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always_booked's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t adequately explain the joy this book has brought me, much like most of the other Bourdain novels I’ve read. It’s the perfect combination of poetry and harsh reality, with no punches pulled. Not to mention, it’s a dream for a travel addict and foodie to read about his adventures, meals, and potentially misplaced, but well intentioned, desire to search for the “perfect” meal.
brittrivera's review against another edition
4.0
"What is love? Love is eating twenty-four ounces of raw fish at four in the morning."
Anthony Bourdain is a personal hero of mine. He has my dream job: he travels the world eating, meeting interesting people, and getting incredibly drunk. And he has opinions. I agree with most of them, but even when I don't I find incredibly interesting and educated. A modern day Hemingway. I like that his book, and show for that matter, includes the history and culture of the country he travels to as well as food. And he knows how privileged he is. Unlike many people who write books going to other countries to "experience life", Bourdain knows that he is a lucky bastard despite all the times he complains about having camera crews following him around.
It's funny how clear Bourdain's voice rings in the first few chapters after hearing so many of his voice-overs from his television shows. However, the more I got into the book, the less I focused on him and the more I could get into the story. Some of the stories were better than others, but I very much enjoyed the chapters on Vietnam. The country has officially been added to the "List of Countries I Want to Visit Because Anthony Bourdain Said So" along with Mexico, Japan, and Spain (the country Bourdain has claimed is his favorite place to eat).
Do not read this book when you are hungry. Even if you attempt to eat food while reading this book it's not a worthwhile experience because nothing will come close to the delicacies he is describing.
"I'd recently returned from Cambodia, where a chicken can be the difference between life and death. These people in their comfortable suburban digs were carping about cruelty to animals but suggesting that everyone in the world, from suburban Yuppies to starving Cambodian cyclo driver, start buying organic vegetables and expensive soy substances...Being able to read these words, no matter how stupid, offensive, or wrongheaded, is a privilege, your reading skills the end product of a level of education most of the world will never enjoy."
"Perfection is something you never actually attain. It's something you search for. Once you reach it, it's not perfect. You lost it. It's gone."
Anthony Bourdain is a personal hero of mine. He has my dream job: he travels the world eating, meeting interesting people, and getting incredibly drunk. And he has opinions. I agree with most of them, but even when I don't I find incredibly interesting and educated. A modern day Hemingway. I like that his book, and show for that matter, includes the history and culture of the country he travels to as well as food. And he knows how privileged he is. Unlike many people who write books going to other countries to "experience life", Bourdain knows that he is a lucky bastard despite all the times he complains about having camera crews following him around.
It's funny how clear Bourdain's voice rings in the first few chapters after hearing so many of his voice-overs from his television shows. However, the more I got into the book, the less I focused on him and the more I could get into the story. Some of the stories were better than others, but I very much enjoyed the chapters on Vietnam. The country has officially been added to the "List of Countries I Want to Visit Because Anthony Bourdain Said So" along with Mexico, Japan, and Spain (the country Bourdain has claimed is his favorite place to eat).
Do not read this book when you are hungry. Even if you attempt to eat food while reading this book it's not a worthwhile experience because nothing will come close to the delicacies he is describing.
"I'd recently returned from Cambodia, where a chicken can be the difference between life and death. These people in their comfortable suburban digs were carping about cruelty to animals but suggesting that everyone in the world, from suburban Yuppies to starving Cambodian cyclo driver, start buying organic vegetables and expensive soy substances...Being able to read these words, no matter how stupid, offensive, or wrongheaded, is a privilege, your reading skills the end product of a level of education most of the world will never enjoy."
"Perfection is something you never actually attain. It's something you search for. Once you reach it, it's not perfect. You lost it. It's gone."
k_cavacini's review against another edition
5.0
I love, love, love Anthony Bourdain. I read "[b:Kitchen Confidential|33313|Kitchen Confidential Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (updated edition)|Anthony Bourdain|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168422043s/33313.jpg|4219]" and enjoyed it, even if I was a little disturbed about everything I learned of the restaurant industry. As a big fan of "No Reservations", this book was just as entertaining. It's great to read about the food and travel but the best part are Tony's observations and anecdotes. That's what makes this book worth reading.
izzybb97's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I loved this book. The details are incredible. Anthony describes the textures and tastes of food so incredibly well, it felt like I was eating with him half the time. He doesn’t shy away from anything, if anything, the more daunting the food, the more excited he is. So glad I finally read this book, his writing keeps me inspired to travel. To wander literally anywhere, eat good food, and make some new friends.
huberhadley3440's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating look at food and culture from a smart and sarcastic point of view.
modernviking's review against another edition
Another great one. Writing like his series. His talk of hunting/killing/eating animals, particularly non-domesticated, really makes me wonder about the role of heritage and tradition in the 21st century.
ardaigle's review against another edition
3.0
I have been a Bourdain fan for a while and really enjoyed Kitchen Confidential so when I came across this book for less than $2, and had an upcoming vacation, I snagged it because I thought it would be a good vacay read, and I was validated, though I wouldn't say the book was a total success.
This novel follows the adventures of Bourdain during his first television series of the same name and we travel with him to exotic locales, and even more exotic dishes. Some of his schtick has lost his luster, as I have seen his "shock jock cook" persona in many iterations of the shows he has had since, but it has been a while since I watched him on TV so for me this read was a revisit to the Bourdain I know and love.
My biggest complaint was the structure of the novel: he bopped around locale, sometimes back and forth to the same location with chapters in between, which was a nuisance. I found myself either skimming through parts that just couldn't capture my interest, or putting this book down for a bit and picking up another before continuing on.
Also, he has some VERY strong opinions on certain countries/political conflicts (Vietnam for one) and his soapbox grew a little tiresome. I like Bourdain the most when he is showing us behind the curtain of places I haven't been, people I haven't met, and food I haven't eaten, not when he is cramming in an inflammatory political opinion.
Overall if you like Bourdain, you will probably like this book, though if you have followed his career pretty closely, it may just be retreading things you already know.
This novel follows the adventures of Bourdain during his first television series of the same name and we travel with him to exotic locales, and even more exotic dishes. Some of his schtick has lost his luster, as I have seen his "shock jock cook" persona in many iterations of the shows he has had since, but it has been a while since I watched him on TV so for me this read was a revisit to the Bourdain I know and love.
My biggest complaint was the structure of the novel: he bopped around locale, sometimes back and forth to the same location with chapters in between, which was a nuisance. I found myself either skimming through parts that just couldn't capture my interest, or putting this book down for a bit and picking up another before continuing on.
Also, he has some VERY strong opinions on certain countries/political conflicts (Vietnam for one) and his soapbox grew a little tiresome. I like Bourdain the most when he is showing us behind the curtain of places I haven't been, people I haven't met, and food I haven't eaten, not when he is cramming in an inflammatory political opinion.
Overall if you like Bourdain, you will probably like this book, though if you have followed his career pretty closely, it may just be retreading things you already know.
beths0103's review against another edition
4.0
I really like Bourdain's witty, yet irreverent style of narration on his show No Reservations. I have to say though, I prefer the writing he does on his show more than his writing for his books. I'm one who likes to throw in big, polysyllabic words into my writing, but not so much that people feel like they have to read it with a dictionary propped up next to them. That's how I feel when I'm reading Bourdain's writing. While I love his humor, sometimes I think he could turn down the literary elitism just a tad. I guess he figures he has to counterbalance all the f-bombs he throws around with an attempt to look educated and civilized. No matter. I still enjoy reading his books, and I will continue to read his work.
cdmcc's review against another edition
2.0
anthony bourdain is a really talented writer, but most of this was seriously underedited and fell really flat for me.
herbiehickmott's review against another edition
5.0
I couldn't help but hear Anthony Bourdain's voice throughout this entire book - almost acting as narrator and guide.
This book feels like a clear predecessor to what made him famous during the latter half of his career - traveling, eating, and exploring. His clear respect for these locations, people, cultures, and food is evident. He is warm, funny, honest, and brings some familiar sense of "normalcy" or approachability to most meals or experiences he discusses.
I miss him a lot.
This book feels like a clear predecessor to what made him famous during the latter half of his career - traveling, eating, and exploring. His clear respect for these locations, people, cultures, and food is evident. He is warm, funny, honest, and brings some familiar sense of "normalcy" or approachability to most meals or experiences he discusses.
I miss him a lot.