Book Reviews

I read two short books this week that Jana gave me for Christmas. Both were very good.

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."--Randy Pausch

At the Carnegie Melon University in Pittsburgh, like at many other universities, every year a professor is asked to give a "last lecture". They are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. What wisdom would they impart to the world if they knew they were about to die? Last year, Randy Pausch, a smart (40 something) healthy, tenured computer scientist with a young family was asked to give the lecture. Shortly after he was asked, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the most deadly of all cancers. 50% of those who are stricken with it are dead within 6 months, the rest are gone within 5 years. Randy was told he had 3-5 months. With this knowledge and his wife's approval, he goes ahead and gives the lecture anyway. A true last lecture. It is a gift to the world that he did (he died shortly after) as he humbly talks about reaching for potential, being positive and helping others achieve their dreams. I love this last part. This man had 3-5 months to live with relatively good health and instead of thinking of what he could do to reach his dreams in his remaining time, he dedicated himself to helping others. He said he wanted to be Moses in that he may not ever get to reach the promised land, but he would do all he could to make it possible for others to reach it. I recommend this for everyone and will lend my copy to anyone who wants to read it and be uplifted.



This is a short (1 hour) book at most but fun for any fan of the Harry Potter books. The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of fables, like an even darker Grimm Brothers or Aesop, that was introduced in the last Harry Potter book. They are fun in themselves, but they are also followed by lengthy commentary by Dumbledor that is also fun. Good for older children and any fan of Harry Potter.