Review: The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

I've officially been added to the list of people who have read this book and think it is worth reading again and again. Normally, I just borrow books from the local library such as in this case but every so often if the book is good enough I'll buy it to read again.

This is one of those books.

Many times while I was reading the book, I'd come across points that really made me stop and think while at the same time applying them to my own life.

One of the lessons that stood out the most to me also happens to be one he references a few times throughout the book. The Brick Wall

The ultimate lesson of The Brick Wall is:

"Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something."~ Randy Pausch

He goes back to this analogy a couple of times while reflecting on his life. Once was in reference to obtaining permission from the Deans at UVA to go to Disney on a sabbatical and the other was in reference to courting his wife Jai.

Neither of these examples are related to each other and they are a far throw from my own situation but that just shows that this analogy can be used in all of our lives to stretch across many situations.

At one other point he is reflecting on the story of the birth of his first child, Dylan. His birth was of the very complicated variation and many times things were very uncertain for both the life of the child and his wife.

He goes on to discuss how they handled things and even before reading this book he sums up pretty much how I try to think about our own situation with Megan Grace.

"Dylan's birth was a reminder to me of the roles we get to play in our own destinies. Jai and I could have made things worse by falling into pieces. She could have gotten so hysterical that she'd thrown herself into shock. I could have been so stricken that I'd have been no help in the operating room.

Through the whole ordeal I don't think we ever said to each other "This isn't fair." We just kept going. We recognized that there were things we could do that might help the outcome in positive ways...and we did them. Without saying it in words our attitude was, "Let's saddle up and ride." ~Randy Pausch

Enough said. I'm going to buy this book and read it again and again. Sooo many lessons to be learned that apply to so many of life's situations.

What a great book!