As I mentioned in my first article about Bourdain, what truly helped him rise to fame before his TV career was his writing — powerful, unfiltered and real. That’s how I’d describe it. Here’s a guide to his books, each with a short description and links where you can find them (no sponsorships here — just helping out the lazy ones so you don’t have to go through the hassle).
Kitchen Confidential (2000)
Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly
The extended and more in-depth continuation of his 1999 New Yorker article, this book gives us an unflinching look at the early days of Bourdain’s career — his life, his work, his struggles with addiction, the highs and the lows, all the way up to his success as executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in New York.
An absolute must-read. Rating: 9/10 Buy it here: FELTRINELLI – LIBRACCIO – AMAZON
Anthony Bourdain: A Cook’s Tour: (2001) (2001)
In Search of the Perfect Meal. Later reissued as: A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines
The title comes from the British expression “a cook’s tour”, meaning “a quick guide” to a topic or place. This book chronicles Bourdain’s travels around the world — expect exotic dishes, bold experimentation and encounters with locals. It was also turned into a TV series for the Food Network.
Rating: 10/10 Buy it here: FELTRINELLI – LIBRACCIO – AMAZON
Anthony Bourdain: The Nasty Bits (2006)
Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones
A collection of 37 essays — essentially a selection of his best pieces published in magazines and newspapers over the years (as he explains in the preface).
Bourdain divided the essays into sections based on the five traditional tastes:
- Salty
- Sweet
- Sour
- Bitter
- Umami
Rating: 9/10 Buy it here: FELTRINELLI – LIBRACCIO – AMAZON
No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach (2007)
Available only in English, this book is like a “behind-the-scenes illustrated guide” to the famous No Reservations TV show. A light and enjoyable read — and being in English, you really get to hear Bourdain’s voice in every line.
Voto 8 su 10. Link per acquistarlo: FELTRINELLI – AMAZON
Anthony Bourdain: Medium Raw (2010) (2010)
A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook
The long-awaited follow-up to Kitchen Confidential — a “ten years later” reflection that continues his journey through the world of professional kitchens. With his trademark irreverent style, Bourdain also paints vivid portraits of major culinary figures such as David Chang and Alice Waters.
His sharp sarcasm still hits the mark. Rating: 9/10 Buy it here: AMAZON
This is my personal selection of the books I’ve loved the most. Of course, Bourdain also wrote actual cookbooks, but I’ve chosen to focus on the titles that tell the story behind the recipes — the ones that reveal more about the man, his voice, and his restless, brilliant soul.
Now, a final “gift”: two books released after Bourdain’s tragic death in 2018.
Anthony Bourdain & Laurie Woolever: Wordl Travel. (2021)
An Irriverent Guide by Anthony Bourdain & Laurie Woolever (2021)
Born from one of the last conversations between Laurie Woolever and Anthony, this book is a blend of travel guide and interview — divided by country, it stands as Bourdain’s final legacy to all of us.
Rating: 8/10 Buy it here: FELTRINELLI – LIBRACCIO – AMAZON
A book that tells us about Tony:
In the Weeds (2022). In giro per il mondo e dietro le quinte con Anthony Bourdain (2022)
Around the World and Behind the Scenes with Anthony Bourdain
Written by Tom Vitale, Bourdain’s friend, colleague and travel companion for sixteen years, this is the real “behind the scenes” of Tony’s shows. It’s a literary trick that lets him tell not only production stories but also the human side — relationships, emotions and the everyday intensity of working alongside Bourdain. I devoured it in just a couple of days.
Rating: 9/10 Buy it here: FELTRINELLI – LIBRACCIO – AMAZON
And that’s it — for now. I hope I’ve tempted you to pick up at least one of these books. While you think about it, don’t miss my next article, which will dive into Anthony Bourdain’s TV shows. You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook for more updates and stories.
Big Love from Giuliona
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