The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch
Aug. 18th (3rd Wed)
8pm at Jenn's
Summary:
The author, a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal cancer, explores his life, the lessons that he has learned, how he has worked to achieve his childhood dreams, and the effect of his diagnosis on him and his family.
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READING GROUP GUIDE
1. What drew you to read The Last Lecture? Did you see Randy Pausch’s YouTube video? Did you hear
about the video or the book from friends? Why do you think his lecture, and the book that followed,
struck a chord with so many people?
2. In the book’s introduction, Randy talks about the lecture as a means of expression, and a way to
reach his kids: “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.” There are so many ways to communicate. What
are your own avenues for self-expression?
3. What are some of your own childhood dreams? Have you achieved any of them? Are there some you’d
revisit now that you’re an adult?
4. Randy names several people in his life who deeply infl uenced and shaped him. Who are the mentors
you turn to in your own life? What have you learned from them?
5. What details from Randy’s childhood do you think led to the successes he had later in life? Are there
lessons in Randy’s story for people who’ve had less fulfi lling childhoods, or absentee parents? What
advice might you give to those who didn’t win the “parent lottery”?
6. Randy believed our critics are often the ones saying they still care
about us. How, in your own life, has a critic helped you become
a better person? Do you offer criticism to those you love? How do
they feel about receiving this kind of feedback from you?
7. Have there been people in your own life who’ve faced the challenge
of serious illness? What did you learn from them? How has
Randy’s journey made you consider how you’ll approach your own
mortality?
8. Randy says parents don’t realize the power of their words:
“Depending on a child’s age and sense of self, an offhand comment
from Mom or Dad can feel like a shove from a bulldozer.” Did you
ever feel that way as a child? If you’re a parent, do you recognize
the strength and impact that your words have?
9. It is clear in the book that Randy and Jai have a deep love for one
another. And yet, like other married couples, they’ve had to work
hard on their relationship. Randy’s illness also created additional
challenges. In reading about how they’ve faced the issues between
them, what did you learn about getting along with others, about
mutual respect, and about the power of love?
10. Randy credits his professor Andy van Dam, in Chapter 14, with
telling him the tough-love things he needed to hear. What was it
about Dr. van Dam’s delivery and message that resonated with
Randy? Who in your own life has told you things about yourself
that made you reconsider your actions or behavior?
11. Talk about Jeffrey Zaslow’s role in this book, as someone who set out to chronicle the last intentions
and advice of a dying man. Would you have been able to do what Zaslow did in co-writing The Last
Lecture? Do you imagine it was a diffi cult task on an emotional level?
12. What wisdom would you choose to impart to the world if it was your last chance?
What are the lessons of your own life that you feel would benefi t others?
http://www.thelastlecture.com/pdf/LastLectureRGG.pdf
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