The Why Café [Hardcover]

John P. Strelecky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2006

This #1 Best Seller is an inspirational classic about finding your purpose in life. Originally self-published, it has now been translated into 19 languages and been a best seller around the world. The story centers around a young man struggling to find his place in life. After becoming terribly lost, he wanders into a remote little diner where he finds three thought provoking questions on the cafe menu:

Why are you here?

Do you fear death?

Are you fulfilled?

With the guidance of three people he meets at the cafÂŽe, the young man embarks on a quest for answers. Along the way, he discovers a new way to look at his life, his relationships... and just how much you can learn from a green sea turtle.

Charming, simple, and inspiring, this little book has changed lives around the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The questions surrounding the purpose of life have been pondered for thousands of years. Strelecky, an M.B.A. and inspirational speaker, gives some of these questions a fresh turn and brings the reader on a quick journey into self-exploration. Through a fictional account, he tells the story of John, who sets out on a vacation to escape from his unfulfilling life. But after a forced detour, he finds himself lost and his car very low on gas as darkness falls. Beginning to despair, John sees the lights of the Why Café in the near distance and heads in that direction. Despite its appearance, this isn't your typical cafe; it's one where the menu poses questions like "Why are you here?" Before long, John is facing up to what he needs to do to find his way to the life he really wants. This is a simple read but asks profound questions about the purpose of life and our role as individuals. While it often seems that John is overly obtuse, his questioning helps to draw the story out and offers a richer picture of the options available to anyone looking for more meaning in life. (June 1)
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Review

"The Alchemist for the 21st century. A little jewel that will change the life of millions of people." --RBA Libros, Barcelona Spain, 7/11/06

"Profound... A cosmic guidebook for living." --Orlando Sentinel, 8/03/06

"Loved it! Read it in one sitting in a day. Loved it!" --Horizons Magazine

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (April 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738210633
• ISBN-13: 978-0738210636
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #440,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Following a life changing event when he was thirty-three years old, John was inspired to sit down and tell the story of The Why Café, his first book. He had no previous experience or academic training as a writer.

Within a year after it's release, word of mouth support from readers had spread the book across the globe--inspiring people on every continent, including Antarctica. It went on to become a #1 Best Seller, and translated into twenty-one languages. John has gone on to write other books, including Life Safari and The Big Five for Life. He coauthored the book How to be Rich and Happy.

Through his writings and appearances on television and radio, John's messages have inspired millions of people to live life on their terms. He has been honored alongside Oprah Winfrey, Wayne Dyer, and Deepak Chopra as one of the one hundred most inspirational thought leaders in the field of leadership and personal development. All of this continues to humble and amaze him.

Since 2004, he has been actively involved with helping individuals discover and fulfill their PFE (Purpose for Existing) and Big Five for Life. He also trains coaches around the world to do the same for their clients using the techniques he has created.

When he isn't writing or speaking, John spends extensive time fulfilling another part of his Big Five for Life--traveling the world. In addition to his time in Africa, he has taken additional extended trips to the Amazon Basin, Yucatan Peninsula, South America, SE Asia, Europe and China.

To learn more about John, or to inquire about his availability for interviews and as a speaker, please visit;
www.johnpstrelecky.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple to read, yet powerful to ponder, June 26, 2006

By 

Andrea de Michaelis (Palm Bay, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Why Café (Hardcover)

The Why Café by John Stelecky is a story of a man who happens onto an all night café and finds 3 compelling questions on a menu. Why Are You Here? Do You Fear Death? Are You Fulfilled? Sparked by a fun and interesting midnight conversation, he begins to contemplate his purpose for existing, his PFE.

Until we know what our PFE is and discover activities that help us fulfill it, we waste time and energy on lots of things. Those who don't take steps to discover and fulfill their PFE are those who fear death. We are fulfilled by working toward our PFE. What would life be like if you were always doing the things you wanted to do, and feeling passionate about it? Events would begin falling synchronistically in place to help support you along the way, and you'd notice one lucky coincidence unfold after another. You'd begin seeing the world with new eyes, and noticing new opportunities.

This isn't a heavy self help book; this is a delightful story with fun and compelling insights. After reading it, you too will be well on your way to finding your own PFE. Andrea de Michaelis, Publisher Horizons Magazine, Spiritual Solutions For Florida Since 1992 www.horizonsmagazine.com

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Will Change Your Life and the Lives of Others, June 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Why Are You Here Café (Paperback)

I'm not just talking out my ass here. I have been a life and transformational coach for over three years now. And when I read this book, I could not put it down. In fact, I was so deeply touched and humored by the author's fantastic way of illustrating such a profound paradigm shift-- that I just had to write my thoughts down right then and there! So, since I was on a plane at the time, with nothing to write on-- the Giorgio Armani, perfume ad, became my outlet!

The points the author writes about are simple and I'm sure we have all heard some variation of them in some way or another. However, what's so powerful about this little blue book is the way the author articulates and illustrates these points; creatively, humorously, vividly and profoundly.

To me, this is the book that will cause critical mass in the world. By this I mean, this is the book that will have every person, stop surviving life and start living life, passionately!

I guess it's true that big things come in small packages. Thank you Why Cafe!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book. Try it., July 5, 2006

By 

Nick Tolomi (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Why Café (Hardcover)

Ok, I know this isn't a discussion board, but come on, what is that other guy thinking.

If all that new books did was reference old books then the new books wouldn't be all that interesting would they?

I read this book because a friend was raving about it one night when we were discussing why so many people seem so miserable.
This story totally hits it. People just aren't tapped into what they really want to do with their life.

We buy off on all the ads and promos (by the way, I thought the piece on advertising was genius. I don't know if anyone has written about it before, but I hadn't heard about it before. And considering that there is someone trying to sell you things everywhere you turn, apparently even if someone has written about it before, the problem hasn't been solved! Maybe twenty more people should write about it so that we can finally start opening our inboxes without 100 pieces of spam sitting there.)
and then the next thing you know we're so far in debt we can't imagine ever quitting to go do something new or fun.

That's the piece that's so powerful about this book. Figure out what you want to do in life that makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Then go do it. Is it simple, sure. Are most people getting it, no. But when you get done reading this you definitely feel like its a lot more possible to do, and you feel more motivated to give it a try.

I don't really care if people have been searching for why they are here for centuries. I won't be around that long. Knowing that other people have been searching doesn't help me. What I wanted to know, and what I got from this, is that there is definitely an option to just following the unhappy herd.

This book taps into the deepest question there is- Why are you here? And unlike many books which claim to be able to tell you what your answers should be, this one gives you space to figure it out on your own. It was a pleasure to read something where the author didn't automatically assume they knew what was best for the rest of the world.

By the way, to the other guy's comment, just because you can post a few reviews doesn't make you anything special. Gimme a break.