Book Review for The Last Lecture | Teen Ink

Book Review for The Last Lecture

January 13, 2009
By Anonymous

"Live the life you love, love the life you live." Bob Marley

These are the exact words that describe James Haltwell, A college professor at Carnegie Mellon
College who has been diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and has a little more than a few months to
live. To most people, life for them seems like it has already ended, but not for James Haltwell.
Instead, his diagnosis has only made him stronger, through himself and his wife Tasha, and his three
kids. This book was a really a great story. Every professor before they are leaving or they are
about to die they give a speech or a "Last Lecture", to give their students just one more lesson
or one more piece of wisdom. However, James Haltwell's Last Lecture is about achieving your
childhood dreams and overcoming obstacles that you may have to face. The message that Mr. Haltwell is
trying to convey to readers isn't about dying; it's about living your life. In the story he
talks about some of his childhood dreams that he had when he was a child he had many dreams that he
wanted to complete, and how he completed them all in his life! One of my favorite examples was when
he wanted to be an Imaginary at Disney World when he was a kid; he wanted to make a ride. So in
college he sent applications to Disney World, but they wouldn't accept them. He kept on trying
though, and he wouldn't let up, and eventually they accepted him and he actually designed a ride.
All of his examples show that anything is achievable, and nothing is impossible. The Last Lecture is
a must read for everyone. I'm only 14 and I enjoyed and related to this book so much. I recommend
it to kids and adult of all ages, this book can and will teach everyone a lesson about life. "We
cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." These words from Mr. Haltwell are
exactly how we need to live life; we need to make the best out of our situations. If we're going
through the fire and flames, we need to carry on. Please read this book!


Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 0 comments.