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When All You Have Is Hope
For entrepreneur Frank O’Dea, it was a long road from street life to the high life. Born in Montreal to an upper-middle class family, Frank’s life took a downturn as a young man when he was sexually assaulted by a priest. He began drinking at an early age and was soon destitute, living in degradation on the streets of Toronto. By way of a sympathetic employer, the Salvation Army, and Alcoholics Anonymous, O’Dea quit drinking and started a small business that developed into the Second Cup coffee chain. Over the years, his philanthropic activities extended to AIDS fundraising, child literacy in the Third World, and landmine removal. His message is HOPE, VISION, ACTION.
240 pages, Paperback
First published July 19, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 22, 2025
Bad habits are called “bad” for a reason. They are hard to break
Frank O’dea is the founder of Second Cup the other iconic Canadian coffee shop chain.
But before he did that he lived a very difficult and challenging life within his well-off family in Montreal. It had tragic beginnings of childhood abuse at the hands of authoritative elders. Speaking up in the 1950s and 60s was not always helpful. In fact, he received little in the way of support from his parents or siblings. They didn’t talk about feelings, emotions, problems or joys, politics or sports, relationships or anything, over the dinner table or anywhere. As a result Frank, as a child growing up, was left alone to figure out even the most basic of challenges, inquiries, or questions. This lead him to scream for attention in the only manner he could imagine: bad behavior. It’s heart breaking really, and nothing short of a miracle that he survived his early and continuing alcoholic stupors, only to be asked to leave his family when he was a young adult.
With no money other than enough to get him a bus ride to Toronto, and no education, but with a job set up by his father, he was a paint salesman for a short time. At least until his bad habits took over.
Then came the panhandling experience, petty thefts, dine-and-dash, continued alcoholic stupors, and life as a street person. But along the way he met a few kindly folk who taught him a thing or two that helped him to survive. And despite his challenging childhood he recognized that the core values taught to him as a youngster were what would move him forward.
Written with anecdotal accounts, bits of trivialities, candid experiences and just the right dose of humour at the appropriate time, this story is a captivating adventure in the roller coaster ride of life.
Frank’s Second Cup idea and business took off and he nurtured it and raised it to a very successfully iconic Canadian venture. During this time he remained grounded, reconciled….mostly, with his family, enjoyed the fruits of his labors, and yet, in challenges persisted, albeit if a different sort.
Frank shares how he managed both his successes and challenges with much candor, honesty and respect.
Frank believes that once you have achieved what you set out to do you move on to tackle the next challenge.
After selling off his interest in Second Cup Frank started a number of business ventures as well as charitable campaigns. He moved on from some of these and remained with others but always brought the same attitude of hope, perseverance, hard work, and honesty to develop his projects to the best of his abilities and then to move them forward like a baton in a relay to the next adventurer to carry on.
He has quite an interesting story to tell and should certainly be admired for exercising his survival instincts in such a positive and honorable manner. I for one applaud him!
Frank O’dea is the founder of Second Cup the other iconic Canadian coffee shop chain.
But before he did that he lived a very difficult and challenging life within his well-off family in Montreal. It had tragic beginnings of childhood abuse at the hands of authoritative elders. Speaking up in the 1950s and 60s was not always helpful. In fact, he received little in the way of support from his parents or siblings. They didn’t talk about feelings, emotions, problems or joys, politics or sports, relationships or anything, over the dinner table or anywhere. As a result Frank, as a child growing up, was left alone to figure out even the most basic of challenges, inquiries, or questions. This lead him to scream for attention in the only manner he could imagine: bad behavior. It’s heart breaking really, and nothing short of a miracle that he survived his early and continuing alcoholic stupors, only to be asked to leave his family when he was a young adult.
With no money other than enough to get him a bus ride to Toronto, and no education, but with a job set up by his father, he was a paint salesman for a short time. At least until his bad habits took over.
Then came the panhandling experience, petty thefts, dine-and-dash, continued alcoholic stupors, and life as a street person. But along the way he met a few kindly folk who taught him a thing or two that helped him to survive. And despite his challenging childhood he recognized that the core values taught to him as a youngster were what would move him forward.
Written with anecdotal accounts, bits of trivialities, candid experiences and just the right dose of humour at the appropriate time, this story is a captivating adventure in the roller coaster ride of life.
Frank’s Second Cup idea and business took off and he nurtured it and raised it to a very successfully iconic Canadian venture. During this time he remained grounded, reconciled….mostly, with his family, enjoyed the fruits of his labors, and yet, in challenges persisted, albeit if a different sort.
Frank shares how he managed both his successes and challenges with much candor, honesty and respect.
Frank believes that once you have achieved what you set out to do you move on to tackle the next challenge.
After selling off his interest in Second Cup Frank started a number of business ventures as well as charitable campaigns. He moved on from some of these and remained with others but always brought the same attitude of hope, perseverance, hard work, and honesty to develop his projects to the best of his abilities and then to move them forward like a baton in a relay to the next adventurer to carry on.
He has quite an interesting story to tell and should certainly be admired for exercising his survival instincts in such a positive and honorable manner. I for one applaud him!
April 29, 2022
i bought this book from a book shop in toronto,canada , i read it but forget it so i read it again.
this brilliant memoir is about a man called frank'o dea.
this is a true story.
he is from montreal,canada.
and when he is young , he is sexually assaulted several times by different people.
he is ashamed of himself and is guilty and as a result he starts drinking in a result and his life is ruined.
he starts stealing from his parents and siblings and then his father gets sick of him and sends him to toronto,canada.
over there he becomes a destitute,
living and rotting on the streets of toronto,canada and he is in a terrible state.
this is the 1970's.
a few days before christmas he gets help and is off alcahol and he open his own coffee chain called second cup , he over comes all the bad things and then he gets married and has two daughters and lives in ottawa.
this brilliant memoir is about a man called frank'o dea.
this is a true story.
he is from montreal,canada.
and when he is young , he is sexually assaulted several times by different people.
he is ashamed of himself and is guilty and as a result he starts drinking in a result and his life is ruined.
he starts stealing from his parents and siblings and then his father gets sick of him and sends him to toronto,canada.
over there he becomes a destitute,
living and rotting on the streets of toronto,canada and he is in a terrible state.
this is the 1970's.
a few days before christmas he gets help and is off alcahol and he open his own coffee chain called second cup , he over comes all the bad things and then he gets married and has two daughters and lives in ottawa.
July 31, 2018
I loved the first half of this book, but the second half felt slow and preachy. The second half was very politically and bogged down by a lot of (unessential) details about dinners, galas, fundraising, start-ups, etc. It was a fantastic book that grabbed my attention right away at the start, but I ended up skimming towards the end.
August 14, 2025
XXXXX
FROM AN ALCOHOLIC AND A STREET PERSON TO...MULTIMILLIONAIRE AND HUMANITARIAN
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 quote (in italics) is the advice a member of a self-help group for alcoholics gave Frank O'Dea in 1971. He is 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, inspirational book.
O'Dea himself describes this book as "the best possible catharsis" for him. I could tell this because O'Dea reveals all (and I mean all) of the "mistakes" he had made before he came to the above-mentioned self-help group for alcoholics while still on the streets of Toronto. After he heard the above quoted advice, O'Dea tells us:
"I realized hope was all I had."
From that point on, O'Dea's tomorrows got progressively better (even though there were still some 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 (which is Canada's highest civilian honor established to recognize the lifetime contribution, made by Canadians, who made a major difference in Canada). What was said during the presentation of this award 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 his willingness to share his rags-to- riches story have inspired others battling addiction. He enjoyed enormous success as co-founder of the Second Cup of coffee shops, and has gone on to other business ventures. Hs 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 are the life lessons (or advice) O'Dea tells us or that somebody tells O'Dea 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: "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!!
XXXXX
(2007; 13 chapters; main narrative 220 pages; acknowledgments)
XXXXX
FROM AN ALCOHOLIC AND A STREET PERSON TO...MULTIMILLIONAIRE AND HUMANITARIAN
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 quote (in italics) is the advice a member of a self-help group for alcoholics gave Frank O'Dea in 1971. He is 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, inspirational book.
O'Dea himself describes this book as "the best possible catharsis" for him. I could tell this because O'Dea reveals all (and I mean all) of the "mistakes" he had made before he came to the above-mentioned self-help group for alcoholics while still on the streets of Toronto. After he heard the above quoted advice, O'Dea tells us:
"I realized hope was all I had."
From that point on, O'Dea's tomorrows got progressively better (even though there were still some 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 (which is Canada's highest civilian honor established to recognize the lifetime contribution, made by Canadians, who made a major difference in Canada). What was said during the presentation of this award 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 his willingness to share his rags-to- riches story have inspired others battling addiction. He enjoyed enormous success as co-founder of the Second Cup of coffee shops, and has gone on to other business ventures. Hs 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 are the life lessons (or advice) O'Dea tells us or that somebody tells O'Dea 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: "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!!
XXXXX
(2007; 13 chapters; main narrative 220 pages; acknowledgments)
XXXXX
December 6, 2017
Fascinating to learn about the author's personal growth through some difficult circumstances in childhood and his strength to fight through hardships. It's an uplifting read.
January 14, 2013
I finished this book in two sittings. It was a quick read but what an amazing story. I was both inspired and dismayed. Inspired by the fact that someone so down on their luck could be begging on the street for 99 cents for his next bottle of wine (and 50 cents for the flophouse, failing which he is sleeping on the streets) and then, pulling up his bootstraps, ends up hobnobbing with celebs and world leaders, successful in business and making the world a better place. I was dismayed to realize I've done nothing remotely as successful despite not having been rolling in the gutter.
I would have appreciated more about the getting off the street and kicking the booze process. It must have been a lot harder than simply deciding to change.
Mind you, I have not one iota of the salesperson talents of Mr. O'Dea. I'll content myself with the thought that I make the world a better place in my own small ways.
I've released the book to Little Free Library #2973 and someone "borrowed" it almost immediately thereafter. I hope they enjoy it.
I would have appreciated more about the getting off the street and kicking the booze process. It must have been a lot harder than simply deciding to change.
Mind you, I have not one iota of the salesperson talents of Mr. O'Dea. I'll content myself with the thought that I make the world a better place in my own small ways.
I've released the book to Little Free Library #2973 and someone "borrowed" it almost immediately thereafter. I hope they enjoy it.
December 13, 2010
I found this book sitting on a lonely shelf of for sale library books and am really pleased that I picked it up. My main decision for purchasing it was due to the interesting title and cover which I know is a relatively silly reason to pick out a book but in the end it turned out positive.
This biography captivated me, I never really have a personal preference to biographies but this one was different. The moment I started reading it I was hooked. Frank Odea's life is so full of hardships I found myself relating to him with his family situation and difficulties with life. It is kind of disturbing to say I was so enthralled in the idea of such an awful life but I found myself glued to every page of horrible agony.
A very sad and fascinating biography. I am very glad it turned out for Frank in the end.
This biography captivated me, I never really have a personal preference to biographies but this one was different. The moment I started reading it I was hooked. Frank Odea's life is so full of hardships I found myself relating to him with his family situation and difficulties with life. It is kind of disturbing to say I was so enthralled in the idea of such an awful life but I found myself glued to every page of horrible agony.
A very sad and fascinating biography. I am very glad it turned out for Frank in the end.
January 10, 2009
It's just a short memoir by the co-founder of Second Cup. But his story of losing himself to addiction, living on the streets and then his slow recovery from that is very inspiring. I also think it gives you a new empathy for the people you see living on the streets -- that could be you too if you had s substance abuse problem you couldn't control.
October 20, 2012
A good read, and certainly a tale of hope and resilience in the face of great adversity. One thing which bothered me though, is the distance between the author and the subject matter. I would have liked more emotional depth, yet the tone was almost matter-of-fact, even in the most arrowing parts. Still, I recommend it.
January 11, 2014
I had higher hopes for this book. It was written in a really disjointed fashion, with a lot of name dropping and what felt like narcissistic preening.
I don't feel like I learned anything about his road to recovery, or the Second Cup business model, which were the two things that made me pick up the book.
I don't feel like I learned anything about his road to recovery, or the Second Cup business model, which were the two things that made me pick up the book.
July 4, 2012
Interesting and honest story of how O'Dea realized he had to straighten out. He then went on to achieve so much. It's a quick read and not too heavy.
Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2007/10...
Blog review: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2007/10...
February 5, 2009
Quite the inspirational book - the first three quarters of it anyway. So nice to hear someone able to pick themselves up from the dustheap and change their life for the better. No "poor me".
January 23, 2009
True story of be able to overcome so much.
October 2, 2010
Started 25 Sept 10.
July 28, 2011
Very honest. A great read.
February 1, 2012
inspiring
March 25, 2012
This is an inspirational book about someone who has seen some of the lowest low points in life and has also experienced a great amount of success. A great read.
May 16, 2014
I found this book most inspiring. Frank O'Dea went from the streets to fame on his own, and I find that his life missions are fabulous. Helping others do the same.
August 25, 2012
Great book! One of my favorites
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January 19, 2013Really liked the first half of the book. Last third seemed to be a lot of "name dropping" and rather boring.
February 7, 2013
Great book, amazing life story and story about battling addiction and a destructive personality.
December 26, 2013
Excellent book. Very inspiring. From tragic beginning to very successful, this is a story worth reading. When I read a story like this, I get over my own petty worries and complaints!!
March 5, 2015
An excellent read. Takes you on a personal journey from the depth of hell, to living a life of self giving for the betterment of society. A must read.
November 21, 2019
Interesting story of a man who has been up and down. Canadian success story. BTW Frank is a very popular public speaker. If you get a chance to hear him do not pass it up.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews