In a small diner at a location so remote that it stands in the middle of the middle of nowhere, John-a man in a hurry-is at a literal and figura... read full description
reviews
Jan 24, 2012
Shannon
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This was a very interesting book. Lots to think about. When I read it I thought it was going to be more how-to and it is more a story and you make out of it what you want. I think I'd be a little freaded out at the Cafe but it is interesting to think about and what I should be doing with my life compared to what I'm doing now! I do get stuck in ruts and this is a way to think maybe I could be doing more or better for myself!
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Jan 06, 2012
Cindy
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I won this book on Goodreads and received it in this mornings mail. Since it wasn't long, I decided to sit and read it in one sitting!
It was a enjoyable book that really made you think. Three questions are throughout the book: Why are you here?, Do you fear death? and Are you fulfilled? and John finds them on a cafe restaurant menu when he gets lost driving. The people in the cafe explain the questions.
The PFE, Purpose for Existing, really stuck in my mind. I will probably r More...
It was a enjoyable book that really made you think. Three questions are throughout the book: Why are you here?, Do you fear death? and Are you fulfilled? and John finds them on a cafe restaurant menu when he gets lost driving. The people in the cafe explain the questions.
The PFE, Purpose for Existing, really stuck in my mind. I will probably r More...
Jan 30, 2012
Peg
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The Why Cafe by John Strelecky. This book was provided to me free-of-charge by GoodReads, FirstReads. This is a short (only 144 pages), easy-to-read, thought-provoking book that asks three questions: (1) Why Are You Here?, (2) Do You Fear Death?, and (3) Are You Fulfilled?
John Strelecky shows you how to take a new direction in life by discovering your Purpose for Existing (PFE). By contemplating the three questions on the menu at The Why Cafe and discussing them with the chef/owner, More...
John Strelecky shows you how to take a new direction in life by discovering your Purpose for Existing (PFE). By contemplating the three questions on the menu at The Why Cafe and discussing them with the chef/owner, More...
Jan 09, 2012
Amanda
rated it: 
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 straightforwar More...
**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 straightforwar More...
Jan 12, 2012
Colby
rated it: 
You may or may not consider the things I included spoilers. I, personally, don't.
I won this in a goodreads giveaway.
I really went back and forth on whether or not I liked this book...the writing is not bad, and it's a very slender volume that, if you wanted to, you could easily read in one setting, but I did not do this. I don't feel like this was a failure on my part as a reader. The book was by no means riveting...it was one of those books that makes you think you should feel More...
I won this in a goodreads giveaway.
I really went back and forth on whether or not I liked this book...the writing is not bad, and it's a very slender volume that, if you wanted to, you could easily read in one setting, but I did not do this. I don't feel like this was a failure on my part as a reader. The book was by no means riveting...it was one of those books that makes you think you should feel More...
Jan 14, 2012
Book Him Danno
rated it: 
Interesting and thought provoking, this little book will take about an hour of your time and yet you will be left with more thinking and pondering than you might what. Why are you here? I will be reviewing this book on my blog soon and I do think this is one for everyone to read and think about.
I loved this book, I have to say that it really made me want to know why I’m here and what I can do with the time I have left. This is not a religious book, it is a philosophical boo More...
I loved this book, I have to say that it really made me want to know why I’m here and what I can do with the time I have left. This is not a religious book, it is a philosophical boo More...
Jan 20, 2012
Sandy
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John gets snarled up in some traffic and decides to get off the highway - so much for enjoying his vacation. Little does he know that what he is going to encounter is much more enlightening than some R & R than he thought his vacation was going to provide. I really enjoyed the front and baack cover of this book and I was hoping for some more "deep" profundly moments for myself as I read this book but it just provided for me the reasurrance for the things I already knew. The author Joh
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Feb 01, 2012
Diane
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I am received this as one of Goodreads first-reads in the mail. :) Yay I won something!
This sat on my bed-side table for a month, patiently waiting its turn to be read...I really enjoyed it, overall.
I still cannot believe that The Why Cafe really exists is some middle-of-nowhere place...but hey, if Strelecky says it does, than sure!
Strelecky finds this place as a result of an oil tanker turning over on the highway and he chooses to not stay in traffic for ho More...
This sat on my bed-side table for a month, patiently waiting its turn to be read...I really enjoyed it, overall.
I still cannot believe that The Why Cafe really exists is some middle-of-nowhere place...but hey, if Strelecky says it does, than sure!
Strelecky finds this place as a result of an oil tanker turning over on the highway and he chooses to not stay in traffic for ho More...
Jan 09, 2012
Sam
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When an accident on the highway makes John take an alternate route to where he wants to go he soon finds himself lost, hungry, and almost out of gas. Thinking he will have to sleep in his car before walking he comes across a small cafe in the middle of nowhere. He goes in to get some food and when he looks at the menu he finds 3 questions to ponder while waiting for his food: Why are you here? Do you fear death? Are you fulfilled? With the help of the people in the cafe John learns a different w
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Jan 18, 2012
Krista
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I received this book from a goodreads giveaway. The book was a short, thought provoking read. Unfortunately I didn't feel like the questions and ideas in the book were presented in a way that stuck with me like other titles I've read in this genre. Plus the interactions between the characters in the cafe were too one dimensional. As a reader you were supposed to accept their abilities without any explanation or back story. The one analogy I did enjoy was about a sea turtle. Overall I don't
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Jan 24, 2012
India
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Just as easy as "who moved my cheese," and just as surprisingly effective.
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Feb 03, 2012
Kai
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I find "The Why Cafe" to be a life finding moment. Reason I say that is because when you're not doing what you like or love, life can be quite redundant. As indicated in when we get burnt out, we take a vacation to recharge and we continued to do this continuous until we find something that we really like.
This book really put things into perspective. It is a book to read especially when we are having a mid-life crisis and to find out is wrong with our lives. It begins w More...
This book really put things into perspective. It is a book to read especially when we are having a mid-life crisis and to find out is wrong with our lives. It begins w More...
Jan 09, 2012
Stephanie
rated it:
Goodreads Winner- Thanks!
Cover: Love it.
Title: Excellent
Content: Wow! When I first saw this book my initial thought was "What a tiny, little book..." After I read it, I felt my life had changed a little bit. It's all about quality and not quantity. This book is about a man who goes to a cafe and learns about what is truly important in life. This is an amazing book, don't judge it on its size. Because it is short even the busiest, misdirected business wo/m More...
Cover: Love it.
Title: Excellent
Content: Wow! When I first saw this book my initial thought was "What a tiny, little book..." After I read it, I felt my life had changed a little bit. It's all about quality and not quantity. This book is about a man who goes to a cafe and learns about what is truly important in life. This is an amazing book, don't judge it on its size. Because it is short even the busiest, misdirected business wo/m More...
Jan 23, 2012
Jason
rated it:
Goodreads copy. Pretty good book like with any short/fairly short book perhaps could have been better if it were a little longer. Like the style the author took for the story telling for the book. After a few pages did not think I was going to like the book, or read the whole thing. But yet I couldn't find myself pulling away from it.
Only problem felt it should have be longer like more details about the main character after leaving the cafe and the changes to his life
Only problem felt it should have be longer like more details about the main character after leaving the cafe and the changes to his life
Jan 10, 2012
Lynda
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I won this book through the Firstreads giveaway. I really liked the idea of this book. To get you thinking about your life.
Unfortunately, that was about the only thing I liked about it. No, that's a lie, I liked the story about the fisherman and business man. Otherwise, I thought it was just eh. There wasn't anything in this book, that I didn't already know. And to simply say, you're here to live out your passions, and what you enjoy doing most seems far fetched. It reminded me a lot of T More...
Unfortunately, that was about the only thing I liked about it. No, that's a lie, I liked the story about the fisherman and business man. Otherwise, I thought it was just eh. There wasn't anything in this book, that I didn't already know. And to simply say, you're here to live out your passions, and what you enjoy doing most seems far fetched. It reminded me a lot of T More...
Jan 24, 2012
Debbie
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Well this was very timely. It seems I really do need reminding about staying focused on fulfulling my PFE (Purpose For Existing). There were some really helpful pointers presented in easy to understand (and more importantly remember) analogies ie not spending so much time on the incoming waves that you miss catching the outgoing ones.
For me this is the passage that had the most impact:
"Even people who feel they have a Purpose For Existing, and believe they have the right to ful More...
For me this is the passage that had the most impact:
"Even people who feel they have a Purpose For Existing, and believe they have the right to ful More...
Jan 10, 2012
Julia
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Thank you Goodreads First Reads and John P. Strelecky for the free book. This is a very thought-provoking book. Once I picked it up and started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I was finished. But don't get me wrong, this is NOT a book to hurry through. No, it is one to meditate on as you're reading through it. This book is a plus to have in any library.
Jan 08, 2012
Carol
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I loved this book! Thank you, Goodreads, for selecting me as a winner of this charming little book. The messages presented by the author are indeed thought-provoking. If you are bogged down in your day-to-day existence, I highly recommend you pick up this book and read it! It's a fast read that will leave you feeling refreshed and uplifted once you reach the final page.
Jan 10, 2012
Amanda
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I didn't really enjoy this book at all. I can see how it could be helpful to some people and I do not think it was poorly written it just simply wasn't for me. It seemed as if it was meant to be an "eye opener" or self help kind of book but I feel it went in circles and repeated a lot of things that I myself already know.
Jan 24, 2012
Shelley
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A fast read. John P. Strelecky has converted one of his speeches (never heard him speak, I"m just presuming) into a novel of a man losing his way on the road and stops to eat in a restaurant that is in the middle of no where. He is lectured by the owner (the cook) and the waitress. I don't understand how he spends 8 hours being there lectured. Is no one tired? Can anyone really sit in a booth for that long period of time eating? Can anyone be lectured for that long without going crazy
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Jan 12, 2012
Marilyn
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This cute little book will give you pause to think about your life. Depending upon your circumstances, this book could very well change your life.
Who would have thought that such a tiny book could be so thought provoking?
I didn't, but I was wrong.
Who would have thought that such a tiny book could be so thought provoking?
I didn't, but I was wrong.
Jan 17, 2012
James
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Anyone who works for the 'man' should read this book. Gets you thinking about why we are truly here!
Will now be searching for my PFE (Purpose For Existing). Unfortunately watching and playing ice hockey is not it otherwise my search would be over already.
Will now be searching for my PFE (Purpose For Existing). Unfortunately watching and playing ice hockey is not it otherwise my search would be over already.
Jan 29, 2012
theresa
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I won this book from Goodreads.
I enjoyed this book although it's rather short. It centers arount a man who is being guided to ask himself about his life and think about what he wants from his life by asking 3 specific questions. It is 3 questions we should all ask ourselves at some time in our own lives. It did make me think about my own life and where I may go from here. After reading this book, I may think about taking a different direction and maybe a different aproach to life i
I enjoyed this book although it's rather short. It centers arount a man who is being guided to ask himself about his life and think about what he wants from his life by asking 3 specific questions. It is 3 questions we should all ask ourselves at some time in our own lives. It did make me think about my own life and where I may go from here. After reading this book, I may think about taking a different direction and maybe a different aproach to life i
Feb 18, 2012
Brice
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Although there is nothing groundbreaking here, The Why Cafe reminded me somewhat of Daniel Quinn's books, which are among my favorites, and his "There is no one right way to live" message; we have to decide our PFE instead of just buying into the what other (discontented) people try to push on us. The reasons given by Strelecky for choosing new, interesting paths are good. I really don't have any excuses for putting off my desired future after reading this.
I was skeptic More...
I was skeptic More...
Aug 29, 2011
Jan
rated it:
A quick, fairly enjoyable read about what is truly important in life. But a somewhat trite and contrived setting surrounding the life lessons.
Jan 21, 2012
No meeting of the minds on this book, just a mental argument and a sense of irritation with the presented theory. Can I get my money back?
Dec 20, 2011
Teantae
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A very enjoyable and quick read. Not preachy, just thought provoking. Take it for what it is, a chance to openly wonder, what if and why not.
Jan 15, 2012
Melissa
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I won this book in a Good Reads giveaway!
What a great way to start off the new year...with a quick read that really makes you think about life! It is small enough to fit in a back pocket, which makes it easily accessible. The story is easily relatable and would make a great gift for graduates or as a stocking stuffer. I would recommend this book to anyone.
What a great way to start off the new year...with a quick read that really makes you think about life! It is small enough to fit in a back pocket, which makes it easily accessible. The story is easily relatable and would make a great gift for graduates or as a stocking stuffer. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Jan 21, 2012
Jaimee
rated it:
This book really made a difference in what I do with my junk mail and other time-consuming unnessecities that people partake in throughout the day. I loved how much this book moved me and I will definetly be spreading its' message to ALL of my friends and people that I meet througout my life.
Also, I won this book from a goodreads giveaway and thank you so much for that.
Also, I won this book from a goodreads giveaway and thank you so much for that.
Jan 20, 2012
Teresa
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quick read very informative though thought provoking but I am really unsure what to do now with the questions gained from the informative questioning of my mind throughout the reading of the book. The concepts though I very much agree with. Author did great job of exploring and expressing them throughout the book
