OPA! Way, Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon turn to Greek culture as its muse for defining the meaning of life and find a treasure trove of insightful discoveries about the human spirit. After you read it, you’ll want to shout ‘OPA!’”
—NIKI LEONDAKIS, CEO, Commune Hotels & Resorts
“Alex and Elaine generously share with us what was so graciously shared with them on their travels through Greece: how to find the true joy of living based on very simple yet fulfilling principles. From philosophical concepts to spiritual principles to dietary suggestions, this delightful book continues to stimulate ideas long after the final page is finished. This is NOT self-help. This is help yourself . . . to a beautiful life, The OPA! Way!”
—DON FERTMAN, chief development officer, Subway, and founder, Recovery Branches
“Alex and Elaine capture the essence and secrets of the balanced and beautiful life passed on from the ancient world and made relevant, meaningful, and so inspiring in contemporary times. The OPA! Way: Finding Joy & Meaning in Everyday Life & Work is a mirror of the glory that IS Greece—embedded in each individual—just waiting to be unleashed. Alex and Elaine provide catharsis and the ‘Way’ through a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable treasure and page-turner. Bravo and OPA!”
—ART DIMOPOULOS, executive director, National Hellenic Society
“Alex and Elaine achieved a quite complex and challenging goal—they wrote a book on meaning by putting it in a quite unusual context: ‘Hellenism vs. Globalization.’ They define the meaning of life through a continuous confrontation of the values/practices of the global (American) capitalism with those of Hellenism (as it has been reflected in the ancient fables and the modern Cretan/Greek villages’ way of living). They present in a simple and clear way the imbalances and the causes for personal and social catastrophes or disasters by contrasting turbo capitalism to an ‘anthrocapitalism,’ the essence of which is The OPA! Way of thinking and acting. Hellenism can formulate a future and hope to humanity for years to come.”
—PANAGIOTIS KARKATSOULIS, PHD, founder, Institute for Regulatory Policy Research; policy advisor, Hellenic Ministry of Administrative Reform and eGovernment; and professor, National School of Public Administration, Athens, Greece
“Alex and Elaine addressed a huge number of important and complex issues. Each reader will find something in The OPA! Way that will enrich his or her inner world. I warmly recommend the reading of The OPA! Way, preferably in the plane that will take you to Greece or under the warm sun and clean skies of the blue and white country.”
—DR. ANGELOS PANGRATIS, ambassador of the European Union to the World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
“Who would have thought that three little letters (O-P-A!) together would make such a BIG word. The OPA! Way is truly a life-changing read that infuses a Hellenic flavor of purpose and meaning in all we are and do . . . thank you, Alex and Elaine, for this inspiring work!”
—STEVE AGI, publisher and managing editor, OPA! Magazine, Australia
“While reading The OPA! Way: Finding Joy & Meaning in Everyday Life & Work, I yearned to dance like Zorba and change my last name to ‘Kampmannzakis.’ But Alex and Elaine brilliantly show how The OPA! Way principles of meaningful and purposeful connection to both ourselves and to others flow within each of us no matter who we are, no matter where we live (although I still dream to dance like Zorba on a beach in Crete!).”
—STEVEN KAMPMANN, writer, director, and educator
“The OPA! Way provides a meaningful pathway for helping to rebrand Greece and rediscover the true Greek spirit. Alex and Elaine also inspire and guide us to look for meaning in our everyday lives. This is a must read book. OPA!”
—AGAPI STASSINOPOULOS, author, Unbinding the Heart: A Dose of Greek Wisdom, Generosity, and Unconditional Love
“Aside from being a wonderfully entertaining and fun read, this book is educational and an inspirational way to find true meaning in Life. Simply said, it’s the perfect and complete guide for a better and happier life in general.”
—DIRK DALICHAU, lifestyle hotelier, chief operating officer, Ovolo Group, Hong Kong
“Kudos to authors Pattakos and Dundon for their inspiring look at how we can introduce meaning into our personal and business lives. Their unique approach of using the words of the ancient Greek philosophers in conjunction with the words and lives of current day Greek citizens results in an effective form of storytelling. One that provides a template upon which they can examine the micro as well as the macro effects of living a life with meaning.”
—KAREN BLOOM, Bloom, Gross & Associates, Chicago
“Alex and Elaine have described, in a very compelling and readable way, an approach to finding meaning that readers can apply not only in their workplaces but, more importantly, in their lives. Even if you’re not of Greek heritage, the lessons in this book can help you live a fuller and more meaningful life. And, after all, that’s what it’s really all about—or should be.”
—BOB LAVIGNA, assistant vice chancellor, human resources, University of Wisconsin; author, Engaging Government Employees
The
OPA!
Way
The
OPA!
Way
Finding Joy & Meaning
in Everyday Life & Work
ALEX PATTAKOS and
ELAINE DUNDON
BenBella Books, Inc.
Dallas, TX
This book is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as a substitute for professional medical advice. The authors and publisher specifically disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of any information contained in this book. A health care professional should be consulted regarding your specific medical situation. Any product mentioned in this book does not imply endorsement of that product by the authors or publisher.
Copyright © 2015 by Alex Pattakos and Elaine Dundon
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
