The Last Lecture by Jeff Zaslow, Jeffrey Zaslow, Randy Pausch (2008, Hardcover)

This book is from the last lecture given by Randy Plausch, professor at Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Plausch wrote this while dying of pancreatic cancer, but the lecture is not about cancer or dying, but about living with gusto and achieving your childhood dreams. He died Friday, July 25, 2008, but LIVED to the end.

If anyone can read this book and NOT be inspired, they may need to read it again. Mr. Plausch appears to live the "mach 10 with your hair on fire" life, defying death to the end.

The book and his life challenge a person to go beyond their normal limits. He shows that you don't have to be a professor, a type A personality, the head of the class, or anything that you consider successful to realize that you can reach for the highest dreams and goals in life by mentally eliminating the ceilings or limits you normally place on yourself.

If you read about him or have seen him interviewed, Mr. Plausch was obviously a person who pushed the envelope and inspired others to do the same.

The book makes me get up in the morning and realize that if I'm still alive I'd better get out and go for the gusto.

Good inspirational read for almost any age--good gift for any occasion. I've been reading it with my teens.