave him a standing ovation, but he had no idea how many people would be affected by his words. Through the power of the internet his lecture has now been seen by over 6 million people. Now, Randy Pausch's lecture is to be expanded in this book. The man who has already touched so many will leave a legacy that will allow us all to treasure his wisdom and experience long after he is gone.
