bhaskar saikia

Randy Pausch’s The Last Lecture is an inspirational memoir that left a lasting impact on me. A professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, Pausch delivered this lecture while battling terminal pancreatic cancer, distilling his life’s wisdom into a message that continues to resonate with readers worldwide.

I first read this book shortly after college. Though much of its content has faded from memory, one lesson has stayed with me: time is our most precious resource and how we choose to spend it—brooding over setbacks or embracing positivity—defines our journey. The book made me deeply aware of life’s brevity. An average human lifespan spans just over 25,500 days, with each day offering 86,400 seconds. This realization pushed me to strive for my best self and to never give up on my dreams. Even today, I continue to nourish those aspirations, largely thanks to the inspiration I found in this book.

Alongside The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, The Last Lecture has profoundly shaped my perspective on life and the legacy I hope to leave behind. It’s a book I often recommend and now, as I revisit its pages, I reflect on how far I’ve come—and how much further I have to go on the road less traveled.