Tuesday, May 20, 2008

And the Book for Summer Reading Is...

The Last Lecture
by Randy Pausch

This is currently one of the hottest books on the shelves right now.  Why?  Randy Pausch was recently diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.  In other words, he will be dying very soon.  As a university professor, he put together one final (and I mean FINAL) lecture for his students.  This lecture though was not about computer science, the subject that he taught, it was about life and living.  The lecture has become a book and this is the book that we're going to be reading this summer.

Randy Pausch's story is an ongoing current event.  His cancer is spreading and in the May 2, 2008 posting on his blog, he explains that he's trying to recover from the recent heart and kidney failure caused by the cancer.  He was listed in Time Magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People a couple of weeks ago and is gaining notoriety around the world.  A couple of my U.S. History students are researching him for our Time 100 project (in fact, props to Kaylee K. for first bringing his story to my attention).  

He's been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has been chosen as the ABC News Person of the Week, among other honors.  His video-taped lecture has been viewed on YouTube over 6 MILLION times.  By the way, if you're going to read the book with us, do not view the video--don't spoil it!  

I'm pleased to have this be the book that we read this summer.  Who knows--it could be a life-changing event for you.

It's available on Target.com and Amazon.com for about $12 (without shipping) and in Target stores for about $15.  I'm sure it's available at basically any place that sells books, though the retail cover price is $21.95.  It's also very likely available at any library in town (if it isn't checked out, that is).  Book discussion dates and times will be announced soon.  Looking forward to it!

P.S. Sorry I posted this so late (10:45 pm).  I had a busy afternoon then went to the baseball game vs. Clovis High.  Really exciting game even though Clovis East came up just short.  I was proud of our team's efforts.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

sounds interesting i will have to go grab it

FongHistory said...

Mrs. Nielsen in the LMC just informed me that they picked up a copy of the book for our library. Unfortunately though the LMC doesn't check out books over the summer. Think you can read it before school's out?

Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. Fong... This is Michelle Moua... I think this book sounds really good and interesting... I'll love to try to make it for the reading and more about the book.. Well, see u Mr. Fong...

O_+ Michelle Moua

FongHistory said...

terrific michelle. hope you can join in.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Fong, I really think that you should read the book "Number the Stars" (even if you don't read it in the "book club"). It is a story about the war and the holocaust from a 10 year old jewish girls point of veiw after she moves in with a german family who is trying to protect her.

FongHistory said...

sounds like an interesting read. there are so many good books out there, especially about the holocaust. i need to just quit my job and read full time!