What do you think?
Rate this book
The Why Café #1
The Cafe on the Edge of the World: A Story About the Meaning of Life
The inspirational #1 Bestseller by John P. Strelecky. Now translated into forty-two languages and read by more than 6 million readers worldwide. In a small cafe at a location so remote it sits in the middle of the middle of nowhere, John--a man in a hurry--is at a crossroads. Intent only on refueling before moving along on his road trip, he finds sustenance of an entirely different kind. In addition to the specials of the day, the cafe menu lists three questions all diners are encourage to consider.
Why are you here?
Do you fear death?Are you fulfilled.
With this food for thought and the guidance of three people he meets at the cafe, John embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes him from the executive suites of the advertising world to the surf of Hawaii's coastline. Along the way he discovers a new way to look at life, himself, and just how much you can learn from a green sea turtle.
The Alchemist for the 21st Century...- RBA Libros, Spain
PROFOUND...A cosmic guidebook for living. - Orlando Sentinel
A modern day Jonathan Livingston Seagull. - Little Brown Books, U.K.
106 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2003
About the author
John P. Strelecky
27 books640 followersMy path to being a writer has been an interesting one. It started when I left my “normal” life behind and decided to follow a life-long dream of seeing the world. I was thirty-two years old at the time. Too old to be leaving a lucrative career and acting like a college kid, many people told me. I heard the word “crazy” a lot when people learned what I was planning.
I’d crawled my way up from the poverty level, and the general thought was once you’ve done that, you don’t go and throw it all away. The thing was though, I’d arrived at a point where I just couldn’t imagine myself continuing on the same path and being OK with it. Tough crawl or not, something had to change.
Although to most of the world it seemed crazy, I headed off on an adventure. A year of backpacking around the world. After just a week, I wrote in my journal that before I left, there were a thousand reasons why the trip made no sense. But after just seven days on the road, none of them were true anymore.
That year changed my life. I experienced the people, animals, ruins and cultures I’d been dreaming of seeing since I was a kid. I learned more about life, the world, and myself than in all my previous years combined. Perhaps most importantly, I felt free for the first time in a very long time.
About four months after returning home, something told me to sit down and start typing. It was like an internal guiding thought. When you’re on the road in countries where you don’t speak the language and don’t know the nuances, you learn to trust this sort of internal guidance. Often it’s all you have. So when it said, “type” I sat and typed.
Over twenty-one days, something flowed through me and onto the pages. I never thought what I was going to type. I never even read what flowed each day. I just typed. At the end of the twenty-one days, it felt like the flow was complete. So I printed out what I’d typed, put it on a shelf, and let it sit for a little while. What was on those pages when I read it a week later, was almost word for word, what is in my first book, The Cafe on The Edge of The World.
It has not been all flow since that day. I’ve been rejected by at least a hundred publishers around the world. Maybe closer to two hundred. I even got a rejection letter while my book was on the bestseller list from someone who hadn’t gotten around to reading it when it was sent.
Yet here we are. That little story has been translated into 42 languages and been a #1 bestseller for over 5 years on three different continents. Most importantly, it has connected with readers in a way which has inspired them. Which is awesome.
It was also the starting place for more books. Return to The Cafe on The Edge of The World., Reconnection – A Third Visit to The Cafe on The Edge of The World, The Big Five for Life, The Big Five for Life Continued, Life Safari, Ahas! Moments of Inspired Thoughts…. They too, have touched and inspired readers. Over six million of them. Which is humbling and amazing all at the same time.
When I was a child, my favorite books were adventure books. I loved them because I too wanted to be an adventurer. It was when I turned that dream into my reality and backpacked the world, that my life really took off. Being an author has been a very big part of that. I’m still an adventurer at my core. And one of my great thrills is hearing from readers that my books have in some way helped them take the leap into their own adventures.
I’d crawled my way up from the poverty level, and the general thought was once you’ve done that, you don’t go and throw it all away. The thing was though, I’d arrived at a point where I just couldn’t imagine myself continuing on the same path and being OK with it. Tough crawl or not, something had to change.
Although to most of the world it seemed crazy, I headed off on an adventure. A year of backpacking around the world. After just a week, I wrote in my journal that before I left, there were a thousand reasons why the trip made no sense. But after just seven days on the road, none of them were true anymore.
That year changed my life. I experienced the people, animals, ruins and cultures I’d been dreaming of seeing since I was a kid. I learned more about life, the world, and myself than in all my previous years combined. Perhaps most importantly, I felt free for the first time in a very long time.
About four months after returning home, something told me to sit down and start typing. It was like an internal guiding thought. When you’re on the road in countries where you don’t speak the language and don’t know the nuances, you learn to trust this sort of internal guidance. Often it’s all you have. So when it said, “type” I sat and typed.
Over twenty-one days, something flowed through me and onto the pages. I never thought what I was going to type. I never even read what flowed each day. I just typed. At the end of the twenty-one days, it felt like the flow was complete. So I printed out what I’d typed, put it on a shelf, and let it sit for a little while. What was on those pages when I read it a week later, was almost word for word, what is in my first book, The Cafe on The Edge of The World.
It has not been all flow since that day. I’ve been rejected by at least a hundred publishers around the world. Maybe closer to two hundred. I even got a rejection letter while my book was on the bestseller list from someone who hadn’t gotten around to reading it when it was sent.
Yet here we are. That little story has been translated into 42 languages and been a #1 bestseller for over 5 years on three different continents. Most importantly, it has connected with readers in a way which has inspired them. Which is awesome.
It was also the starting place for more books. Return to The Cafe on The Edge of The World., Reconnection – A Third Visit to The Cafe on The Edge of The World, The Big Five for Life, The Big Five for Life Continued, Life Safari, Ahas! Moments of Inspired Thoughts…. They too, have touched and inspired readers. Over six million of them. Which is humbling and amazing all at the same time.
When I was a child, my favorite books were adventure books. I loved them because I too wanted to be an adventurer. It was when I turned that dream into my reality and backpacked the world, that my life really took off. Being an author has been a very big part of that. I’m still an adventurer at my core. And one of my great thrills is hearing from readers that my books have in some way helped them take the leap into their own adventures.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,611 reviews
June 12, 2018
Offensive rant incoming.
Fuck everything about this book. Over 100 pages of "just do what you love and everything will work out :)))) just be yourself bro :))))"
NO. FUCK YOU. THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS.
This book is thinly veiled New Thought Law of Attraction esoteric feel good wish wash, which at least explains why so many people like it. (Spoiler: many people are kind of stupid)
This book is your college stoner roommate telling you that advertising just like, totally makes you unhappy and plays on your fears, man, just to get you to buy stuff, man, ever think about it like that, man, so deep, man.
This book is your teenage rebel punk kid that just hit puberty and is trying to explain to you how all grown ups do is work and sleep until they get old and die and there is absolutely nothing worse than working for a living.
This book is a trust fund baby telling you to just quit your job and go backpacking through Europe.
This book is Brad Pitt telling you to just be yourself if you want to be more attractive, because it obviously works for him.
This book is assholes in the comment section of articles about mental health telling clinically depressed people to "just man up and get over it".
This book is the one guy you kinda knew in High School and now have in your Facebook list for whatever reason posting inspirational quotes, self-affirming rants, selfies in ill-fitting suits and huge excerpts about his business plans on a bi-hourly schedule.
This book is like Paulo Coelho's literary works had an orgy with every spiritual health pop science bullshit blog on the internet and somebody took the afterbirth of the resulting miscarriage and translated it in 33 languages just to fuck with the world.
This book reads like it was written by one of those creepy "life coach" gurus preying on unhappy and unstable personalities and trying to sell 10 easy tricks on how to have AWESOME SEX and A BETTER LOVE LIFE and - oh wait, it actually was written by exactly one of those guys.
This book personally offends me on a deep level. Fuck you.
And if you found anything in this book even just slightly enlightening, you make me both ashamed and scared of being human.
Fuck everything about this book. Over 100 pages of "just do what you love and everything will work out :)))) just be yourself bro :))))"
NO. FUCK YOU. THAT IS NOT HOW IT WORKS.
This book is thinly veiled New Thought Law of Attraction esoteric feel good wish wash, which at least explains why so many people like it. (Spoiler: many people are kind of stupid)
This book is your college stoner roommate telling you that advertising just like, totally makes you unhappy and plays on your fears, man, just to get you to buy stuff, man, ever think about it like that, man, so deep, man.
This book is your teenage rebel punk kid that just hit puberty and is trying to explain to you how all grown ups do is work and sleep until they get old and die and there is absolutely nothing worse than working for a living.
This book is a trust fund baby telling you to just quit your job and go backpacking through Europe.
This book is Brad Pitt telling you to just be yourself if you want to be more attractive, because it obviously works for him.
This book is assholes in the comment section of articles about mental health telling clinically depressed people to "just man up and get over it".
This book is the one guy you kinda knew in High School and now have in your Facebook list for whatever reason posting inspirational quotes, self-affirming rants, selfies in ill-fitting suits and huge excerpts about his business plans on a bi-hourly schedule.
This book is like Paulo Coelho's literary works had an orgy with every spiritual health pop science bullshit blog on the internet and somebody took the afterbirth of the resulting miscarriage and translated it in 33 languages just to fuck with the world.
This book reads like it was written by one of those creepy "life coach" gurus preying on unhappy and unstable personalities and trying to sell 10 easy tricks on how to have AWESOME SEX and A BETTER LOVE LIFE and - oh wait, it actually was written by exactly one of those guys.
This book personally offends me on a deep level. Fuck you.
And if you found anything in this book even just slightly enlightening, you make me both ashamed and scared of being human.
February 25, 2018
Das Buch ist sinnlos, platt, schlecht geschrieben und dient letztlich nur dazu dem lieben John richtig Geld in die Kasse zu spülen. Für die Menschen die sich überraschenderweise nach der Lektüre die großen Fragen des Lebens immer noch nicht beantworten können bietet John natürlich ein dreitägiges Seminar an, für schlappe 2000€. Wenn man danach ( überraschenderweise :) ) immer noch keine Antwort vom Universum bekommen hat, dürfte man zumindest den Sinn von John Streleckys Leben erkannt haben.
May 25, 2022
The Why Cafe, John P. Strelecky
In a small cafe at a location so remote it sits in the middle of the middle of nowhere, John--a man in a hurry--is at a crossroads. Intent only on refueling before moving along on his road trip, he finds sustenance of an entirely different kind.
In addition to the specials of the day, the cafe menu lists three questions all diners are encourage to consider.
Why are you here?
Do you fear death?
Are you fulfilled?
With this food for thought and the guidance of three people he meets at the cafe, John embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes him from the executive suites of the advertising world to the surf of Hawaii's coastline. Along the way he discovers a new way to look at life, himself, and just how much you can learn from a green sea turtle.
عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «کافه ی چرا»؛ «کافه چرا: رمانی در معنای زندگی»؛ «کافه ای به نام چرا: (مکانی برای یافتن چراهای زندگی)»؛ «کافه چرا: یک داستان»؛ نویسنده: جان پی استرلکی؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز هشتم ماه دسامبر سال 2011 یلادی
عنوان: کافه ای به نام چرا: (مکانی برای یافتن چراهای زندگی)؛ نویسنده: جان پی استرلکی؛ مترجم: امیرحسن مکی؛ تهران، نشر لیوسا، سال1389؛ در112ص؛ شابک9786005138115؛ چاپ دوم سال1391؛ چاپ سوم سال1392؛ چاپ چهارم سال1393؛ چاپ پنجم سال1394؛ چاپهای ششم و هفتم سال1395؛ چاپهای هشتم و نهم سال1396؛ چاپهای دهم و یازدهم و دوازدهم سال1397؛ موضوع: زندگی از نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده ی21م
عنوان: کافه چرا: رمانی در معنای زندگی؛ نویسنده: جان استرلکی؛ مترجم: شعله ربانی؛ تهران: نشر تالیا، سال1389؛ در107ص؛ شابک9786009036042؛ چاپ دوم سال1389؛ چاپ سوم سال1391؛ چاپ چهارم سال1392؛ چاپ پنجم سال1394؛ چاپ هفتم سال1396؛
عنوان: کافه ی چرا؛ نویسنده: جان پی استرلکی؛ مترجم: مهرناز شیرازی عدل؛ تهران: نشر هنوز، سال1389؛ در117ص؛ شابک9786009140053؛ چاپ دیگر: تهران، نشر قطره، چاپ ششم سال1396؛ در116ص؛ شابک9786001193392؛ چاپ هفتم سال1397؛
عنوان: کافه چرا : یک داستان؛ نویسنده: جان استرلکی؛ مترجم فاطمه نصیریماهینی؛ ویراستار: فاطمه محمدبیگی خالدی؛ تهران: نشر پنگوین آبی، سال1397؛ در100ص؛ شابک9786229912935؛
ماجرای این کتاب از این قرار است که «جان» مردی عجول و شتابزده، که در چهارراههای واقعی و استعاری سرگردان شده، خود را مقابل غذاخوری کوچک، و دورافتاده ای مییابد، که گویا در وسط ناکجا آباد واقع شده است؛ او که فقط به قصد بنزین زدن برای ادامه ی سفر پیاده شده، به طرزی کاملاً متفاوت تغذیه میشود؛ در آن مکان استثنایی، مشتریان تشویق میشوند درباره این سه پرسش بیاندیشند: چرا اینجا هستید؟ آیا از مرگ میترسید؟ آیا راضی هستید؟ «جان» با این غذای فکر، و راهنمایی سه شخصیتی که در کافه با آنها دیدار میکند، وارد سفر خودشناسی میشود، و در طول راه به نگرشی تازه نسبت به زندگی و روابط دست مییابد…؛
فردی که چرایی زندگی خویش را یافت، با هر چگونه ای میسازد، این جمله ی «نیچه»، مبنای کتاب «کافه ای به نام چرا» است؛ «فردی» که هدف خود در زندگی را بیابد، و بداند که برای رسیدن به آن هدف به دنیا آمده است، متوجه منحصر به فرد بودنش در این دنیا میشود، و به تدریج سایر دشواریها برای او رنگ میبازند؛ در جای جای کتاب از اهمیت یافتن هدف زندگی، و تلاش برای رسیدن به آن سخن گفته شده است
در این کتاب نویسنده به خوانشگرش یادآوری میکند، که زندگی بدون هدف یک زندگی بیهوده است؛ پرسش «چرا اینجا هستی؟» که در این کتاب طرح میشود نیز، بیشتر از هر چیز، تلنگری به روح خوانشگر وارد میکند، تا در تکاپوی یافتن هدف زندگی خویش باشد؛ پرسش دیگر نویسنده مبنی بر اینکه «آیا از مرگ میترسی؟» نیز، با هدف زندگی در ارتباط است؛ فردی که هدفش در زندگی را یافته، و همه ی تلاشش را برای رسیدن به آن به کار میگیرد، از مرگ ترسی نخواهد داشت، زیرا ماموریتش در دنیا را انجام داده است؛ چگونگی طرح موضوع ترس از مرگ در این کتاب، ارتباطی با باورهای دینی ندارد، زیرا نویسنده از دنیای پس از مرگ سخنی به میان نمیآورد
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 25/04/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 04/03/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
In a small cafe at a location so remote it sits in the middle of the middle of nowhere, John--a man in a hurry--is at a crossroads. Intent only on refueling before moving along on his road trip, he finds sustenance of an entirely different kind.
In addition to the specials of the day, the cafe menu lists three questions all diners are encourage to consider.
Why are you here?
Do you fear death?
Are you fulfilled?
With this food for thought and the guidance of three people he meets at the cafe, John embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes him from the executive suites of the advertising world to the surf of Hawaii's coastline. Along the way he discovers a new way to look at life, himself, and just how much you can learn from a green sea turtle.
عنوانهای چاپ شده در ایران: «کافه ی چرا»؛ «کافه چرا: رمانی در معنای زندگی»؛ «کافه ای به نام چرا: (مکانی برای یافتن چراهای زندگی)»؛ «کافه چرا: یک داستان»؛ نویسنده: جان پی استرلکی؛ تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز هشتم ماه دسامبر سال 2011 یلادی
عنوان: کافه ای به نام چرا: (مکانی برای یافتن چراهای زندگی)؛ نویسنده: جان پی استرلکی؛ مترجم: امیرحسن مکی؛ تهران، نشر لیوسا، سال1389؛ در112ص؛ شابک9786005138115؛ چاپ دوم سال1391؛ چاپ سوم سال1392؛ چاپ چهارم سال1393؛ چاپ پنجم سال1394؛ چاپهای ششم و هفتم سال1395؛ چاپهای هشتم و نهم سال1396؛ چاپهای دهم و یازدهم و دوازدهم سال1397؛ موضوع: زندگی از نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده ی21م
عنوان: کافه چرا: رمانی در معنای زندگی؛ نویسنده: جان استرلکی؛ مترجم: شعله ربانی؛ تهران: نشر تالیا، سال1389؛ در107ص؛ شابک9786009036042؛ چاپ دوم سال1389؛ چاپ سوم سال1391؛ چاپ چهارم سال1392؛ چاپ پنجم سال1394؛ چاپ هفتم سال1396؛
عنوان: کافه ی چرا؛ نویسنده: جان پی استرلکی؛ مترجم: مهرناز شیرازی عدل؛ تهران: نشر هنوز، سال1389؛ در117ص؛ شابک9786009140053؛ چاپ دیگر: تهران، نشر قطره، چاپ ششم سال1396؛ در116ص؛ شابک9786001193392؛ چاپ هفتم سال1397؛
عنوان: کافه چرا : یک داستان؛ نویسنده: جان استرلکی؛ مترجم فاطمه نصیریماهینی؛ ویراستار: فاطمه محمدبیگی خالدی؛ تهران: نشر پنگوین آبی، سال1397؛ در100ص؛ شابک9786229912935؛
ماجرای این کتاب از این قرار است که «جان» مردی عجول و شتابزده، که در چهارراههای واقعی و استعاری سرگردان شده، خود را مقابل غذاخوری کوچک، و دورافتاده ای مییابد، که گویا در وسط ناکجا آباد واقع شده است؛ او که فقط به قصد بنزین زدن برای ادامه ی سفر پیاده شده، به طرزی کاملاً متفاوت تغذیه میشود؛ در آن مکان استثنایی، مشتریان تشویق میشوند درباره این سه پرسش بیاندیشند: چرا اینجا هستید؟ آیا از مرگ میترسید؟ آیا راضی هستید؟ «جان» با این غذای فکر، و راهنمایی سه شخصیتی که در کافه با آنها دیدار میکند، وارد سفر خودشناسی میشود، و در طول راه به نگرشی تازه نسبت به زندگی و روابط دست مییابد…؛
فردی که چرایی زندگی خویش را یافت، با هر چگونه ای میسازد، این جمله ی «نیچه»، مبنای کتاب «کافه ای به نام چرا» است؛ «فردی» که هدف خود در زندگی را بیابد، و بداند که برای رسیدن به آن هدف به دنیا آمده است، متوجه منحصر به فرد بودنش در این دنیا میشود، و به تدریج سایر دشواریها برای او رنگ میبازند؛ در جای جای کتاب از اهمیت یافتن هدف زندگی، و تلاش برای رسیدن به آن سخن گفته شده است
در این کتاب نویسنده به خوانشگرش یادآوری میکند، که زندگی بدون هدف یک زندگی بیهوده است؛ پرسش «چرا اینجا هستی؟» که در این کتاب طرح میشود نیز، بیشتر از هر چیز، تلنگری به روح خوانشگر وارد میکند، تا در تکاپوی یافتن هدف زندگی خویش باشد؛ پرسش دیگر نویسنده مبنی بر اینکه «آیا از مرگ میترسی؟» نیز، با هدف زندگی در ارتباط است؛ فردی که هدفش در زندگی را یافته، و همه ی تلاشش را برای رسیدن به آن به کار میگیرد، از مرگ ترسی نخواهد داشت، زیرا ماموریتش در دنیا را انجام داده است؛ چگونگی طرح موضوع ترس از مرگ در این کتاب، ارتباطی با باورهای دینی ندارد، زیرا نویسنده از دنیای پس از مرگ سخنی به میان نمیآورد
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 25/04/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 04/03/1401هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
August 13, 2016
I got it from a friend and it was the worst book I've ever read! The writing is terribly boring (I don't know how it is in English, I've read it in German) but the language is so easy and the sentences are so awfully structured... sometimes I wanted to puke...
The story is a typical esoteric story for people who never, I mean absolutely never thought about their life... A tree should have thought more about his life than the people who enjoy this book. The moral of the story is boring and could be from a fortune cookie.
The beginning was okay, first I thought it would be interesting but then from page to page it got worse and worse. And then always the sentence "do what you want to do and become happy" that's utter trash! If I would live my life like this I would have played games and watched TV series as a kid and would never have achieved anything in my life.
At the end of the day, I can't really recommend this book, not even as toilet paper because it would try to make something meaningful out of your poop...
The story is a typical esoteric story for people who never, I mean absolutely never thought about their life... A tree should have thought more about his life than the people who enjoy this book. The moral of the story is boring and could be from a fortune cookie.
The beginning was okay, first I thought it would be interesting but then from page to page it got worse and worse. And then always the sentence "do what you want to do and become happy" that's utter trash! If I would live my life like this I would have played games and watched TV series as a kid and would never have achieved anything in my life.
At the end of the day, I can't really recommend this book, not even as toilet paper because it would try to make something meaningful out of your poop...
January 29, 2021
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA not to shame anyone's favourite book but if this is the most inspiring book you've ever read you should sit down for like 5 minutes and think about your life bc every aspect of this book people could find mildly interesting will come to you by itself
let me quote Melissa Marie Green from 2000's Emo-Crunkcore Band "Millionaires" to sum up this book: "I do what I want, middle finger in the air"
1,5 ⭐️
why not 1 ⭐️ if it bored the fuck outta me you ask? because if this book is what it takes to make average people question capitalism then so shall it be
let me quote Melissa Marie Green from 2000's Emo-Crunkcore Band "Millionaires" to sum up this book: "I do what I want, middle finger in the air"
1,5 ⭐️
why not 1 ⭐️ if it bored the fuck outta me you ask? because if this book is what it takes to make average people question capitalism then so shall it be
June 27, 2019
Gefüllt von durchaus sinnvollen, aber weit bekannten Lebensweisheiten: ein Buch, das mich Aufgrund der Umsetzung einer eigentlich schönen Idee nicht überzeugen konnte. Besonders bei den Dialogen hatte ich stets das Gefühl, der Protagonist müsse eine möglichst lange Leitung haben, damit der dumme Leser auch noch hinterherkommt. Der Schreibstil ist auch nicht unbedingt herausragend. Alles in allem ein fades Buch, meiner Meinung nach völlig überbewertet, deren Kernaussagen zwar herrlich sind, jedoch zu schlecht verpackt.
December 28, 2012
My Amazon review: It is hard to ignore how insulting this book is.
It takes advantage of a political climate that thinks we must be told what our morals are going to be.
It says nothing anyone with a moral compass and a brain hasn't figured out for themselves.
The idea that someone would find this book enlightening is more frightening than the thought that someone would find The Five People You Meet in Heaven refreshingly insightful.
The writing is below sub-par.
Here is all you need to prove what a waste of time this book is: You know those unbearable (and laughable) re-training films most corporate offices require folks to watch every few years that go over "moral dilemmas" and have titles like "Harassment in the Workplace: It's No Laughing Matter" or "Bribes: The Buck Stops Here," etc.? This book is like reading a screenplay for one of those. The one that was made in 1950 and had to be produced for under $100 and use all the CEO's family members as actors. It is not even good enough to be as bad as those old 1970's after-school specials.
Trust me on this one - your "purpose for existing" does NOT include reading this book (although interestingly enough, mine does...).
It takes advantage of a political climate that thinks we must be told what our morals are going to be.
It says nothing anyone with a moral compass and a brain hasn't figured out for themselves.
The idea that someone would find this book enlightening is more frightening than the thought that someone would find The Five People You Meet in Heaven refreshingly insightful.
The writing is below sub-par.
Here is all you need to prove what a waste of time this book is: You know those unbearable (and laughable) re-training films most corporate offices require folks to watch every few years that go over "moral dilemmas" and have titles like "Harassment in the Workplace: It's No Laughing Matter" or "Bribes: The Buck Stops Here," etc.? This book is like reading a screenplay for one of those. The one that was made in 1950 and had to be produced for under $100 and use all the CEO's family members as actors. It is not even good enough to be as bad as those old 1970's after-school specials.
Trust me on this one - your "purpose for existing" does NOT include reading this book (although interestingly enough, mine does...).
January 31, 2024
Einfach nur plump-missionarisch; jeder der ein bisschen Grips in der Birne hat, kommt da alleine drauf. Und die Sprache ist einfach nur grottig: Hallo-Tom-Hallo Casey-Sprech.
Ich würde es als theatralische Schmierenkomödie bezeichnen.
Ich würde es als theatralische Schmierenkomödie bezeichnen.
June 23, 2019
Ich muss ganz ehrlich sagen, dass ich die vielen positiven Stimmen zu Das Café am Rande der Welt nicht verstehe.
John Strelecky bringt hier keinerlei neue Denkansätze, wenn man sich schon mal mit dem Sinn des Lebens oder wenigstens mit dem eigenen Leben und was man sich davon verspricht auseinandergesetzt hat. Seine Aussagen sowie die zwei ganz netten Geschichten, die dem Protagonisten hier erzählt werden, sind seit langem bekannt und ganz sicher nicht von ihm erfunden worden.
Auch sprachlich ist die Geschichte mehr als enttäschend. Hätte sich der Autor mehr als drei Wochen Zeit dafür genommen wären ihm vielleicht auch mehr Verben als sagen und denken eingefallen.
Für mich in jeder Hinsicht eine absolute Enttäuschung und Zeitverschendung.
John Strelecky bringt hier keinerlei neue Denkansätze, wenn man sich schon mal mit dem Sinn des Lebens oder wenigstens mit dem eigenen Leben und was man sich davon verspricht auseinandergesetzt hat. Seine Aussagen sowie die zwei ganz netten Geschichten, die dem Protagonisten hier erzählt werden, sind seit langem bekannt und ganz sicher nicht von ihm erfunden worden.
Auch sprachlich ist die Geschichte mehr als enttäschend. Hätte sich der Autor mehr als drei Wochen Zeit dafür genommen wären ihm vielleicht auch mehr Verben als sagen und denken eingefallen.
Für mich in jeder Hinsicht eine absolute Enttäuschung und Zeitverschendung.
March 11, 2018
Muss jeder gelesen haben
March 15, 2024
Kaum in Worte zu fassen, wie schlecht dieses Buch ist. Da fehlt jegliche literarische Qualität, sowohl sprachlich, formal, stilistisch und auch inhaltlich. Obwohl es so dünn ist, sind die Wiederholungen fast schon mantrahaft. Die Dialoge sind gestelzt und einfach nur fürchterlich. In gewisser Weise sind die oberflächlichen Floskeln, die sich die Cafebesucher da zuwerfen, aber auch typisch amerikanisch. Das wäre noch zu verschmerzen, aber dann kommen Sätze des Ich-Erzählers John wie:
"Ich griff zu meinem Wasser und merkte nicht, wie Casey Mike zuzwinkerte."
Dann ist schon fast Literatursatire. Ich frage mich, ob da kein Lektorat über den Text ging. Außerdem klaut Strelecky seine Anekdoten, wie die vom Fischer und Geschäftsmann, gnadenlos ohne Quellenangaben. Das ist eine Collage mit Plagiaten. Strelecky ist für mich ein knallharter Geschäftsmann, der sich als Lebenshelfer initiiert. Er berät die Menschen, wie er früher seine Unternehmen berät. Unternehmensberater täuschen auch gerne vor, dass sie unternehmensspezifische Lösungen für ihre Klienten erarbeiten, aber doch aus ihrem Baukasten des Veränderungsmanagements die immer gleichen Schablonen benutzen. Und so vereinfacht sind auch die Glaubenssätze, die Strelecky verkauft. Sie sind so allgemeingültig, dass man sie beim ersten Lesen noch nicht mal widerlegen kann. Erst wenn man sich tiefer Gedanken darüber macht, merkt man, aus welchen Religionen und esoterischen Strömungen er seine Geschichte vom Lebenshilfe-Cafe zusammengebaut hat. Ohne Leserunde hätte ich das Buch nie angefasst bzw. zu Ende gelesen.
Das Buch ist ein richtiges Ärgernis für mich, denn es geht davon aus, dass jeder Mensch sein Schicksal selbst bestimmen kann und seines Glückes Schmied ist. Was ist mit Menschen, die nicht so priviligiert sind wie Strelecky? Die krank oder gehandicapt sind? Die aufgrund von Depressionen der Zugang zum Zweck der Existenz verbaut ist? Führen die ein sinnloses Leben? Wer sich mit der Existenzfrage auseinandersetzen möchte, empfehle ich stattdessen Über den Sinn des Lebens von Viktor E. Frankl, was für gläubige wie nichtgläubige Menschen eine Bereicherung sein kann.
"Ich griff zu meinem Wasser und merkte nicht, wie Casey Mike zuzwinkerte."
Dann ist schon fast Literatursatire. Ich frage mich, ob da kein Lektorat über den Text ging. Außerdem klaut Strelecky seine Anekdoten, wie die vom Fischer und Geschäftsmann, gnadenlos ohne Quellenangaben. Das ist eine Collage mit Plagiaten. Strelecky ist für mich ein knallharter Geschäftsmann, der sich als Lebenshelfer initiiert. Er berät die Menschen, wie er früher seine Unternehmen berät. Unternehmensberater täuschen auch gerne vor, dass sie unternehmensspezifische Lösungen für ihre Klienten erarbeiten, aber doch aus ihrem Baukasten des Veränderungsmanagements die immer gleichen Schablonen benutzen. Und so vereinfacht sind auch die Glaubenssätze, die Strelecky verkauft. Sie sind so allgemeingültig, dass man sie beim ersten Lesen noch nicht mal widerlegen kann. Erst wenn man sich tiefer Gedanken darüber macht, merkt man, aus welchen Religionen und esoterischen Strömungen er seine Geschichte vom Lebenshilfe-Cafe zusammengebaut hat. Ohne Leserunde hätte ich das Buch nie angefasst bzw. zu Ende gelesen.
Das Buch ist ein richtiges Ärgernis für mich, denn es geht davon aus, dass jeder Mensch sein Schicksal selbst bestimmen kann und seines Glückes Schmied ist. Was ist mit Menschen, die nicht so priviligiert sind wie Strelecky? Die krank oder gehandicapt sind? Die aufgrund von Depressionen der Zugang zum Zweck der Existenz verbaut ist? Führen die ein sinnloses Leben? Wer sich mit der Existenzfrage auseinandersetzen möchte, empfehle ich stattdessen Über den Sinn des Lebens von Viktor E. Frankl, was für gläubige wie nichtgläubige Menschen eine Bereicherung sein kann.
June 26, 2018
Just don't waste your time on reading this book, even on considering reading this book. Don't repeat my mistake...
January 5, 2016
Horrible. Worst of all the author is taking this seriously. Awfully written and the content itself is the worst esoteric and pseudo-personality-coaching stuff around.
The only way to read this book is together with friends and passing the book round to read it aloud. You will certainly have a great laugh.
The only way to read this book is together with friends and passing the book round to read it aloud. You will certainly have a great laugh.
January 2, 2019
Ein teurer Spaß für knapp 2h Lesevergnügen, aber natürlich weiß man das vorher. Ich fand die Atmosphäre angenehm und die Charaktere nett. Die Dialoge mit den kleinen Geschichten bringen nette Denkansätze und beinhalten auch viele Wahrheiten. Trotzdem für mich persönlich keine große Bereicherung weil es nur bestätigt wie ich das Leben auch sehe. Sicher gibt es Menschen denen dieses Buch gut tun würde und denen auch die Denkanstöße etwas bringen würden(...wenn sie sich drauf einlassen), aber für mich war es letztendlich nur eine nette und gut geschriebene Geschichte über den Sinn des Lebens und das Glücklich werden und sein!
July 2, 2019
Edit
So, ich hab jetzt ein paar Wochen über das Buch nachgedacht und ehrlich gesagt hat sich meine Meinung dazu etwas geändert. Kurz nach dem Lesen war das ganze ein 3 Sterne Buch für mich. Die Aussagen in dem Buch sind zwar absolut nichts neues für mich, aber nicht dumm und vielleicht ganz hilfreich für andere.
Inzwischen bin ich bei einer 1 Stern Bewertung angelangt.
Denn die meisten Seiten lassen sich einfach mit wenigen Worten zusammenfassen: "Tu was du liebst und das wird schon alles irgendwie"
Und das ist für mich einfach der größte Schwachsinn.
Manche finden vielleicht genau den Job, der sie erfüllt. Aber nur deswegen wird nicht automatisch alles klappen und perfekt werden.
Andere haben gar keine Vorlieben, mit denen sich auch nur irgendwie Geld verdienen lassen könnte. Und ja, wir brauchen nun einmal Geld zum Überleben.
Und dann gibt es auch noch Jobs, die für eine funktionierende Gesellschaft lebenswichtig sind, aber wahrscheinlich für niemanden allzu erfüllend. Müllabfuhr, Gebäudereinigung, Supermarktverkäufer... Alles wichtige Jobs, aber sicher keine Traumjobs.
Meiner Meinung nach braucht man nicht DAS eine, das einen begeistert. DEN Job, der einen erfüllt. Man kann auch einfach einen Job machen, der ganz okay ist, und sich trotzdem ein tolles Leben aufbauen.
Ich teile John P. Streleckys Meinung, dass sich niemand in einem Job, den man hasst, abrackern sollte, um sich dann im Rentenalter, wenn man endlich nicht mehr arbeiten muss, alles erfüllen zu können. Man sollte zu jedem Zeitpunkt seines Lebens versuchen, sich das Leben toll zu gestalten.
Aber nur, weil man etwas tut, was man liebt, wird das Leben nicht automatisch gut. Und man kann auch ein tolles Leben führen, ohne 24/7 etwas zu tun, was man liebt.
Ich muss auch sagen, dass mich das Buch ziemlich gestresst hat. Immer wieder hab ich darüber nachgedacht, was ich denn liebe. Schließlich kann ich nicht einfach einen durchschnittlich guten Job haben, mit dem ich Geld zum Überleben verdiene. Ich brauche etwas, das mich erfüllt. Aber da ich nicht in die USA oder nach Irland ziehen möchte, um professionelle Tierstreichlerin zu werden (und weil andere das Jobangebot schneller angenommen haben), könnte das problematisch werden.
Vielleicht finde ich in ein paar Jahren noch etwas, das ich liebe und wenn sich dann plötzlich das magische Tor zum glücklichen Leben öffnet und alles einfach so klappt, werd ich euch das natürlich wissen lassen und meine Sterne-Bewertung ändern, aber bis dahin genieße ich mein Leben erstmal so wie es ist. Mit Dingen, die ich liebe, und Dingen, die einfach okay sind und die mir meinen Lebensunterhalt verdienen.
------------------------------------------------
Das Buch hab ich mir aufgrund des großen Hypes gekauft. Normalerweise würde ich eher nichts in die Richtung lesen, aber nachdem so viele es als unglaublich augenöffnend und must read bezeichnet hatten, war ich einfach neugierig.
Für mich hat das aber nicht wirklich zugetroffen. Klar, es gibt einige gute Denkansätze und viele Wahrheiten bezüglich dem Sinn des Lebens und dem Glücklich sein. Für mich waren diese aber alle schon davor klar und konnte mich deswegen nicht wirklich bereichern. Trotzdem war es ganz nett mal wieder über alles nachzudenken.
So, ich hab jetzt ein paar Wochen über das Buch nachgedacht und ehrlich gesagt hat sich meine Meinung dazu etwas geändert. Kurz nach dem Lesen war das ganze ein 3 Sterne Buch für mich. Die Aussagen in dem Buch sind zwar absolut nichts neues für mich, aber nicht dumm und vielleicht ganz hilfreich für andere.
Inzwischen bin ich bei einer 1 Stern Bewertung angelangt.
Denn die meisten Seiten lassen sich einfach mit wenigen Worten zusammenfassen: "Tu was du liebst und das wird schon alles irgendwie"
Und das ist für mich einfach der größte Schwachsinn.
Manche finden vielleicht genau den Job, der sie erfüllt. Aber nur deswegen wird nicht automatisch alles klappen und perfekt werden.
Andere haben gar keine Vorlieben, mit denen sich auch nur irgendwie Geld verdienen lassen könnte. Und ja, wir brauchen nun einmal Geld zum Überleben.
Und dann gibt es auch noch Jobs, die für eine funktionierende Gesellschaft lebenswichtig sind, aber wahrscheinlich für niemanden allzu erfüllend. Müllabfuhr, Gebäudereinigung, Supermarktverkäufer... Alles wichtige Jobs, aber sicher keine Traumjobs.
Meiner Meinung nach braucht man nicht DAS eine, das einen begeistert. DEN Job, der einen erfüllt. Man kann auch einfach einen Job machen, der ganz okay ist, und sich trotzdem ein tolles Leben aufbauen.
Ich teile John P. Streleckys Meinung, dass sich niemand in einem Job, den man hasst, abrackern sollte, um sich dann im Rentenalter, wenn man endlich nicht mehr arbeiten muss, alles erfüllen zu können. Man sollte zu jedem Zeitpunkt seines Lebens versuchen, sich das Leben toll zu gestalten.
Aber nur, weil man etwas tut, was man liebt, wird das Leben nicht automatisch gut. Und man kann auch ein tolles Leben führen, ohne 24/7 etwas zu tun, was man liebt.
Ich muss auch sagen, dass mich das Buch ziemlich gestresst hat. Immer wieder hab ich darüber nachgedacht, was ich denn liebe. Schließlich kann ich nicht einfach einen durchschnittlich guten Job haben, mit dem ich Geld zum Überleben verdiene. Ich brauche etwas, das mich erfüllt. Aber da ich nicht in die USA oder nach Irland ziehen möchte, um professionelle Tierstreichlerin zu werden (und weil andere das Jobangebot schneller angenommen haben), könnte das problematisch werden.
Vielleicht finde ich in ein paar Jahren noch etwas, das ich liebe und wenn sich dann plötzlich das magische Tor zum glücklichen Leben öffnet und alles einfach so klappt, werd ich euch das natürlich wissen lassen und meine Sterne-Bewertung ändern, aber bis dahin genieße ich mein Leben erstmal so wie es ist. Mit Dingen, die ich liebe, und Dingen, die einfach okay sind und die mir meinen Lebensunterhalt verdienen.
------------------------------------------------
Das Buch hab ich mir aufgrund des großen Hypes gekauft. Normalerweise würde ich eher nichts in die Richtung lesen, aber nachdem so viele es als unglaublich augenöffnend und must read bezeichnet hatten, war ich einfach neugierig.
Für mich hat das aber nicht wirklich zugetroffen. Klar, es gibt einige gute Denkansätze und viele Wahrheiten bezüglich dem Sinn des Lebens und dem Glücklich sein. Für mich waren diese aber alle schon davor klar und konnte mich deswegen nicht wirklich bereichern. Trotzdem war es ganz nett mal wieder über alles nachzudenken.
Read
March 30, 2024Je l’ai lu à cause d’une date (je sais, ga). Je voulais pas l’ajouter à mon Goodreads (duh), mais je suis en retard sur mon défi de l’année. It is what it is.
Read
August 21, 2012This book, written on a second-grade level, was loaned to me by a friend and so (as I'm a bit of a book slut) I took to reading it. Suffice it to say, I read at least half of it while stuck on a taxiway before a flight. It is quite simple, almost to the point of being overgeneralizing, but in all seriousness, it has a couple of good points based on the questions the protagonist encounters on a menu at a Normal Rockwell cafe in the middle of BFE. It's premised on a story of Western culture and civilization we've heard too many times: We're too hectic and caught up in the prisons of our lives, brought up on certain tenets which go unchallenged by generations of people, and we sleepwalk through our lives until or unless we wake up and learn to (a) figure out what our passions and purpose is for existing (not the "why am I here?" as in "because my parents mated" reason for existence, but what we're meant to do), (b) not fear death, and (c) figure out how to move the golf ball while watching green sea turtles swim. Or something like that.
In all seriousness, I hate self-help books, but there were a couple of nuggets worth considering if you're the least bit introspective.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a ton of actually challenging books to read...
In all seriousness, I hate self-help books, but there were a couple of nuggets worth considering if you're the least bit introspective.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a ton of actually challenging books to read...
June 20, 2020
This book was recommended to me in the highest terms. "Read it, it's life-changing! And it's absolutely not like any other life guide!" Well... it absolutely is just like any other life guide. Just because it comes in a novel wrapper doesn't make it new, you diddies. It's exactly the same platitudes that I can hear from a kitchen table philosopher on any street corner. Seriously, I had deeper, more insightful conversations when I was a student and drunk at parties than this wishy-washy "Do what you love, then everything will be fine!"-bullshit Strelecky puts out!
Or as my dear friend Babsi put it: "in my opinion you could have just bought up the postcard stand and glue it together."
Put the money in other books, this one's too bad even for Dirty Santa!
Or as my dear friend Babsi put it: "in my opinion you could have just bought up the postcard stand and glue it together."
Put the money in other books, this one's too bad even for Dirty Santa!
February 22, 2018
Das Buch öffnet einem schlicht und ergreifend die Augen. Mein Denken wird wohl für immer von dem Inhalt beeinflusst sein und ich bin froh, dass ich das Buch jetzt gelesen habe.
Um das ganze zu verinnerlichen werde ich es in absehbarer Zeit aber nochmal lesen.
Um das ganze zu verinnerlichen werde ich es in absehbarer Zeit aber nochmal lesen.
April 11, 2024
3,5 Stars
Find me on instagram
As the year ends, I just love reflecting on the past few months and love reading a few non-fictions in November. I picked this book, because it has been on the bestseller list in Germany for a long time. It’s a self-help book that narrates the life-changing event of a business person who is caught up in his ‚bubble‘, and near-sighted.
Ultimately, the quintessence of this story is that you always have a choice and that you need to look beyond the steep. As many self help books, the core message of having a choice how we respond to the incidents happening around us resonates 100% with me.
I am less concerned about the characters or the setting of this story as I focused on the key messages to serve my purpose of reflecting on the year so far.
Find me on instagram
As the year ends, I just love reflecting on the past few months and love reading a few non-fictions in November. I picked this book, because it has been on the bestseller list in Germany for a long time. It’s a self-help book that narrates the life-changing event of a business person who is caught up in his ‚bubble‘, and near-sighted.
Ultimately, the quintessence of this story is that you always have a choice and that you need to look beyond the steep. As many self help books, the core message of having a choice how we respond to the incidents happening around us resonates 100% with me.
I am less concerned about the characters or the setting of this story as I focused on the key messages to serve my purpose of reflecting on the year so far.
January 3, 2021
Ich hab das Buch mit 16 oder so gelesen und fand es damals beeindruckend, viele große Worte, aber eigentlich viel mehr Gelaber um nichts. Ich dachte damals, so muss Literatur sein. Bullshit, es ist komplett overrated. Wo man in der Jugend in seiner privilegierten Blindheit noch denkt, man kann irgendwie glücklich oder erfolgreich werden, wenn man sich so ein American-Dream-Geschwurbel anhört, merkt man mit Verstand eigentlich doch, dass es nicht mehr als das ist - ein Haufen Worte, die wenig mit der Realität zu tun haben und nicht als Self-Help- oder inspierendes Buch taugen
January 8, 2019
Heute von einem Arbeitskollegen geschenkt bekommen, gleich angefangen zu lesen und schwups ist es durch. 😁 Na ja, 126 Seiten sind nicht viel und es liest sich sehr leicht zudem ist es auf eine andere Art und Weise sehr interessant wenn man sich darauf einlässt. 😊
March 16, 2021
Ein sehr kurzweiliges, tiefgründiges Büchlein. Kann man jederzeit lesen, regt zum nachdenken an 👍🏻
July 3, 2018
Absolut miserabel geschrieben. Ein guter Schriftsteller ist in der Lage, seine Weisheiten zu verpacken. Hier bekommt man sie in billigen Dialogen serviert, wie der Protagonist sein kleines Festmahl. Der Leser wird belehrt durch erzwungene Charaktere und unglaubwürdige Dialoge.
Das Setting ergibt für mich keinen Sinn, vermutlich wollte sich der Autor die Schreibarbeit sparen und hat durch das isolierte Café bloß alle "Störfaktoren" ausschalten wollen.
Die Story gibt daher nichts her, der Inhalt hätte in einem kurzen Essay vermittelt werden können.
Das Setting ergibt für mich keinen Sinn, vermutlich wollte sich der Autor die Schreibarbeit sparen und hat durch das isolierte Café bloß alle "Störfaktoren" ausschalten wollen.
Die Story gibt daher nichts her, der Inhalt hätte in einem kurzen Essay vermittelt werden können.
January 9, 2022
Entweder man hasst das Buch oder man liebt es. Ich bin irgendwo dazwischen.
Das Buch ist gut geschrieben, man kommt schnell durch und das beschriebene Essen klingt so gut da bekommt man Hunger. Aber ich konnte für mich selbst keine neuen Erkenntnisse ziehen, es waren alt bekannte Lebensratschläge und Weiheiten die jeder kennt. Mir war aber von vornherein klar, das ich das Buch nicht als Ratgeber verstehen möchte. Für mich war es einfach nur eine nette, kleine, philospohisch angehauchte Geschichte. Nett zu lesen aber auch nichts wirklich besonderes.
Das Buch ist gut geschrieben, man kommt schnell durch und das beschriebene Essen klingt so gut da bekommt man Hunger. Aber ich konnte für mich selbst keine neuen Erkenntnisse ziehen, es waren alt bekannte Lebensratschläge und Weiheiten die jeder kennt. Mir war aber von vornherein klar, das ich das Buch nicht als Ratgeber verstehen möchte. Für mich war es einfach nur eine nette, kleine, philospohisch angehauchte Geschichte. Nett zu lesen aber auch nichts wirklich besonderes.
April 30, 2019
I seldom read a book that is so uncritical and obviously unresearched regarding philosophy, capitalism and the american way of life. And really, it is almost funny (or not) how Strelecky couldn't reflect his personal position as a rich, white, male manager, who could afford to go to and eat at a café at the back of beyond.
But let's briefly integrate the two positive things (spoiler: they doesn't save the book from an angry one-star-rating). The book is written in easy words and obviously makes an effort to be understandable, which is really great and should be the base of more (philosophy) books. Second it isn't sexist at all (not the point of the book, I know, but), the waitress is as 'competent' in philosophical 'inspiration' as the cafés owner and all her winking and smirking is in no situation interpreted as flirting. So maybe one star for that?
But boy, oh boy, the rest. Let's start with the aforementioned ideology, which bugs me the most. Can someone be so unaware of the fact, that there are systemic reasons for being happy or unhappy? Strelecky only focused on the individual level, which means for him: If you are happy, because you find your reason for being and lived that way (hello, there are maybe people who couldn't afford doing what they like, because of lacking money or depending on others), than happy things happen to you. The (of course) not mentioned opposite is that it is your own fault, if you're unhappy. And did I really need to mention the fact, that this is capitalistic bullshit? And the 'empirical source' of this is the observation and questioning of café visitors by a fictional waitress. Ehem.
So Strelecky is clearly only reflecting his own position in life. And everybody with another experience and less privilege or a bit empathy or a basic class of philosophy knows that the 'white-man-represents-everybody'-trope is absolutely out of fashion since decades (and in fact never was reasonable).
A few minor but nonetheless annoying points:
- Spelling style. Didn't want to go into that. Maybe a subjective preferences thing.
- All the excitement of the narrator given the interesting questions he never asked himself during all of his life. Uff. It is so over the top, that it would make a better book worse. He must have slept during all his school classes and never read a newspaper.
- The philosophical questions aren't handled in a very new way and the plagiarism without mentioning (or wanting to research) the original sources is really bad. Mike told the narrator John that the examined questions could possibly traced back to the eldest philosophers. 'Possibly', hahahahaha. Nice try to disguise.
Maybe my non existent connection to the book is partially based on my own position. I think it isn't the right inspiration for everyone, who knows just a little bit about philosophy and has an intellectual upbringing or maybe your are really so stressed as a manager that you couldn't think of anything else than money. But the ideology is the really problematic thing here for me and I honestly think nobody should see past that, irrespective of the inspiration you otherwise get from this book.
But let's briefly integrate the two positive things (spoiler: they doesn't save the book from an angry one-star-rating). The book is written in easy words and obviously makes an effort to be understandable, which is really great and should be the base of more (philosophy) books. Second it isn't sexist at all (not the point of the book, I know, but), the waitress is as 'competent' in philosophical 'inspiration' as the cafés owner and all her winking and smirking is in no situation interpreted as flirting. So maybe one star for that?
But boy, oh boy, the rest. Let's start with the aforementioned ideology, which bugs me the most. Can someone be so unaware of the fact, that there are systemic reasons for being happy or unhappy? Strelecky only focused on the individual level, which means for him: If you are happy, because you find your reason for being and lived that way (hello, there are maybe people who couldn't afford doing what they like, because of lacking money or depending on others), than happy things happen to you. The (of course) not mentioned opposite is that it is your own fault, if you're unhappy. And did I really need to mention the fact, that this is capitalistic bullshit? And the 'empirical source' of this is the observation and questioning of café visitors by a fictional waitress. Ehem.
So Strelecky is clearly only reflecting his own position in life. And everybody with another experience and less privilege or a bit empathy or a basic class of philosophy knows that the 'white-man-represents-everybody'-trope is absolutely out of fashion since decades (and in fact never was reasonable).
A few minor but nonetheless annoying points:
- Spelling style. Didn't want to go into that. Maybe a subjective preferences thing.
- All the excitement of the narrator given the interesting questions he never asked himself during all of his life. Uff. It is so over the top, that it would make a better book worse. He must have slept during all his school classes and never read a newspaper.
- The philosophical questions aren't handled in a very new way and the plagiarism without mentioning (or wanting to research) the original sources is really bad. Mike told the narrator John that the examined questions could possibly traced back to the eldest philosophers. 'Possibly', hahahahaha. Nice try to disguise.
Maybe my non existent connection to the book is partially based on my own position. I think it isn't the right inspiration for everyone, who knows just a little bit about philosophy and has an intellectual upbringing or maybe your are really so stressed as a manager that you couldn't think of anything else than money. But the ideology is the really problematic thing here for me and I honestly think nobody should see past that, irrespective of the inspiration you otherwise get from this book.
February 4, 2013
I am sorry for everyone who hasn't been touched by this. It is a book which truly can change your life. It changed mine.
Whoever knows their purpose for existing has no need to read this book. But they will understand how important it is to find out the answer for that simple yet existential question: Why am I here?
I did not know my purpose before reading this book. I just lived an average life. Success was something which was "out there", which was said to important to achieve, and for which you have to make sacrifices in order to get it. Or so I thought.
When I read the book (much better: I had the author read it on an audio book) I knew that there was an X on my treasure map, too. I could't ignore it any longer. Had to find out what that X was. I had to figure out my PFE. And I did. What a difference this has made!
The book is written in a very authentic style. Just as an internal monologue which Average Joe would hear inside his head. But is well crafted, as it shows how, gradually, John, the protagonist, opens to the idea that life may not be an accident after all.
As Anne says, the woman who explaines how the ad industry creates desire in order to sell by charging up items emotionally (If I get diamonds as a present for my birthday, it means I have found love/am being loved): do not let yourself be told by me what is right and what is wrong - find out for yourself!
Enjoy reading this book - and how it can help you to find out what you truly want.
Whoever knows their purpose for existing has no need to read this book. But they will understand how important it is to find out the answer for that simple yet existential question: Why am I here?
I did not know my purpose before reading this book. I just lived an average life. Success was something which was "out there", which was said to important to achieve, and for which you have to make sacrifices in order to get it. Or so I thought.
When I read the book (much better: I had the author read it on an audio book) I knew that there was an X on my treasure map, too. I could't ignore it any longer. Had to find out what that X was. I had to figure out my PFE. And I did. What a difference this has made!
The book is written in a very authentic style. Just as an internal monologue which Average Joe would hear inside his head. But is well crafted, as it shows how, gradually, John, the protagonist, opens to the idea that life may not be an accident after all.
As Anne says, the woman who explaines how the ad industry creates desire in order to sell by charging up items emotionally (If I get diamonds as a present for my birthday, it means I have found love/am being loved): do not let yourself be told by me what is right and what is wrong - find out for yourself!
Enjoy reading this book - and how it can help you to find out what you truly want.
September 12, 2019
3,5
Simpatična, kratka i jasno pisana pričica o životu.. Da ne zaboravimo na neke bitne stvari, da zaboravimo na neke nebitne stvari, te da ne pobrkamo te dvije stvari! ;-) :D
„Osjećao sam se kao da se odričem života u zamjenu za novac, a ta mi se razmjena nije činila pretjerano dobrom.“
Simpatična, kratka i jasno pisana pričica o životu.. Da ne zaboravimo na neke bitne stvari, da zaboravimo na neke nebitne stvari, te da ne pobrkamo te dvije stvari! ;-) :D
„Osjećao sam se kao da se odričem života u zamjenu za novac, a ta mi se razmjena nije činila pretjerano dobrom.“
January 9, 2012
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway & got it yesterday.
**Do not read this book if you don't want to be tempted by breakfast food that you can't have**
This is small, fast read. It's a quick "thinking" book that asks the reader to look at their daily life and really think about what they are living for.
Do I think this book does it job in helping people in their everyday struggles? Kinda, but not really.
This book does not straightforwardly tell you how to do something or make those life changes happen, it instead scripts out converstations that may or may not really happen at a Cafe that may or may not really exist. I kept waiting for more concrete things to be said, but it just circled around the questions constantly, not stating the answer, but telling the reader that the answer may not be the same for everyone. It may be helpful for someone who is really lost and struggling with the monotony of the struggles of the common worker. I am not that person so much; I already know things that need to be done, I just have to get to the step on how to change them.
One of the examples in this book that looks good on paper really would not work in today's world if you live in America. Maybe it would work if you were in Costa Rica, where the example took place & if you were not used to the luxuries we live by now (and you didn't want the internet or electricity or you didn't have bills or owe taxes or something).
I had the book as a 3 ★ ★ ★, but then the more I thought about and the more I was talking to a friend who I just passed the book to, I had to change it to a 2 ★ ★. Why would I give it to a friend to read? Because it was free and some people might preceive things differently than I do and may enjoy it more and get something from it that I did not.
**Do not read this book if you don't want to be tempted by breakfast food that you can't have**
This is small, fast read. It's a quick "thinking" book that asks the reader to look at their daily life and really think about what they are living for.
Do I think this book does it job in helping people in their everyday struggles? Kinda, but not really.
This book does not straightforwardly tell you how to do something or make those life changes happen, it instead scripts out converstations that may or may not really happen at a Cafe that may or may not really exist. I kept waiting for more concrete things to be said, but it just circled around the questions constantly, not stating the answer, but telling the reader that the answer may not be the same for everyone. It may be helpful for someone who is really lost and struggling with the monotony of the struggles of the common worker. I am not that person so much; I already know things that need to be done, I just have to get to the step on how to change them.
One of the examples in this book that looks good on paper really would not work in today's world if you live in America. Maybe it would work if you were in Costa Rica, where the example took place & if you were not used to the luxuries we live by now (and you didn't want the internet or electricity or you didn't have bills or owe taxes or something).
I had the book as a 3 ★ ★ ★, but then the more I thought about and the more I was talking to a friend who I just passed the book to, I had to change it to a 2 ★ ★. Why would I give it to a friend to read? Because it was free and some people might preceive things differently than I do and may enjoy it more and get something from it that I did not.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,611 reviews