“Looks like I'm going to be the lone discenter here. I didn't care much for this book. Take away the fact that this is a dying man's final love letter to his wife and family, and this book has little or no value. The writing is sub-standard and the stories/messages are trite at best. Plus, here is a guy with precious few moments left to live and he chooses to spend them in a way that completes his life while it ignores the wishes of his wife. WTF? How much time do you suppose he spent penning the lecture, writing the book and promoting the book that would have been time better spent with his wife and family? Hey, at least they can read about what it would have been like to be with dad. I got the feeling this guy was not a very likable guy before cancer and he didn't little to dispel that rumor with this book or his actions. Hey...but nevermind me...I didn't like Marley and Me either. Guess I've just got a cold heart. ”
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“You obviously did not read the book in depth. From what I understood, Dr. Pausch made use of a co-author, Jeffrey Zaslow, to do most of the actual writing of this book. He spoke with Zaslow via mobile headset while going on his daily bike-ride. I also really doubt he had to do much promotion of this book. At several points in the book, he also addresses the fact that he was torn between the time it took to write, prepare for, and deliver the lecture and spending the little time he had left with his family. Next time, please take the time to actually read a book carefully and in its entirety before you pass judgment on the integrity of the author. ”
“You're not the only one. I liked his lecture and seeing his interview in person before he died much better than this book. The overall message was good, but the book was not good. It had some pearls in it for the way to live with cancer, but it would have been better to have typed this up and left it for his family after he died. It is not great literature by any measure. And I did like Marley and Me. And I have also had cancer and brain surgery. And I have read other memoirs of people who were facing health challenges that would ultimately lead to their death. Read Too Soon to Say Goodbye - Art Buchwald. That is a good book. ”
“Oh I read every poorly written word of this book Angelica. I understood that he dictated his story to another. I understood that he was 'torn' between spending time with his family and performing his swan song. Bottom line is, he took time away from his family to write the book and lecture, give the lecture and, yes, to promote his story (see Diane Sawyer interview, Oprah, Good Morning America, etc, etc.) in order to complete HIS life. All in the name of self-fulfillment.Not being in his shoes I can't say for sure if that was the right thing to do, but on the surface it sure sounds selfish to me.I suggest YOU re-read the book and tell me what you think his wife's reaction was to going down this path? Did she agree with his decision (yes she supported him, but only after he made it clear that he had to this)? Would you act contrary to your spouse's wishes if you were in a similar situation and your spouse felt as strongly as his wife did? I know I wouldn't.Maybe I'm just being cold and callous and over estimating the value in providing my chilldren with experiences. Maybe I'll write a book for my kids. That way they could read about what it would have been like to be with me.”
