Preview

Summary Of The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
488 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Summary Of The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch
For most people, hardship is inevitable. Smaller problems can be annoying, but some are faced with more serious, life-threatening difficulties. Randy Pausch was one who was faced with pancreatic cancer and only had an estimated three to six months left to live. In his book The Last Lecture, with Jeffrey Zaslow, Pausch reflects on his worldview. From the book, Pausch values honesty and above all, the consideration for others. Pausch reflects on how it is important to consider the welfare of others throughout the book. He always cares about family and friends till the very end and encourages others to contribute to a common good. He states that “To not do so can be described in one word: selfish.” (176). Pausch clearly states that if anybody
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Moral Obligation In Famine, Affluence, And
    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Moral Obligation In Famine, Affluence, And

    I try to ponder the various scenarios he presents, in an attempt to justify his position, without apprehension, yet my own moral beliefs continually combat an open-minded approach. So it is within this writing I will attempt to argue my point while meticulously examining all perspectives. In his essay: Famine, Affluence, and Morality Peter Singer seemingly try to get those refusing to aid others suffering from lack of food, shelter and medical care in some sort of existential crisis (Singer, p. 873). I am not one who shares his assessment that our only purpose in life is to aid others. Basing our own moral convictions on the felicity of others is simply compromise and is only a meager attempt at social equality.…

    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Summary Of We Are All Ninjas By Lourdes Borges
    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Summary Of We Are All Ninjas By Lourdes Borges

    In her analysis, Prinz claimed that it was easy to show that humans help others with nothing expected in return: “In contrast, human beings frequently help others when there is no reciprocation. We send donation checks to distant charity organization, protest injustices that do not affect us directly, and support interventions in far-away lands.”…

    • 627 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Did You Deal With Their Diagnosis Of Cancer?
    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What Side Effects Of Chemotherapy Did You Deal With Their Diagnosis Of Cancer?

    The diagnosis of cancer is something nobody is every prepared to hear. The doctor sharing that you have less than one year left to live is shocking. Some individuals immediately begin planning a funeral, accessing retirement funds and composing an updated will. Carter processes the diagnosis of his cancer similarly, he accepted the reality of the situation, spent time with his family, and decided to receive chemotherapy treatment. To others, the diagnosis of developed cancer is an eye-opener. This news can encourage risky behavior, spontaneous vacations, and denial. This is how Edward reacted to his diagnosis. Edward wanted to skydive, hire prostitutes and travel the world. Both methods are reasonable for this level of news, deciding to live while you can, or deciding to fight the cancer…

    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Psychological Egoism
    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Psychological Egoism

    In statement (a), he is saying that it is not “origin of its motives which makes it a ‘selfish’ one, but rather the ‘purpose’ of the act or the objective of its motives; not where the motive comes from...but what it aims at determines whether or not it is selfish” (p. 430).…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Herbert Bayard Swope: I Cannot Give You The Secret For Success
    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Herbert Bayard Swope: I Cannot Give You The Secret For Success

    Splitting one’s time, effort, and labor among too many projects at once can cause one to fail at all of them because the projects all require a certain amount of effort which cannot be applied to any of the projects. One should instead attempt a specific few projects within or just outside one’s present skillset in order to solidify and expand one’s talents and skills. The idea that helping all people is impossible can influence many to twist the idea into some sort of detriment of altruism and therefore as a justification for selfish principles. The quote, rather than being a rationale for selfishness and libertarian philosophies, encourages moderation in an individual’s exploits and should impart one with the knowledge that cooperation, rather than individualism, is the only way for people to be successful at overwhelming tasks. Although it is tempting to try to be ambitious in one’s pursuits and have varied interests, a focus on a select few brings the only positive outcome of being able to learn and implement them…

    • 473 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Reflection On The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch
    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Reflection On The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch

    What would you do if your life had an expiration date? For Randy Pausch, the question was not so hypothetical; his answer was, in essence, his novel titled The Last Lecture. Through his book, Randy explored which values and philosophies were most important to him. In effect, he bestowed his audience with valuable life lessons (both generalized and specific) via recollections of various events from his past. After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he made it his sole objective to write a comprehensive account of what he learned from his 47 years of life, and to impart his wisdom to his children, wife, extended family, students, and anyone else who was lucky enough to pick up the book. The Last Lecture was overall an excellent novel, with regards to the overarching themes, his writing style/flow, and the characters involved.…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Randy Pausch
    • 953 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Randy Pausch

    Randolph Pausch also known to be as Randy was a Father of Three children, Dylan, Logan and Chloe and Husband to his wife Jai. His three children are under the age of eight years old. As he strives to battle with life, he learns to never give up and always have hope. In the year of 2006, Randy was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. A cancer, which has no cure, and a cancer, which can take his life away within the blink of an eye. Doctors had told randy that he would have three to six months of good health left. Taking in the fact he had his days counted, it never stopped Randy from doing the things he loved to do. He accepted the fact he was dying but was not sadden because he had accomplished everything in life and was satisfied of what he did accomplish. Throughout his battle Randy showed courage and stayed positive for his loved ones. His upright energy made him survive longer than what doctors had expected him too. Randy knew that if anything were to happen to him, he would want his wife and family members to tell his children who his Father was. Randy was given the opportunity to give a lecture at Carnegie Mellon University. His Lecture was dedicated to his children, he explains life and believing in dreams. Each slide in his lecture has a secret message about living.…

    • 953 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Background of Personal Experience with Pancreatic Cancer
    • 1984 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Background of Personal Experience with Pancreatic Cancer

    When someone is diagnosed with a severe illness such as pancreatic cancer, individuals become aware of the limits of their existence in terms of life years. For many, cancer is just another word for death especially those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic Cancer makes up 4%…

    • 1984 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Examples Of Selfish In A Thousand Steps
    • 1098 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Examples Of Selfish In A Thousand Steps

    When a child begins to age and grow up their parents being to teach and practice the thought of sharing with their friends and family. Often, the child resents this idea and only wants everything to themselves. However, overtime as the child matures and ages they begin realize it is only right and fair to share. Eventually sharing something becomes second nature as that is what is expected in today's society. One who doesn’t share things is looked down on by people and thought of as selfish and filled with greed. It is in one's nature to be selfish, however, if a person is not taught to share or does not choose to accept the teaching of their parent to do so then, by nature, they will be selfish. People with selfish intentions and ones filled with greed and can be found over all literature and even in personal lives.…

    • 1098 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Observing My Father
    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Observing My Father

    The first thing my father taught me was that life can be unfair at times and the best way to handle it is by doing more and being better than the situation you are in. Doing so my father and I began to work out and eat healthier which is a recommendation his doctor made. At this same time it was clear that the cancer was taking a toll on his body, but he kept pushing on and displaying to me, a young child that fortitude is the only way to keep going in life. Helping the same man who taught me how to walk, walk into a hospital is a task that I found very difficult and hard to grasp. The disease not only affects a patient but also takes a toll on the family around them. Being mentally tough through the stages of my father's cancer is one of the greatest lessons I could have learned from…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Reflection Of The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch
    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Reflection Of The Last Lecture By Randy Pausch

    It was in the summer before my sophomore year when I read the book “The Last Lecture” by CMU professor Randy Pausch. The book was based on his famous “last lecture” that he gave while being terminally ill with few months to live. In that lecture, instead of talking about his tragedy, he spoke about the positivity of life, continuous learning, unconstrained imaginations, honesty and integrity, overcoming obstacles and choices that one can make to lead a good life. Two of his key experiences has stood out for me. The first is related to how his students achieved best results when they were unshackled to pursue limitless exploration. The second was his advice on facing obstacles or “brick walls” that stops someone from achieving a desired objective.…

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Last Lecture Summary
    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Last Lecture Summary

    Randy Pausch was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He was living a great life with his wife and three children, two boys and one girl. He always imagine his life as he was living it. One unexpected day he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The survival rate of this cancer is very low so he knows that he was going to die soon. His reaction was opposite to the reaction that you would expect. He reacts very optimistic and decide to give a last lecture. He wanted to give this lecture because it would be the last time many of the people he cared about would hear him speak to an audience. The first part of the novel, The Last Lecture, discusses how Randy decided to make his lecture about achieving childhood dreams and about why his wife, Jai, did not want him to give the lecture, she want him to spend his remaining time with family but then she supported him. The second part of the novel, Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams, he discusses all of the dreams he had when he was child. He was able to accomplish all of his dreams. The third part is called Adventures and Lessons learned, here he received the news that he has ten other tumors in the pancreas and it spread through the liver, so his life chances were less. From this day on he decides to live everyday as if it is his last day. In this part of the novel he also discuses how he fell in love with his wife. The next part, Enabling The Dreams of Others, is where he really gives the most advices. He tells us to dream big, show gratitude, never give up, tell the truth, and many other things. This part is very inspirational. The last part of the novel is where he discusses the dreams he has for his children and how much appreciation he has for his wife. Unfortunately, Randy Pausch passed away on July 25, 2008 at the age of 47 but he will always be remembered.…

    • 353 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Informative Speech On Lung Cancer
    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Informative Speech On Lung Cancer

    As you all may or may not know, the world is slowly losing Its people. Everyday many different individuals from across the USA, and many other countries are dying, suffering, or just recently getting diagnosed with many rare and horrid diseases. The most common, is cancer. Everyday a person dies.…

    • 401 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Most Significant Challenge
    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Most Significant Challenge

    Nearly three years ago, my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. While this is not the kind of news someone would ever want to hear, especially a man who had never smoked, the doctors in the following months sought to keep my grandfather as positive as possible through these hard times. The variety of treatments that my grandfather undertook ranging from surgeries to chemotherapy depicted to me the harsh reality of the side effects that accompany cancer treatments. As time passed, the drugs which were supposed to aid my grandfather slowly worsened his conditions and in the end were not enough to stop cancer from taking his life. Each time I got to see my grandfather before he passed away, an urge to fight against this pain grew within me.…

    • 1371 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Personal Narrative: How Microorganism Changed My Life
    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Personal Narrative: How Microorganism Changed My Life

    Coming from a humble bucolic family luck finally shone my way when my mother won an American lottery which enabled her to start the immigration process for her and my family; it changed our lives. Following my newly found purpose and a new opportunity at life, I applied to volunteer for the courier unit at the Hackensack University Medical Center shortly after we moved. My time there further cemented my philosophy and shaped my aspirations. I got acquainted with Maria, one of the patients at the hospital, fighting a losing battle with a metastasized breast cancer. She often broke down in tears while she spoke of the pain of chemotherapy and the loss of self-esteem from losing her breasts and her hair. The cancer not only took a toll on her but on her family as well. I was strongly moved by the experience and at some point during our conversations seeds of curiosity and interest in cancer were sown and I learned as much as I could about the disease from TEDtalks, articles, and conversations with other patients. Two years later while in college, my appreciation for biology, my philosophy developed from that and my experiences from volunteering influenced my decision to pursue a career in…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics