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Shari Leid’s Travel Memoir, TABLE FOR 51

 


In 2023, friendship expert and mindset coach Shari Leid embarked on a transformative journey across the United States—but this wasn’t your average road trip. Instead of sightseeing, Shari had one mission: to connect with people from every corner of the country through the simple act of sharing a meal.

Now, Shari has turned this adventure into an inspiring travel memoir, Table For 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals Across America [Capucia Publishing; February 2025], chronicling her mission to foster community and connection in every state, one meal at a time.

Shari's personal story is as compelling as her journey. Abandoned as an infant in a cardboard box in Seoul, South Korea, she was adopted by Japanese American parents. Despite being born in the U.S., her parents had been interned in camps on the West Coast during World War II. Raised with the belief that she would not be accepted in much of the country because of her appearance, Shari set out on a remarkable journey to challenge and reshape those deeply ingrained beliefs.

As she travels from bustling urban cafĂ©s to quiet countryside tables, Shari’s journey is about more than just geography—it’s about people. In each state, she sits down with strangers and acquaintances from her past, learning the wisdom that comes from lived experience. "These individuals, who varied in age, race, political beliefs, religious backgrounds, economic status, and education levels, became my teachers. By sharing their life stories, they helped me recognize the power of our differences and the magical threads of connection that unite us all,” she says.

Through these 50 conversations, Shari reflects on themes of belonging, transformation, and courage—discovering her own strength to end her turbulent twenty-six-year marriage. A powerful metaphor runs through her story: the cardboard box in which she was found at birth, flipped over, becomes a table where she invites others to sit, share, and connect.

Table for 51 will inspire readers to seek out their own meaningful connections, challenge societal divides, and find belonging in unexpected places. Shari invites everyone to pull up a chair and grab a seat at her table—where connection begins with a meal, and ends with a story and friendship that lasts a lifetime.

Table For 51: Lessons Learned from Sharing Meals Across America by Shari Leid
Capucia Publishing
Paperback; February 18, 2025
ISBN: 979-8-9915156-4-1

Available on Amazon (Affilate link. I receive a small incentive when purchase is made using my link)


I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is very uplifting. I loved all of the different people and places she’s encountered. Reminds me of travels my husband and I take. 


About #FlipTheBox
Born out of The 50 States Project, Shari founded the #FlipTheBox movement whose mission is to foster meaningful connections in a world divided by differences. #FlipTheBox is not just a call to action; it’s a social movement that encourages people from all walks of life to break free from societal labels, engage in open dialogue, and embrace the diverse perspectives that unite us. Shari urges others to “flip the box” of preconceptions and find connection in unexpected ways. The movement emphasizes the importance of acknowledging differences in age, race, political beliefs, religion, economic status, and education, while celebrating the common threads that bring us together.


About the Author
Shari Leid is a former litigator-turned-mindset coach and the dynamic force behind An Imperfectly Perfect Life, LLC. Renowned as a friendship expert and national speaker, Shari’s insights reach far beyond individual coaching sessions. She’s been interviewed on major networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and CTV, and was profiled on NBC’s TODAY show in April 2023. She’s written for and shared her expertise with HuffPostReal SimplePureWowAARPTIMEWoman’s WorldToronto Sun, and Shondaland. In addition to Table for 51 [February 2025], she is the author of The Friendship Series, which includes three books: The 50/50 Friendship Flow (2020), Make Your Mess Your Message (2021), and Ask Yourself This (2022). She received the honor of being selected as a speaker for TEDxEustis 2025. Find her online at animperfectlyperfectlife.com and follow her on FacebookInstagram and TikTok.

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