#23 in Biography & memoir
The Last Lecture
- 232
- Pages
- about 4.5 h
- Reading time
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About the book
Reflections of a Carnegie Mellon computer science professor who lectured on "Really achieving your childhood dreams," shortly after having been diagnosed with terminal cancer. His advice concerned seizing the moment while living, rather than dying.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 8.4 across 357 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 66% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Biography & memoir average of 8.2. That is how 8.3 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 8.2 | 18 | 5% |
| Google Books | 9.0 | 9 | 3% |
| Hardcover | 8.4 | 330 | 92% |
Reader voices
The most-liked reviews on Hardcover (credited to their authors).
“It means even more rereading 13 years later. When the author's Last Lecture went viral, I was a twenty-something computer science graduate. It spoke to me then, perhaps because I was a lot like Pausch's students. Now, as a father of young children, I see it all very differently. I hope I'll know my children into adulthood, but mortality is at the forefront in this memoir that also serves as an advice book and personal legacy for Pausch. Another thing that's much clearer now are his personal faults. I lapped up his workaholism on the first reading in a way that I actively avoid now. Despite hi…”
Frequently asked
What is The Last Lecture rated?
8.3 out of 10, from 357 reader ratings across 3 independent sources.
Is The Last Lecture worth reading?
Readers give it 8.3/10 from 357 ratings, which puts it ahead of 69 % of the Biography & memoir shelf.
How long does it take to read The Last Lecture?
About 4.5 hours at an average reading pace — 232 pages.
Where does The Last Lecture rank?
#23 in Biography & memoir on the current snapshot.
How long is The Last Lecture?
It has 232 pages — shorter than 79% of the ranked books in Biography & memoir.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Biography & memoir — and a score of 8.3, the closest to this book.
