Big Book Deal for Dying Professor
When I saw Randy Pausch on TV, I was astounded with his absolutely courageous approach to his own mortality. I couldn’t be more impressed with his accomplishments and his outlook on life and his inevitable death.
I went online and watched his “Last Lecture”. It is lengthy, but is well worth your time.
You can see the video HERE . Or read the transcript HERE
NEW YORK – A dying professor’s inspirational speech, an Internet sensation this fall, will be published next spring by Hyperion Books.
Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, gave a lecture in September in which he spoke of suffering from pancreatic cancer and likely having just months to live. A video of the speech soon began spreading online, attracting millions of viewers, and the 47-year-old Pausch eventually gave television interviews to Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric and others.
“Remember, brick walls let us show our dedication,” Pausch advises in his speech. “They are there to separate us from the people who don’t really want to achieve their childhood dreams. Don’t bail.”
The book will be called “The Last Lecture” and will be written with the Wall Street Journal’s Jeff Zaslow.
Financial terms were not disclosed, although the deal has been widely reported to be worth more than $6 million.“I was deeply moved by Randy’s speech, as millions of others have been,” Hyperion president Robert S. Miller said in a statement Tuesday. “We believe that his book can go beyond the speech to inspire readers for years to come to choose to live each day of their lives with purpose and joy.”
November 30th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I guess Mr. J wasn’t famous enough, or concerned enough about being famous after he died to warrant a book deal.
Nope, He did not do–the talk show tour, spilling his guts out on television.
He actually concentrated more on how his death would effect those he loved and cared for.
If his dying, his disease, could be used, in any way, to help or teach others.
About Pancreatic Cancer, a life cut short, what to do, how to deal with pain.
The warning signs, the symptoms.
Interesting, Scott’s cancer was ALWAYS terminal. He didn’t really get to have any “pain free days”
like this gentleman. He sounds like the type of person, though, that is aware of where he is lucky, even in the process of dying.
Even in, confronting his own mortality. ust like mr. j.
Too bad, though — mr. jones actually helped a lot of people through his blog, how he LIVED
and conducted his life, and what he chose to do with his limited time More than: DYING MAN’S ONE LAST LECTURE.
I think he hoped he could have done more.
Obviously, I only feel total empathy and sympathy for Mr. Pausch’s life with cancer,
his knowing, his family and friends knowing, that yes, he will soon die. He remains positive. His lecture has caused people to think
and realize that life is precious, and sometime too short.
It sucks !!!!
I am grateful for a brother who continued to work, study and try and figure out the meaning of life,
rather than capitalize on dumb fate, the seriousness of his condition; how he felt about being diagnosed with, and dying from,
Terminal pancreatic cancer.
If I sound a little bitter, it’s because I am. WHY is everything, including death, about money and Capitalism ?
I sure do love and miss him.
and am proud, as always, to be one of his sisters.
I wish the media would be more responsible and sensitive to other people, other families,
who are going through exactly the same thing as Mr. Pausch.