For the 2009-10 academic year, Kirkwood chose

THE LAST LECTURE

by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow as our All Campus Read book.

Randy Pausch was a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon when he was asked to participate in the college's "Journeys" lecture series. The speaker is asked to imagine they had only one more lecture to give... what would they say? For Dr. Pausch, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, this truly would be his final lecture. He planned it carefully, prepared a powerpoint, and planned surprises for his colleagues, students and family. "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" was the result. For seventy-six witty, thought-provoking and inspiring minutes, Dr. Pausch talked about the lessons he had learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their dreams. The lecture became a worldwide phenomenon as it went viral over the internet. Soon Dr. Pausch was receiving emails and letters from those he had inspired with his heartfelt advice, humor and bravery. A short while later, he wrote a book which expanded on his lecture. In his book, Dr. Pausch expressed a world view that stressed the importance of overcoming the brick walls we all encounter life, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every single moment of life. This book speaks to the dreams we all have and provides a path to follow. There is something for every member of the Kirkwood community in The Last Lecture.

Read the book. Join the conversation.