The Cafe on the Edge of the World - review
“The Cafe on the edge of the world - a story about the meaning of life” was written by John P. Strelecky and is well-known, widely-loved book. It is considered an international inspirational bestseller and the main three questions it asks are:
Why are you here?
Do you fear death?
Are you fulfilled?
The book is the first of four in a book series titled The Why cafe.
The cafe on the edge of the world is a book that has been on bestseller lists for years, and is one that will be recommended to readers of self-help or personal development books. It is a great choice for a train ride or road trip since it can easily be read in one sitting. Depending on the edition, the book is around 130 pages, including colourful illustrations.
The Plot
John, a man in a hurry, is looking for an escape from his everyday life to recharge his batteries. Through unforeseen circumstances, he lands in a peculiar café far off the road and far from his initial destination.
What makes this café special - aside from the delicious food - are the questions listed on the back of the menu:
Why are you here?
Do you fear death?
Are you fulfilled?
Both intrigued and unsettled, John embarks on a journey of self-discovery to find answers to questions he had never asked himself before. During his time in The Why Café he is guided by three people who reshape his way of thinking.
My review
The following review may contain spoilers for the book. Continue reading if you are curious ;)
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book - especially because the “aha-moments” are integrated into the story rather than presented as research findings, as it is common with non-fiction books. This makes it a refreshing approach and, in my opinion, a gentle introduction to self-development literature.
That being said , I believe books like these should always be taken with a grain of salt. Not everything will be 100% applicable to your own life - and that’s the beauty of it. The book acknowledges that there is no single true answer to these questions, yet highlights how often we postpone living the life we want until “someday”, instead of starting now.
The main takeaway from The Why Cafe #1 is this:
People who know their Purpose of Life live it by actively integrating their “why” into their daily routines. As a result, they seem happier and “luckier”, as opportunities aligned with their values keep showing up.
In short: Find your why, weave it into your life as much as possible, and watch how success and happiness follow.
This is also where the book often receives criticism, with some reviews dismissing it as unrealistic.
I dare to object!
I believe that one’s purpose can shift throughout life and may not stay the same in every phase. Still, if you find your purpose in, say, the creative field, you will find that your heart will sing the most when are creating. You’ll find success, not because it’s easy, but because you’re willing to embrace failure along the way - accepting that being a beginner is part of the process.
In the long run, Strelecky’s key message holds truth and meaning, even if others might phrase it differently.
Being present
Doing more of what you love
Those aren’t necessarily new ideas, but ones that John Strelecky skilfully waves in into his story in a way that resonates.
My rating
This book gets a solid 3.5/5 stars from me!
I wish some parts of the book had been more fleshed out, but I enjoyed the bite-sized pieces of insight packed into such a small book. I especially appreciated how distinct each character’s voice was - I usually to remember character’s names, but not here.
Would I recommend this book?
If you’ve read many self-development books already, this one might not offer brand-new insights. Still, the way it was written might charm you. So it’s a yes from me! :)
My favourite quotes (in German)
I actually read the German version of the Book so here are my favourite quotes in German:
“Jeden Tag versuchen so viele Menschen , uns zu überreden, Zeit und Energie für sie aufzubringen” (S. 58)
“…Die Theorie der exponentiellen Steigerung besagt Folgendes: Wenn Sie jemandem etwas erzählen und ihn dazu bringen, es anderen weiterzuerzählen, und wenn diese Menschen es wiederum anderen Leuten erzählen, dann hat Ihre Botschaft bald viel mehr Menschen erreicht, als nur diejenigen, mit denen Sie selbst gesprochen haben” (S. 97-98)
“Lassen Sie niemals zu, dass andere Dinge oder Menschen Sie an einen Punkt bringen, an dem Sie das Gefühl haben, Ihr eigenes Schicksal nicht länger bestimmen zu können” (S. 107-108)
“Wenn alle Dinge, die ich für so wichtig gehalten habe, es in Wirklichkeit gar nicht sind, was ist dann wichtig”
I hope reading my review made you curious enough to grab the book yourself! :) It’s definitely worth giving a shot!
Stay curious and BE BOLD,
Soso