When All You Have Is Hope [Hardcover]

 

 

Create your own review

There are two good reasons to buy When All You Have Is Hope. One is John Reynolds' superb writing, and the other is his utterly fascinating subject, Mr. Frank O'Dea.

The prolific, multi award-winning author John Reynolds has long since perfected his trademark style: fluid, fast-moving, and structured for both clarity and punch. And he is in full flight here. Take these lines, for example:

"The year was 1971. I was thirty years away from being named an Officer of the Order of Canada, twenty years away from marrying a beautiful and successful woman ... ten years away from earning my first milion dollars, and a week away from deciding that I must either change or die."

Which brings us to Reynolds' subject. Frank O'Dea is fairly well-known in Canada for being the co-founder of two of the most innovative (at the time) businesses in this country --- Second Cup coffee houses and the onsite document shredders, ProShred Security. Entrepreneurs will learn more than a thing or two about the process from reading O'Dea's account of the founding and development of these and other enterprises, most of which follow the "Blue Ocean" strategy of creating fresh markets with no competition biting at your heels, And enjoy doing so, because Reynolds can really hold your interest --- not surprising because he has twice garnered lavish praise for business books such as The Naked Investor and Free Rider.

The average Canadian will be surprised to discover in this moving memoir the extent and reach of O'Dea's humanitarian work, including international landmine removal, AIDS research funding, the rescuing and rehabilitation of street kids around the world, and child literacy. The man has a huge, giving heart.

But what really grabbed me about his biography is the courage and resilience he showed in his personal life.

O'Dea came from a solid middle-class Montreal family. He idolized his father, and today gives him full marks for inculcating in him high standards of decency and honesty and community service. Yet in his youth O'Dea's behaviour represented a total repudiation of these standards, a "betrayal" of them, to use his own words. Somehow he never found in his parents or siblings the acceptance, security and love he desperately craved. He turned to booze then to petty theft to support his habit, then moved to a succession of deadend jobs and a long period of total irresponsibility, during which he damaged the family cars 17 times (yeah, 17 times!).

But the watershed events in his life were the four times he was raped; incredibly, by an older woman, then by a policeman, then twice by Roman Catholic priests. Reading his gut-wrenching account of them, you can readily believe they were what drove him to the bottom of the social heap, because he experienced such a huge load of fear and shame, he soon felt irresistibly driven to run away and hide. And he kept running until he found himself on the streets of Toronto, a derelict, alcohol-addicted panhandler.

How many people in his situation manage to get off the streets, let alone go on to rise to the top of the social order, let alone go on to devote their lives to helping the less fortunate souls of this world?

Frank O'Dea was one in a million. Read his story, and be amazed.

XXXXX

"Forget about the mistakes you made yesterday; yesterday is gone. Don't dwell on tomorrow; nobody knows what it will bring. Focus exclusively on today. When you wallow in remorse over yesterday, or quake in fear about tomorrow, you lose hope."

The above is the advice a member of a self-help group for alcoholics gave Frank O'Dea (born: 1945) in 1971, now a successful entrepreneur and perhaps best known for being a co-founder of a successful, worldwide coffee shop chain. His true story as recorded by writer John L. Reynolds are on the pages of this amazing, easy-to-read book.

O'Dea describes this book as "the best possible catharsis" for him. I, as a reader, could tell this as he reveals all (and I mean all) of the "mistakes" he had made before he came to a self-help group for alcoholics from the streets of Toronto. After he heard the above advice, O'Dea tells us:

"I realized hope was all I had."

From this point on, O'Dea's tomorrows got progressively better (even though there were still rough spots) until we're told:

"My thousand-dollar Canada Savings Bond had spawned a mail-order coin-sorter business that had rolled into a coffee kiosk that had morphed into a leading edge marketing phenomenon that had expanded into a national corporation worth several million dollars."

By 2004, O'Dea received the Order of Canada. (This Order of Canada, OC, is Canada's highest civilian honor. Created in 1967, the Order was established to establish the lifetime contributions, made by Canadians, who made a major difference to Canada and, as well, recognizes efforts made by non-Canadians who have made the world better by their actions.) What was said during the presentation of the award (called the declaration) gives the potential reader a glimpse of his journey from old life to new life and a brief overview of this book:

"Frank O'Dea's triumph over adversity continues to captivate the hearts of Canadians. His personal victory over substance abuse and willingness to share his rags-to-riches story have inspired others battling addiction. He enjoyed enormous success as co-founder of the Second Cup chain of coffee shops and has gone on to other business ventures. His many good works include support of [an international street children foundation]. [He is] founding chair of the Canadian Landmine Foundation...and...has raised over $2 million for [its] cause."

Something to look for when reading this book is the life-lessons (or advice) O'Dea tells us (or that somebody tells O'Dea, such as the example above) as he goes through life. These are simple but profound.

Finally, the writing by John Reynolds is superb. O'Dea says it best in his acknowledgements section: "John was able to capture my feelings and communicate in such a beautiful way that which I was trying to say."

In conclusion, this is an inspiring book to reflect on as you are having your second cup of coffee!!

(first published 2007; 13 chapters; main narrative 220 pages; acknowledgements)

<<Stephen Pletko; London, Ontario, Canada>>

XXXXX

The storyline itself is marveleous. To read that a founder of Second Cup was once a homeless person is astounding. To read that this same person has also started a number of other businesses and charities is even more astounding. But what really makes this book a gem, is the way the author tells the story. It is as if he is sharing his story with you. You are right there, with him, when he is being accosted by the police or talking with the Governor General. I cried, I laughed, but most of all I was inspired by this wonderfull Canadian success story.

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 3 customer reviews...

 

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Search Listmania!